I asked a couple weeks ago about DOs and international opportunities. Didn't get many responses, but in case anyone is interested, Doctors Without Borders does NOT take DOs. Cheers!
DOs and Doctors Without Borders
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So, i guess this means that if we are awarded a Nobel Peace Prize we can join? I emailed them and asked. Here is what they said:
Someone did respond to my original posting and said there is some DO international organization. Look for the first posting in Pre-Ost. from ejf (i think it's two or three pages in). It does work with missionary groups--which wouldnt be my preference, but they get the job done.
If i actually make this happen, i think there is a way to do service work--but not as a doctor. For example, there are no chiropractic schools in Spain, but there are Chiropractors. So, i guess, DOs would just be considered alternative medical service providers...or something. Seems a bit silly to me since preventive medicine is much more cost efficient than curative medicine and most countries don't have enough money for treatment as it is...Im babbling. Here is what Doctors Without Borders said.
Good luck with everything.
Doctors Without Borders
Thank you for your interest in Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
As you know, Doctors Without Borders/ M?decins Sans Fronti?res provides medical relief to victims of disaster and hardship throughout the world. The organization mainly recruits experienced medical personnel (i.e., with at least two years of professional work after school) such as physicians (general practitioners and specialists), general surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nutritionists, epidemiologists, and midwives to carry out its programs. We also on occasion have positions available for psychiatrists and experienced non-medical personnel (i.e., with technical skills or previous logistics or administration or finance work).
At this time we do not recruit D.O.'s, as the missions we undertake require the medical personnel to be generalists. Due to the nature of our resources and missions, they need to be flexible as they are usually the only medical resource in the area
When considering MSF, it is important to be aware of the 6 month minimum time commitment (shorter durations are available for surgeons) and that field placement is not determined by candidates. The application is available online and all candidates are evaluated through this submission process.
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/volunteer/
Again, thank you for your interest, best of luck in your current work and future plans.
Sincerely,
Jane Schreiber
HR Assistant
MSF USA
Someone did respond to my original posting and said there is some DO international organization. Look for the first posting in Pre-Ost. from ejf (i think it's two or three pages in). It does work with missionary groups--which wouldnt be my preference, but they get the job done.
If i actually make this happen, i think there is a way to do service work--but not as a doctor. For example, there are no chiropractic schools in Spain, but there are Chiropractors. So, i guess, DOs would just be considered alternative medical service providers...or something. Seems a bit silly to me since preventive medicine is much more cost efficient than curative medicine and most countries don't have enough money for treatment as it is...Im babbling. Here is what Doctors Without Borders said.
Good luck with everything.
Doctors Without Borders
Thank you for your interest in Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
As you know, Doctors Without Borders/ M?decins Sans Fronti?res provides medical relief to victims of disaster and hardship throughout the world. The organization mainly recruits experienced medical personnel (i.e., with at least two years of professional work after school) such as physicians (general practitioners and specialists), general surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nutritionists, epidemiologists, and midwives to carry out its programs. We also on occasion have positions available for psychiatrists and experienced non-medical personnel (i.e., with technical skills or previous logistics or administration or finance work).
At this time we do not recruit D.O.'s, as the missions we undertake require the medical personnel to be generalists. Due to the nature of our resources and missions, they need to be flexible as they are usually the only medical resource in the area
When considering MSF, it is important to be aware of the 6 month minimum time commitment (shorter durations are available for surgeons) and that field placement is not determined by candidates. The application is available online and all candidates are evaluated through this submission process.
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/volunteer/
Again, thank you for your interest, best of luck in your current work and future plans.
Sincerely,
Jane Schreiber
HR Assistant
MSF USA
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Looks like someone doesn't know what a D.O. is! Probably got a letter from a person who thinks you want to be an optometrist. There is nothing in their literature that would suggest that a licensed D.O. would not be qualified to serve on one of their trips, especially if your speciality was in surgery or emergency med.
Did you at least write back and ask them what the h*** they think a D.O. is? Oh wait.....they are French....they are no doubt suffering from posterior-cranial inversion about U.S. osteopaths.
