DO vs PA

[tinkerchick]

---

Members do not see this ad.

anyone have any good pointers for choosing one over the other?????? I know a lot about each and pros and cons yet I want others feedback!!😀

 

[USArmyDoc]

Do you want to be a physcian or a PA? Its the same as if you asked the question MD or PA.......Make the decision to commit 4 years of your life to medical school plus residency. Thats where you will find your answer....good luck

 

[DrMom]

Do you want to be a physician or a mid-level provider? Do you want to spend the time it takes to complete medical school and residency?

 

[nascardoc]

anyone have any good pointers for choosing one over the other?????? I know a lot about each and pros and cons yet I want others feedback!!😀

If it were MD vs PA, how would you choose? If it is MD, then your answer would be DO b/c a DO is the same as an MD.

 

[DrMom]

hey, armydoc, looks like we were using the same brain waves 😉

 

[Old Grunt]

Damn guys, I don't think she was making any sort of knock on osteopathic medicine. She is merely asking "should I become a doctor or a physician".

Some of you guys are uber sensitivo about the whole D.O./M.D. thing.

 

[pakbabydoll]

o lord.

 

[USArmyDoc]

Damn guys, I don't think she was making any sort of knock on osteopathic medicine. She is merely asking "should I become a doctor or a physician".

Some of you guys are uber sensitivo about the whole D.O./M.D. thing.

I apologize if I came off like that.....Didn't mean to.....I was just pointing out that the choice comes down to is doctor or physicians assistants thats all......Good luck everyone

 

[jzeidenb]

this isnt the greatest place for feedback because its the DO forum, hence, everyone here wants to become a doctor.

a PA is certainly a commodity in demand, you just need to decide how soon you want to enter the workforce and if you are okay with answering to the doctors above you.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Maybe she's trying to decide whether to be a doctor or a public address announcer, like for a basketball team. Not too many females in that field, I don't think. They like the deep voices.

 

[scpod]

anyone have any good pointers for choosing one over the other?????? I know a lot about each and pros and cons yet I want others feedback!!😀

People who want autonomy typically choose to be a physician because a PA can be somewhat limited based on your location. For instance, in NC a PA has to show a physician a few charts every six months, but in SC you have to have a doctor sign every chart within 72 hours and you can't practice more than 60 miles away from your physician.

Good things about a PA....well, there's not as much a hassle with mal-practuce insurance. Physicians can be eaten alive with it. Also, you can bounce around from field to field if you want to. If you've practiced emergency medicne for a number of years as a PA, then decide you want to go into OB, you can. You will need some on-the-job training in the new position, but you don't have to do a whole new residency like a doctor would.

A lot of PAs complain about the pay, though. They see themselves as doing the same thing as a doctor but getting paid much less. In many cases that is true, yet they didn't do four years of med school and 3 or 4 (or more depending on the specialty) years of residency. And, it's not their butt on the line when a lawsuit happens-- the lawyer is going after the doctor and his or her insurance company with the "rich pockets".

You may want to check out the mid-level provider section of the board because they will have a different perspective probably. Besides, I've seen hundreds of debates about this in their section. There are so many debates about it that you just may get sick of reading it. yet, you might gain some valuable insight. Like any advise you'll run into on SDN, take it with a grain of salt. You really don't know who you are talking to and what their qualifications are.

Good Luck

 

[mandinca]

Maybe she's trying to decide whether to be a doctor or a public address announcer, like for a basketball team. Not too many females in that field, I don't think. They like the deep voices.

Dude, I LOVE your sense of humor! You are ALWAYS cracking me up!😆😆