for the ignorant..what is DO?

[cotinara]

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So i was wondering if you guys could answer some Q's about DO for me?

What exactly is it and how is it different from MD?
Why did you guys choose it over lets say MD?

Thanks for any replies it will help alot.

 

[Phil Anthropist]

Some links pertinent to your first question:

What is a DO?
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=89324

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or Doctor of Medicine: Which One?
http://www.studentdoctor.net/do/mdordo.asp

 

[NeuroDO]

So i was wondering if you guys could answer some Q's about DO for me?

What exactly is it and how is it different from MD?
Why did you guys choose it over lets say MD?

Thanks for any replies it will help alot.

Basically, there are very few differences between a DO and an MD. Either degree is required to be a fully licensed physician in all 50 states. DOs, like MDs, can practice in any specialty, but a larger proportion of DOs tend to go into primary care as compared to MDs.

DO schools tend to be more focused on producing clinicians than some of their MD counterparts. Also, at DO schools there is less of an emphasis on research.

The only notable difference in the curriculum between MD schools and DO schools is that DO schools devote about 3 hours per week to osteopathic manipulation, which teaches a system of manual manipulations of the body that can be used to treat certain problems. Due to the additional coursework in osteopathic manipulation, DOs have more experience in physical diagnosis and the musculoskeletal system.

DO schools also pride themselves on teaching a more patient-oriented version of healthcare, in which the totality of the person and the integration of various body systems are considered to view the health of the total person in his or her social and environmental context. This type of medicine, focusing on treating the patient rather than his or her disease, also places a special emphasis on preventative medicine. However, these aspects of the osteopathic education have been increasingly adopted by allopathic (MD) programs as well.

In actuality, there are very few differences in how DOs and MDs practice, and there are few differences remaining in their educations, the only notable exception being the use of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine.

Today, most people who chose to become a DO over an MD are drawn to the hands on treatment of osteopathic manipulation. Others are drawn to osteopathic schools because of the strong emphasis on clinical education and patient care within the osteopathic curriculum.

 

[dr.z]

There's a nice article about D.O. on USNews and World Report (one with med school rankings) that was recently published.

 

[Dr Alo]

You can read the section of my blog on OMT. Just click on the OMT category!

 

[skypilot]

It is important to note that today most DOs do their residencies at exactly the same institutions as MDs.

So even though they might have slightly different undergraduate medical education, DO surgeons will be training in the same programs and at the same hospitals as MD surgeons once they are residents.

This is true for every medical specialty. There are however, some residencies reserved exclusively for DOs.

People go DO because they like the school, it was the school they were admitted to, they like the DO philosophy and want to learn osteopathic manipulation, or it is the school closest to their home.

 

[oralskills]

So i was wondering if you guys could answer some Q's about DO for me?

What exactly is it and how is it different from MD?
Why did you guys choose it over lets say MD?

Thanks for any replies it will help alot.

DO's will probably tell you that they can socialize better and that they "care" but it isn't true. DO applicants are students who didn't do well as undergraduates and are trying to find a way into medical school. DO's will tell you a bunch of stuff that makes no sense:

1. DO= MD +OMT (we are like MD's except we have to train in OMT)
Reality: DO = MD + OMT - GOOD GRADES - 10 points on the MCAT

2. We care. We know how to relate to patients.
Reality: MD's don't care? If we let people into Med school based solely on the ability to "relate" to people, Forest Gump would be a doctor.

3. More people apply to DO schools than MD schools.
Reality:

Applicants with gpas from 1.0 - 3.0 apply to DO schools
Applicants with gpas from 3.5 - 4.0 apply to MD schools
While more appicants may apply to DO schools, many of these applicants aren't qualified to be trash collectors. The quality of applicants can only truely be measured by GPA and MCAT scores.


http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradprof/healthprof/premed/osteopathicstats.html

http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradprof/healthprof/premed/medschoolstats.htm

Why do we respect doctors (MD's)? Because we know that behind that label is:

1. Someone who is smart and who did well in school
2. Is qualified to treat patients

If anyone off the street could become a doctor (DO), where is the respect in it?

 

[cdreed]

DO's will probably tell you that they can socialize better and that they "care" but it isn't true. DO applicants are students who didn't do well as undergraduates and are trying to find a way into medical school. DO's will tell you a bunch of stuff that makes no sense:

1. DO= MD +OMT (we are like MD's except we have to train in OMT)
Reality: DO = MD + OMT - GOOD GRADES - 10 points on the MCAT

2. We care. We know how to relate to patients.
Reality: MD's don't care? If we let people into Med school based solely on the ability to "relate" to people, Forest Gump would be a doctor.

3. More people apply to DO schools than MD schools.
Reality:

Applicants with gpas from 1.0 - 3.0 apply to DO schools
Applicants with gpas from 3.5 - 4.0 apply to MD schools
While more appicants may apply to DO schools, these applicants aren't qualified to be trash collectors. The quality of applicants can only truely be measured by GPA and MCAT scores.


http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradprof/healthprof/premed/osteopathicstats.html

http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradprof/healthprof/premed/medschoolstats.htm

Now do you know why people don't respect DO's?

