DO vs. MD

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
optometry vs md?

orthopedic surgeon.... I would go with MD.
 
I hear that in order to receive a DO degree, you have to cut off one of your fingers. Kind of like the yakuza. So that's one disadvantage that you usually don't see discussed much on the internet, and is sort of hard to find info about with google. It is something to keep in mind though.
 
Truthfully, I wouldn't do DO unless I had to.
 
I've never met a DO ortho, not saying there aren't any but that should answer your question.
 
uclabruin8 said:
Hi,

I'm currently an undergrad at UCLA and my dream is to become an orthopedic surgeon. My question is: what are the advantages and disadvantages of going to an MD school vs. DO school? I would like to be matched into an orthopedic surgery residency in the future and would like to know how competitive I'd be if I got an MD or DO degree.
Thanks.

NOTE: TITLE SHOULD READ DO vs. MD. OOPS.
Click to expand...

How about you share some stats. You can def become an orthopedic surgeon going DO. My ortho surgeon is a DO and he's amazing.

But your stats would help us give you more advice. If you have a 4.0 and a 35 well def go MD. If you have a 3.5 and a 28 I'd say apply to both and apply extremeley broadly!
 
osumc2014 said:
I've never met a DO ortho, not saying there aren't any but that should answer your question.
Click to expand...


I have met many actually. But did not know for a while that they were DO's.
 
osumc2014 said:
I've never met a DO ortho, not saying there aren't any but that should answer your question.
Click to expand...

As quoted from a previous thread: "This, my friends, is why statistics will soon be required on the MCAT!"
 
I hate n=1 but:

Dr. McPhilemy is Professor, Chair and Course Director of Orthopedic Surgery in the Department of Surgery at PCOM. He was promoted to this position in 1990. He is the Director of the Board of Directors of the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedic Surgery and team physician and orthopedic surgeon to the Philadelphia 76ers. He has spoken on sports medicine and injuries on WIP Radio's Pat Croce Show featuring the 76ers' manager and was featured on a KYW Channel 3 news segment on "Societal Standards in Athletes."

Dr. McPhilemy is active in private practice and holds staff appointments with the Allegheny Health System's City Avenue, Parkview Division and Delaware Valley Hospitals and the Wills Eye Surgical Center. He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the American Orthopedic Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, and the Philadelphia Sports Medicine Society. Dr. McPhilemy received his D.O. from PCOM in 1978.
 
If you only get into MD, go MD.

If you get into both MD and DO, go MD.

If you only get into DO, go DO.

If you get into neither, consider yourself lucky.
 
sideways said:
If you only get into MD, go MD.

If you get into both MD and DO, go MD.

If you only get into DO, go DO.

If you get into neither, consider yourself lucky.
Click to expand...

oh_you.jpg
 
osumc2014 said:
I've never met a DO ortho, not saying there aren't any but that should answer your question.
Click to expand...

Same goes for optho, rads, and derm. Juss sayin'

trollface.jpg
 
uclabruin8 said:
Hi,

I'm currently an undergrad at UCLA and my dream is to become an orthopedic surgeon. My question is: what are the advantages and disadvantages of going to an MD school vs. DO school? I would like to be matched into an orthopedic surgery residency in the future and would like to know how competitive I'd be if I got an MD or DO degree.
Thanks.

NOTE: TITLE SHOULD READ DO vs. MD. OOPS.
Click to expand...
It will be easier if you go for an M.D. The majority of DO doctors do primary care, while the majority of MD doctors specialize.

That said, I think your Step 1 score will matter more than anything else, and do take the USMLE if you go DO. And you should probably get some research done while in medical school. No matter what, it will be pretty hard to get into ortho, but you get a slight advantage if you're MD.
 
Go MD if you have a choice. Go DO over Carib if you can't get into MD.
 
DOs have their own AOA residency in orthopedics. You might actually have an easier time if all you have to do is compete with other DO students, right? I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. I have no interest in ortho but will be matriculating at a DO school.
 
DO is for MD rejects, everyone knows this..
 
There is actually stats and stuff over in the pre D.O. section.... just sayin if you want actual hard data vs. pre med ancedotal evidence I'd go there.
 
Pons Asinorum said:
Just back from post-hold. Glad to see that your time in the penalty box didn't take the edge off your skates. Best of luck friend. I'm sure the Misc forum won't feel as strongly about your particular brand of uselessness.
Click to expand...

y u so mean?
 
Pons Asinorum said:
Just back from post-hold. Glad to see that your time in the penalty box didn't take the edge off your skates. Best of luck friend. I'm sure the Misc forum won't feel as strongly about your particular brand of uselessness.
Click to expand...

get a sense of humor, and a life
 
dbeast said:
Originally Posted by osumc2014
I've never met a DO ortho, not saying there aren't any but that should answer your question.

Same goes for optho, rads, and derm. Juss sayin'
Click to expand...

The radiology program director at UPMC (one of the strongest departments in the country) is a DO. And there are a number of osteopathic radiology residencies. Juss sayin'
 
If accepted to both a DO and MD, which one will you go to? Assuming you like both schools equally
 
lftbndlbrnchblk said:
DOs have their own AOA residency in orthopedics. You might actually have an easier time if all you have to do is compete with other DO students, right? I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. I have no interest in ortho but will be matriculating at a DO school.
Click to expand...

