Frustrating to explain

Oh, please don't tell them DOs are like MD + chiropractor!

We're full physicians, completely equivalent to MDs. We learn some skills along the lines of physical therapy, but only a small percentage of us use them in practice. In theory there's a different philosophy, but that really isn't so distinct anymore.

If I were you, I'd just stick to physicians just like MDs with different letters for the degree.

 

Yes please beware the "C" word.

Sometimes when you try to explain to people what a DO is they treat you like you joined up with some crazy new religion.

Of course I grew up Mormon so I'm used to it.



You just have to have a sense of humor and not take it personally. Friends and family members may be skeptical at first but eventually they will get a clue.

 

I usually refer to a well-known, respected doctor in the area who happens to be a D.O. and point-out the fact that he has the same degree I (hopefully) will be earning...

 

I hate the comparison to chiropractors. I am wary of them to begin with because they seem to sell packages of treatments that seems a little unethical. If someone feels relief from them fine, but I always tell people that DOs are not like chiropractors in that DOs can do anything an MD can (surgery, general practice, anesthesiology, etc..) we are just taught a different philosophy. I also tell them that they probably have met a DO and didn't know it as people don't generally ask doctors what letters come after their name.

 

umm, just say it's the same as an MD. Why are you making such a big thing of it?

 

Yeah definitely don't associate us with Chiropractors, not that their is anything wrong with them, but we are very distinct from them. I usually just explain that their's two types of doc's MD's and DO's, and DO's just receive additional training MD's don't, other than that, identical. Or, I just don't explain at all in that they usually don't catch the osteopathic in the name of the school or don't ask. In my region in particular, DO's are scarce b/c their is no school in my home state, and I get sick of explaining to people so I usually don't.

Funny story, one time a guy asked me if I had gotten into our state MD school yet, I had told him not yet. He said that if I don't happen to get in I could always go be one of those "JV doctors", referring to D.O.'s. I just laughed hysterically at his ignorance. This was to give you an idea of what I'm dealing with in Nebraska.

 

Dude, really? Because most people aren't going to believe that. To someone ignorant of the differences, would you expect them too? Medicine is full of mid-levels trying to equivocate, all sorts of weird-ass degree creep, DNPs calling themselves doctor.

Most people's thinking will resemble: if they're the same as MDs, how come I've never heard of them? At best you'll get a polite "oh really," but inside they're thinking you're FOS.

I too would like to hear a way to easily and adequately get the point across to others. Anyone who says it's like an MD but has additional training is going to get the eye-roll, so that's not an option.

 

Give me his address.

 

Haha, don't worry I got him. He then went on to tell me the hospital in our hometown wouldn't hire D.O.'s b/c the school wasn't hard enough. I then pulled up the home page of the hospital and showed him the chief of surgery was a D.O., as well as the head of anesthesia.

 

I'm a Mormon convert, and I had friends who acted like I was going to hell for it.

Anyway, I know these kind of questions (the OP's) get flamed alot, but I actually do think it's a valid question. There was a DO at church who was doing his FM residency nearby, so he was only here for a while before moving away upon finishing his residency. I was talking to someone about him who started to say, "well he's not a doctor he's a...i forget what they're called...uh..."

I think the public doesn't alway know what a DO is, especially here in Cali where they're not that common. Still, I think professionals (MD's, RN's, etc) certainly know what DO's are and treat them accordingly, and they're the ones who matter anyway.

 

I just say I'm going to medical school next year if asked. If they ask what school, I tell them. I haven't been asked yet what the difference is. I think the only time I get a question about it is when I emphasize the osteopathic stuff or it is a premed. I don't see people questioning whether it is a DDS or DMD for dentists. Granted, there isn't extra coursework with either one it still seems like the same idea. People get their "Master's". People generally don't care about the other letter.

I'm not saying you should hide it, but I do think more questions come from how your present it to people.

"Where are you going to med school next year?" -> "I'm going to Pikesville/PCSOM!"
versus
"Where are you going to med school next year?" -> "I'm going to Pikesville College- School of OSTEOPATHIC Medicine!"

Neither way is wrong or misleading, but the second way does beg a little more questioning from people who simply don't know.

 

Look on the bright side... once you get past the whole DO explanation, at least you don't have to explain what the hell Philadelphia College is doing in Georgia.

 

By the way... I explain it as being like dentistry. 2 different degrees, same ****.

 

I honestly did not have that much trouble explaining it. I think most people will agree that a DO is extremely similar to an MD. Just some training in manipulative medicine. I just explain that DO's can write prescriptions, do surgery, anything an MD colleague can.

 

I explain it that we're like porn stars. All porn stars pretty much do the same thing, but a few of them also do DVDA, which is like OMM.

 

Fail. Wrong movie.

