FP for a DO or MD???

[KUMC_MD]

do you think that DOs typical are more "in their environment" as a FP or are MDs?? which earn more on average??

it seems that DO schools tend to push the primary care areas more so than the MD schools from what ive read. is this true??

ive also heard that omm is billable, and is a nice procedure to bill for??

point in the above, is that it seems as a DO, i might be more suited for a primary care field. and if this is what i decide i wanna do, then i maybe i should go that route.

any comments?????

thx

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[VentdependenT]

When did you start medical school?

 

[KUMC_MD]

i didnt... im trying to decide.

sorry to have made it sound otherwise.

 

[VentdependenT]

do you think that DOs typical are more "in their environment" as a FP or are MDs?? which earn more on average??

it seems that DO schools tend to push the primary care areas more so than the MD schools from what ive read. is this true??

ive also heard that omm is billable, and is a nice procedure to bill for??

any comments?????

thx

1) Having financial acumen is what increases the average physician's earning potential not the degree.

2) Primary care is very big at DO schools. Don't think otherwise. Don't be upset that you have to be absolutely stellar to land allopathic subsurgical fields. Its discouragingly tough. It can be done as we had one guy land allo urology. Quite a feat. Osteo subsurgical residencies are out there for you to take.

3) OMM is billable. From what I've heard its a nice adjunct to your income and your patients will keep comming back for it.

If you will be bitter in any way about having a DO behind your name look elswhere. Otherwise you'll just be some pissed off bitter physician and we already have a surplus of those.

Laters

 

[Aloha Kid]

The goal of The AOA is to create primary care physicians out its students first. Then, if they want to specialize, then so be it.

I find this appealing. The breath and depth of knowledge aquired by being trained in a broad and general fashion will inevitably make me a more solid and competent clinical physician. Where the AOA falls short is providing opportunities for subspecialty training once the primary care goal has been met.

I must say, however, that the regimen some allopathic schools subscribe to at times, appears to be in stark contrast to this philosophy. I cannot comprehend how many allopathic students do rotations in subspecialty medicine, research, etc., and yet, their schools only requires 1 month of FP. I'm sure it's fine and dandy for those who only wish to practice in one corner of medicine. However, I'm still not convinved, one can reach their full potential without understanding at least the primary care issues of medicine. I trust, however, that I am overlooking something and am ignorant.

 

[Willamette]

Honestly, and I don't mean to sound flippant or short here (I'm just a bit tired), go to the school that is in your most preferred location. I honestly don't think it makes enough difference to sweat over. I went MD in large part because I didn't know very much about the osteopathic pathway. Had I known more, it's VERY likely that I would have applied to both MD and DO, picking the PLACE I liked best. From where I am standing (MS 3), I think this is more true than ever. If you're intention is to become a good FP, you'll be good no matter where you end up attending...but being happy with where you hang your hat will pay many dividends (in my opinion). Best of luck!


Willamette

 

[lowbudget]

Check out the 3rd and 4th year required clerkships to get an idea of what it's going to be like. I'm rotating with a DO student who has to do 3 months of FP. We only do 1 month. And it sounds like they spend less time in subspecialty rotations.

For me, I want to rotate through as many subspecialty services as I can. FP draws from so many specialties and so you need to know how specialists work someone up and how to do it right. Specialists are usually most up to date with literature and have access to technology that FP clinic rotations do not. I think 3 months of FP clinic, personally, is excessive and takes away from time you can be rotating through Endo, Rheum, Pedi ID, Derm, Rad, Plastics, Ortho, Ophtho, etc.

 

[Aloha Kid]

Check out the 3rd and 4th year required clerkships to get an idea of what it's going to be like. I'm rotating with a DO student who has to do 3 months of FP. We only do 1 month. And it sounds like they spend less time in subspecialty rotations.

For me, I want to rotate through as many subspecialty services as I can. FP draws from so many specialties and so you need to know how specialists work someone up and how to do it right. Specialists are usually most up to date with literature and have access to technology that FP clinic rotations do not. I think 3 months of FP clinic, personally, is excessive and takes away from time you can be rotating through Endo, Rheum, Pedi ID, Derm, Rad, Plastics, Ortho, Ophtho, etc.

I do think that in the long run, after years of being out of medical school, it doesn't matter what kind of education you had whether it's MD or DO. Keeping up to date, and being an excellent FP will hinge entirely upon how motivated you are. I have yet to meet a FP who has been practicing for 15 years tell me, "This is how I learned it in Medical School, so this is the way I do it."

I think the point is, that there is a difference in philosophy between allopathic and osteopathic worlds regarding medical education. Whether or not this affects your capability and ability to become a Family physician, I think, is relatively negligable and unimportant.