family practice only?

[gilleon]

The following statement is listed as an educational goal of a DO school: To provide sufficient academic training to make students aware of health needs that must be referred to a specialist. I was under the impression that DO's could be and are specialists, not only family practice doc's. Am I reading the statement incorrectly, or does it imply that DO's are "supposed" to be GP's?

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[rpames]

The original goal was for DO's to be in general practice fields: general doc, peds, OBGYN... But in the last few decadesthey are found in every specialty avalible. Some say it is a little harder for DOs to get specialty resedencies. I know several DO's that are in specialized fields. I have seen DO cosmetic plastic surgeons. That is as far away from general practice as I can think.

Many schools say their main goal is to train thier DOs in family medicine, but they place grads in all fields as well.

Take a look at this site, it list all the programs.

http://opportunities.aoa-net.org/Opportunities/Opportunities.asp

 

[apgar7]

The goal of the osteopathic field is to first and foremost train DO's as generalists. This is why the AOA requires all DO's who do osteopathic residencies to have done a "rotating internship" before they start their residencies. The theory is that you can be a better specialist doc, whatever kind that may be, if you first have a solid understanding of general medicine.

 

[nero]

I dont' think anybody would argue that DOs are in specialities and that its a little bit harder to get the residency...but that difference is narrowing.........my suggestion is to NEVER EVER write that you are interested in something outside of primary care.....if you do something else besides primary care, that's fine, but dont' tell them that you dont' intend to go to primary care..........some people may disagree with me, but why take a chance if the school has a goal to train primary care physicans in rural areas............i am a student at an undergrad with a DO program.............trsut me on this, the med school prfers peep who say, i wnat to be in IM, peds, FM, ob/gyn.............you get the point...

good luck

nero

 

[droliver]

If you have no interest in the primary care goals laid out by the Osteopathic College, I find it a bit disengenuous that you would 1) apply to an osteopathic school & 2) lie about it during your interview

 

[DOnut]

Originally posted by droliver
If you have no interest in the primary care goals laid out by the Osteopathic College, I find it a bit disengenuous that you would 1) apply to an osteopathic school & 2) lie about it during your interview

Man please, you do what you have to do to get into medical school. Period!!!

This holds true regardless of what type of medical school you are applying to. Always research the schools mission statement, and try to "mold yourself" to fit.

 

[Claymore]

I must agree with droliver on this one...it is unnecessary and inappropriate to "mold yourself" to a program's mission statement. Yes, you want to do what it takes to get into medical school, but not at the expense of compromising your integrity and lying about your intentions. Is this what you would do in practice as a physician? If you could cheat your way through the MCAT to get into med school, would you?

No school expects all their graduates to enter primary care. Hopefully, however, even those not pursuing IM, FM, OB/GYN, or Peds still sees the value in getting a solid foundation in these "general" specialties. This is more or less the intention of these mission statements. In my interviews I was honest in my desire to learn about all my options, but I indicated interest in subspecialties as well. This seemed well received as I was accepted at the all the schools that I interviewed at including my top choice. Good luck.

 

[DOnut]

Originally posted by Claymore
If you could cheat your way through the MCAT to get into med school, would you?

Of course not!!

No school expects all their graduates to enter primary care. Hopefully, however, even those not pursuing IM, FM, OB/GYN, or Peds still sees the value in getting a solid foundation in these "general" specialties. This is more or less the intention of these mission statements.

For the most part I do agree with you on this. I, however, do know that some schools strictly adhere to their mission statement when selecting students. Take, for example, two statistically identical students. One who's personal goals parallel the mission statement of the school, and one who wants to do the complete opposite. Who do you think the school is going to accept??

The majority of medical students change their mind several times when it comes to choosing a future career pathway. The purpose of clinical rotations 3rd and 4th year is to help you figure out what you may want to do. I could say that I want to be an Ophthalmologist today, and by the time I graduate fall in love with internal med, or family practice.

My point is, the interview process consists of a large amount of crap. As a premed student, one has to maxamize their chances of gaining acceptance and not shut any doors prematurely. Do I think this is lying???? No way!!! Do I think that I am immoral for feeling this way??? Not a chance.

Good Luck to all 2003 applicants

 

[droliver]

Originally posted by DOnut

As a premed student, one has to maxamize their chances of gaining acceptance and not shut any doors prematurely. Do I think this is lying???? No way!!! Do I think that I am immoral for feeling this way??? Not a chance

Not immoral, but perhaps unethical in the scenario we refer to. Oh well..... I guess the ends justify the means to some people

 

[DOnut]

Originally posted by droliver
I guess the ends justify the means to some people

I didn't know that Immanual Kant posted on student doctor.

Please, Dr. Ethics,

Tell me why it is unethical for someone who is not positive what type of medicine they would like to practice to say that they may be interested in some primary care field, so long as it fits the institutions mission statement.

Here's another example for you:
I, personally, love research and I think it is a vital aspect to medicine. Without continued research, medicine would continue to repeat the same mistakes of the past.

When I mentioned this to one of my interviewers, she replied with, "If you love research so much, then you need to obtain a Ph.D.. We here train Osteopathic Physicians not researchers."

Now if that's not the biggest load of crap I've ever heard??!! I respect research, and I definitely would like to participate, but I do not want to obtain a Ph.D.

Dr. Oliver I don't know if you are an MD, or an Osteopathic physician but from personal experience, there is a difference in the interviews. Allopathic institution are much more lenient when it comes to choosing a specialty. Osteopathic medical schools are proud of the fact that they graduate over 50% primary care physicians (as they should be!). My point is, if you are a student, who wants to be a physicians, and believes in the osteopathic philosophy, then it would behoove ) I like that word) you, or it would be in your best interest when applying to stick to the educational philosophy of the school.

This is just my 2 cents

 

[none]

Wow...that research quote is very, very disturbing! Much more so than any of this primary care stuff...

 

[DOnut]

Originally posted by none
Wow...that research quote is very, very disturbing! Much more so than any of this primary care stuff...

I agree,

needless to say, I'm not attending that school