Willow
Please note that the ORGANIZATION Doctors Without Borders is the one that was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. The DO that belongs to the organization and that spoke at OU-COM was not the one awarded the prize. DO's can belong to Doctors Without Borders or to other international humanitarian organizations without any problems. There's even an international organization founded by a DO (www.docareintl.org).
The e-mail you received is proof of ignorance of what the initials "D.O." mean. Like I always say, the D.O. degree is the best-kept secret in medicine. Besides, the e-mail was answered by an HR assistant. I'm willing to bet the average HR graduate has no idea what a D.O. is.
I found it very funny that they say "At this time we do not recruit D.O.'s, as the missions we undertake require the medical personnel to be generalists." D.O.'s are for the most part generalists! A larger percentage of DO graduates pursue generalist training than specialty training.
The e-mail you received is proof of ignorance of what the initials "D.O." mean. Like I always say, the D.O. degree is the best-kept secret in medicine. Besides, the e-mail was answered by an HR assistant. I'm willing to bet the average HR graduate has no idea what a D.O. is.
I found it very funny that they say "At this time we do not recruit D.O.'s, as the missions we undertake require the medical personnel to be generalists." D.O.'s are for the most part generalists! A larger percentage of DO graduates pursue generalist training than specialty training.
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Someone PLEASE email them and tell them what a D.O. is!!Seriously though... I know there are issues facing D.O.'s trying to get licensed to practice in other countries... correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I've heard. Maybe that plays something into it.
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This is very sad and also slightly amusing
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Funny thing is that when you go into a 3rd world country for short-term relief you don't get a license to practice in that country since you're not staying permanently. Most of those countries are quite grateful to have some free medical care provided.
As to MSF: it is pathetic that they have someone putting out such uninformed information.
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This is obnoxious and sad. I hope DWB/MSF can pull their heads out of their asses long enough to learn what a D.O. actually is. In their letter they even used the term "physician" as someone they recruit. Maybe if someone just made the connection between physician and D.O. they would have some idea of what is going on here. . . especially since they take physicians that are both "generalist and specialists"?!@!? but do not take D.O.'s cuz they "require the medical personnel to be generalists"?!@!?
Does the person who wrote this letter have any idea what they are talking about?
Then again, given the complete absurdity of this letter I honestly think the author may have thought "ejf" asked if Doctors Without Borders accepts O.D.'s. Especially since "Buster Douglas" posted about a D.O. who is indeed part of the organization.
Does the person who wrote this letter have any idea what they are talking about?
Then again, given the complete absurdity of this letter I honestly think the author may have thought "ejf" asked if Doctors Without Borders accepts O.D.'s. Especially since "Buster Douglas" posted about a D.O. who is indeed part of the organization.
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Okay I sent them another email and this time I specified that they need to be clear on what exactly a D.O. is before they respond. I ask specifically: Say for example if the D.O. was a general surgeon, would you accept them as a volunteer in MSF?
This will either really confuse them or provide us with some clarity. Hopefully they'lll get their heads out of their bobos and figure out that a D.O. is the most general a physician can get.
This will either really confuse them or provide us with some clarity. Hopefully they'lll get their heads out of their bobos and figure out that a D.O. is the most general a physician can get.
Amy B
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This is really irritating. Do you think it is because DO's in other countries aren't full fledged doctors like they are here in the states?
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I'm certain it has something to do with it. Probably more to do with ignorance. Very amusing nevertheless.
It aint true. They do take DOs. Just like most of the people in this country they are working with DOs without realizing what they are.
http://www.ohiou.edu/news/02-03/110.htmlx
If you are having problems just identify yourself as a board certified and licensed physician and refer them to this guy referenced in the article.
Daniel F. Dickriede, D.O., a member of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning humanitarian relief organization, Doctors Without Borders, and a 1987 graduate of the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine,
http://www.ohiou.edu/news/02-03/110.htmlx
If you are having problems just identify yourself as a board certified and licensed physician and refer them to this guy referenced in the article.