If you have to rely on your degree to have people respect you, then something is horribly wrong.

 

[PJ1120]

Hey oralskills,
Considering ur gonna be a dentist. Why do u feel ur so superior? Dentists have always been the backend of the healthcare system. Lookin at ppl's mouths all the time? Come on. Also, considering many dentists dont have good grades either...many of my friends were pre-med but ended up pre-dental cause they messed up. So before u go judging other ppl.....look at urself first. Btw...how many MD/DOs did u shadow considering ur gonna be a dentist? Unless u wanted to be a physician but u pansied out. If u go into a county hospital many physicians are FMGs, MDs, and DOs, and all of them work together. I have never met an attending who looked down on FMGs or DOs. But u know what? I asked them about dentistry and they said they couldnt imagine looking at mouths all day (I'm a pharmacist who considered dental and medical). Sorry...but i have no tolerance to mean and ignorant ppl as urself. I dont think u'll be successful as a dentist w/ ur attitude. I sure wouldnt want anyone i know going to u.

 

[normalforce]

DO's will probably tell you that they can socialize better and that they "care" but it isn't true. DO applicants are students who didn't do well as undergraduates and are trying to find a way into medical school. DO's will tell you a bunch of stuff that makes no sense:

1. DO= MD +OMT (we are like MD's except we have to train in OMT)
Reality: DO = MD + OMT - GOOD GRADES - 10 points on the MCAT

2. We care. We know how to relate to patients.
Reality: MD's don't care? If we let people into Med school based solely on the ability to "relate" to people, Forest Gump would be a doctor.

3. More people apply to DO schools than MD schools.
Reality:

Applicants with gpas from 1.0 - 3.0 apply to DO schools
Applicants with gpas from 3.5 - 4.0 apply to MD schools
While more appicants may apply to DO schools, these applicants aren't qualified to be trash collectors. The quality of applicants can only truely be measured by GPA and MCAT scores.


http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradprof/healthprof/premed/osteopathicstats.html

http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradprof/healthprof/premed/medschoolstats.htm

Now do you know why people don't respect DO's?

Hey numnuts, the same CAN be said about dentists. Which is what you are doing right?

Anyway, while I do not fully agree with alot that has been said about the diffs between MDs and DOs, I must say that they above poster is a true fool. I am a DO, I scored a 32 on the MCAT, my GPA was above 3.5. In med school, I earned a dual degree in 4 years, and I am training at Northwestern for my residency.

Look, you all have to understand that YES, some DOs go to DO school b/c that is where they got in and had no MD acceptances. However, many, the majority, go because it was what they wanted to do.

This issue can, and will be, argued repeatedly for some time. But the pre-dent or dentschool guy that posted previously is a ***** and his words are not to be trusted by those premeds and meds reading this thread who want REAL info.

Look into both MD and DO, evaluate them, continue to study and work hard, and see what happens. If you get into only DO schools, then fine. Go be a physician and help people.

We don't need trash talkers here.

 

[oralskills]

Hey oralskills,
Considering ur gonna be a dentist. Why do u feel ur so superior? Dentists have always been the backend of the healthcare system. Lookin at ppl's mouths all the time? Come on. Also, considering many dentists dont have good grades either...many of my friends were pre-med but ended up pre-dental cause they messed up. So before u go judging other ppl.....look at urself first. Btw...how many MD/DOs did u shadow considering ur gonna be a dentist? Unless u wanted to be a physician but u pansied out. If u go into a county hospital many physicians are FMGs, MDs, and DOs, and all of them work together. I have never met an attending who looked down on FMGs or DOs. But u know what? I asked them about dentistry and they said they couldnt imagine looking at mouths all day (I'm a pharmacist who considered dental and medical). Sorry...but i have no tolerance to mean and ignorant ppl as urself. I dont think u'll be successful as a dentist w/ ur attitude. I sure wouldnt want anyone i know going to u.

I am a dentist by choice. You, like other DO's, are unqualified to be an MD. You may work side by side with MD's, but they don't respect you. I know plenty of MD's who tell me this. 😛

 

[oralskills]

However, many, the majority, go because it was what they wanted to do.

Here's another lie coming from a DO. Maybe DO's do socialize better. You guys would make good car salesman with the type of lies that you are trying to feed everyone.

Ever DO is going to write back saying:

I have a 3.9 and 40+ on the MCAT.

Yeah, we believe you. 😉

 

[(nicedream)]

Someone's bitter
Sorry you're a loser - you are spending your time on boards for professions other than your own and talking about things you are ignorant and uninformed about.

 

[Dr Sum Day]

Ban the troll, he spews of insecurity.

 

[DrMom]

closing.

the OP's question has been addressed.