:laugh:

You're in for a rude awakening.

prepare_your_angus.gif
 
Dubaifan490 said:
It will be easier if you go for an M.D. The majority of DO doctors do primary care, while the majority of MD doctors specialize.

That said, I think your Step 1 score will matter more than anything else, and do take the USMLE if you go DO. And you should probably get some research done while in medical school. No matter what, it will be pretty hard to get into ortho, but you get a slight advantage if you're MD.
Click to expand...
Spoken like a true pre-med.
 
osumc2014 said:
There is 1 in our whole department
Click to expand...

One in your whole department makes sense, since there are less DO's. What is the statistic again? 1 in 8 practicing physicians are DOs but that number should decrease to 1 in 6 by 2020s due to school expansion??

So having one in your whole department really doesn't reflect a lack of DO's entering ortho, just simply that you've encountered one at the appropriate rate one would expect given the ratio of MDs to DOs and then the even smaller fraction of graduates from either degree who choose to go ortho.
 
Longshanks said:
One in your whole department makes sense, since there are less DO's. What is the statistic again? 1 in 8 practicing physicians are DOs but that number should decrease to 1 in 6 by 2020s due to school expansion??

So having one in your whole department really doesn't reflect a lack of DO's entering ortho, just simply that you've encountered one at the appropriate rate one would expect given the ratio of MDs to DOs and then the even smaller fraction of graduates from either degree who choose to go ortho.
Click to expand...

1/8 to 1/6 is an increase.... i thinks..ifz mai maths is kurrect
 
uclabruin8 said:
Hi,

I'm currently an undergrad at UCLA and my dream is to become an orthopedic surgeon. My question is: what are the advantages and disadvantages of going to an MD school vs. DO school? I would like to be matched into an orthopedic surgery residency in the future and would like to know how competitive I'd be if I got an MD or DO degree.
Thanks.

NOTE: TITLE SHOULD READ DO vs. MD. OOPS.
Click to expand...

Greetings, fellow Bruin!

As an MD graduate, you're going to have an easier time matching into allopathic residencies than if you graduated with a DO (obviously). Now, depending on what you want to do, this may not matter. However, some things to take into consideration:

-ACGME (allopathic) residencies are more numerous than their AOA (osteopathic) counterparts

-The AOA does not offer residencies in all specialties, and some fellowships are also absent.

-DOs have access to both ACGME and AOA residency programs, but you'll have to compete with your allopathic counterparts if you want to match ACGME. Even in light of this, close to 70% of DOs that try their hand in the allopathic match will be successful.

-Many AOA programs are also ACGME accredited, so if you can find a dually accredited program, that's great!

-You can be an orthopedic surgeon perfectly well with either a DO or MD, but going the ACGME route will open up more fellowships to you, provided you want to subspecialize someday.

-DO schools do tend to be on the more expensive side, but there are public DO schools as well. OU-COM and TCOM, just to name a couple. Expect them to be just as selective with out-of state applicants as MD programs will be.

-Don't let people on SDN feed you the usual crap about the MD vs. DO stigma. Go to a school where you're comfortable and if possible, one that won't break the bank. I've only ever seen DO=bad on these boards and amongst fellow premeds. In practice it just plain isn't the reality.

A bit of a hint from a fellow californian as well: Your chances of staying in state, although decent if you have the stats, are not guaranteed in the slightest. For god's sake if staying in CA is your goal, apply to Touro and Western in addition to the usual allopathic gamut. Most of their students come from the UCs and they are not bad schools by any measure.
 
UbuntuGM said:
1/8 to 1/6 is an increase.... i thinks..ifz mai maths is kurrect
Click to expand...

Semantics. A decrease between the disparity.

Thanks for playing.

Isn't it time for your afternoon nap? The grown ups here are trying to talk.

internet_serious_business.jpg
 
Just a tip: do your research on the DO schools. Some school's 3rd and 4th years.....well let's just say they leave a lot to be desired.
 
lftbndlbrnchblk said:
I told you I don't even really understand the ins and outs. If you know better, inform me instead of just laughing and posting a picture.
Click to expand...

If you don't understand the point I was making, then you should be very concerned about the competition you'll be facing in medical school.

Pons Asinorum said:
I liked the one you dropped in non-trad a lot better:

RXXGh.jpg
Click to expand...

I'm trying to diversify.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
DO in-state near partner vs deferred OOS MD
Replies
12
Views
1K
WildWing
WildWing
Jacob Saadoun
SMP at DO school to MD
Replies
0
Views
478
Jacob Saadoun
Jacob Saadoun
N
Committee letter vs MD letters
Replies
4
Views
1K
Goro
Goro
APSAVirtualContent
~Tomorrow~ Interview tips for those applying MD/DO-PhD!
Replies
0
Views
329
APSAVirtualContent
APSAVirtualContent
anonymooseee
Do Adcoms know AP vs P/F?
Replies
1
Views
691
jffyx _net
jffyx _net
Top