Daniel F. Dickriede, D.O., a member of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning humanitarian relief organization, Doctors Without Borders, and a 1987 graduate of the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine,
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With their reference to "generalists," I wonder if they just confused "D.O.'s" with optometrists or something like that. Maybe if you asked whether "Osteopathic Physicians" are allowed to join you would get a different answer? I hope so anyway.
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Guys...
I don't think MSF will have the slightest problem hiring any American DO with the right experience once you patiently explain what 'DO' means in terms of your medical qualifications.
I'm sure other DOs before you have worked with MSF or similar organisations. Ask around. Ask the AOA. Ask your college.
Probably my best advice is to contact the US Boards of MSF.
Outside of the United States (yes, there is a world out there... I live in it (Australia)), osteopaths are not physicians. They are holistic primary contact neuromusculoskeletal specialists who use neither drugs nor surgery. Their primary modality is OMT, which they are very good at since they do it all the time. They are still ranked with chiropractors, etc. as practitioners of 'alternative' or 'complementary' medicine. Although many osteopaths work alongside medicos, they usually don't have hospital access. Few medical authorities outside of the US have the slightest clue what American osteopathy is... indeed, only a minority know what ANY model of osteopathy is about!
This is just something you'll have to get used to... for the love of God be proud of it! Geez, use it as an opportunity to bring people up to speed on what American osteopathic medicine is and what makes it special.
bon chance
I don't think MSF will have the slightest problem hiring any American DO with the right experience once you patiently explain what 'DO' means in terms of your medical qualifications.
I'm sure other DOs before you have worked with MSF or similar organisations. Ask around. Ask the AOA. Ask your college.
Probably my best advice is to contact the US Boards of MSF.
Outside of the United States (yes, there is a world out there... I live in it (Australia)), osteopaths are not physicians. They are holistic primary contact neuromusculoskeletal specialists who use neither drugs nor surgery. Their primary modality is OMT, which they are very good at since they do it all the time. They are still ranked with chiropractors, etc. as practitioners of 'alternative' or 'complementary' medicine. Although many osteopaths work alongside medicos, they usually don't have hospital access. Few medical authorities outside of the US have the slightest clue what American osteopathy is... indeed, only a minority know what ANY model of osteopathy is about!
This is just something you'll have to get used to... for the love of God be proud of it! Geez, use it as an opportunity to bring people up to speed on what American osteopathic medicine is and what makes it special.
bon chance
Thanks for responding everybody. I did write back to headquarters, and I asked for clarification. I haven't heard anything, but from what everyone else here has said, it looks like there are international opportunities for DOs afterall (this was my biggest concern). So, thanks!
Hi all,
I heard back again and it turns out they were wrong the first time. Here's what they said:
"Apologies for not being clear. MSF does accept osteopaths, as long as the other requirements on the application form are also met.
The application can be downloaded at:
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/volunteer/
If we can be of any assistance, please contact us."
So, that's a step in the right direction. Now we just need the World Health Organization to recognize DOs, and preventive medicine in general, as medicine of the future and we'll be set!
I heard back again and it turns out they were wrong the first time. Here's what they said:
"Apologies for not being clear. MSF does accept osteopaths, as long as the other requirements on the application form are also met.
The application can be downloaded at:
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/volunteer/
If we can be of any assistance, please contact us."
So, that's a step in the right direction. Now we just need the World Health Organization to recognize DOs, and preventive medicine in general, as medicine of the future and we'll be set!
The World Health Organization recognizes American DO's already. If you download their "World Directory of Medical Schools" you'll find all 20 US DO schools listed there along with the rest of medical schools in the country (and the world).
Yep, the WHO includes the schools of Osteopathic medicine in the U.S. Here's the link if anyone's interested:
http://www.who.int/hrh/documents/en/wdms_R-Z.pdf
http://www.who.int/hrh/documents/en/wdms_R-Z.pdf
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You go, ejf!!! I think it's fantastic that you're showing such follow-through with this whole matter. I'm a 2nd year at nycom, and I think that you have the makings of an exceptional leader. Keep chuggin' away!