 

For the love of Jesus, please don't tell us which one you had in mind!

 

Gotta be Boogie Nights. #1 on the list of reasons why Julianne Moore and Mark Wahlberg and Don Cheadle and John C. Reilly are unlikely to EVER win Oscars. (Rule #1: never, ever do porn satire w/Burt Reynolds.)

Edit: exception to rule #1: unless you're Philip Seymour Hoffman.

 

Could say things ... pretty much all covered. TT your phili in atlanta comment made me laugh. Basically, you don't need to explain it. You just say you're going to medical school and will soon be a doctor. Despite what some may say ... you aren't a traitor or embarrassed by your credentials if you don't slap 'osteopathic' in front of absolutely everything involving your education. You're a physician, period. Next they will ask what kind - to which you obviously say a dermatologist. I'm in the same situation as an above poster ... my ENTIRE family (and almost town for that matter) has gone/goes to a DO PCP for years and he's awesome. They understand it through him so I've never really had to explain. Here's my line if you ever really need to ...

'There are two separate paths to becoming a fully licensed physician in the US: the allopathic (MD) route or the osteopathic (DO) route. The biggest difference between the two comes from a slight and fading difference in philosophy and two separate governing bodies that have never merged. There is no difference in the practice between an MD and a DO, MDs and DOs complete identical residencies, and you've probably seen an DO before and never even known.' Then if you really need to you can get into the 'lots of other health care fields have two degrees: ie DMD/DDS' or use the 'BA in x subject vs BS in x subject ... both will allow you to do the job that you earned the degree to get, but one is a BS and one is a BA.'

 

Just google 'DVDA' C-bear. Be prepared though ...



(hint: the d stands for double)

 

Thanks for the warning. I posted the "keep it classy" poster after I put two and two together (is this thing on? ). Fortunately, when I googled the term, I wasn't in an image search with SafeSearch off!

 

Come here and sit on papa's knee, I'm going to explain to you what you saw there son. Ya see, when a well hung pizza delivery man and a naughty, neglected housewife love each other very much they sometimes ...

 

Sure, it's only been a hundred years or so...give it time.

 

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0fNNWDe0hs[/YOUTUBE]

 

I like explaining it actually. I usually throw in that we have direct, traceable history and philosophy that started in America, we learn OMM, and we have the opportunity to apply to both MD and DO residency programs.

 

Haha I just read your profile. You volunteered at ASH?

I worked at Brack in the ER. Were you one of the guys that would bring us the psych pts?

 

Nope. I've only ever set foot in Brack once, volunteering for a Christmas party/fundraiser a couple years ago.

 

Uhmm what does DVDA mean??

 

You uncultured pre-meds need to see orgazmo.

 

Really? You think DOs have had full physician privilages for 100 years? I suggest you do a little more research son.

 

Uhmm I am cultured....I think What's orgasmo?? I'm sorry I just havent heard of these things.

 

Orgazmo is a movie by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park and BASEketball. Check out the synopsis on wikipedia. It is a pretty funny movie and is somewhat ridiculous. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orgazmo

 

Thank you

 

I just say same thing as MD, in my opinion its not worth trying to explain all the "pseudo-differences". I NEVER bring up chiropractic or OMT for that matter as I for one will probably not use it (though I do think it can't hurt to learn).

I did have to educate an older person who had the wrong vision about DO. I fixed that by pulling up a DO that I shadow who's a professor in the clin ed department at Harvard MS.

 

I just say I am going to the med school for an interview. If people know for example, there is no MD school in Des Moines, IA , they ask what school, then I say it's a D.O. school. Usually, these same people also know what a DO is. So, end of conversation.

Just don't bother explaining, it is not worth it. I did not "explain" to my in-laws or my parents as they really don't know or don't care what the differences are. They are just happy that I will become a doctor.

As far as I am concerned, I will get the benefit of the additional OMM training. I will just have to take two sets of licensing exams in stead of one.

 

LOL, I just read this. Hilarious

 

Just say DDS = DMD, BS = BE in an engineering degree , PhD = PsyD in psychology, etc... and DO = MD

 

Just as an aside ... it's actually pretty shocking how little the general public knows about medical school/becoming a physician. For example, I've wanted to go into medicine since I could speak, and I've always talked with my parents about what I wanted to do, how to get there etc. So today I'm talking to my dad and it turns out that he has absolutely no idea how long medical school is, how you get in, etc. He also didn't understand how one specializes, and basically thought that you kinda do specific stuff in medical school then become that type of doctor ... it also took me a long time to explain what a resident is. I guess my point from all this is when my dad, an intelligent, current, and successful member of society has no idea about all of this jazz (and he has a child who's going into it), the general consensus for stuff is going to be poor and misunderstood. I think that's why it's important to be as direct as possible when explaining what a DO is, because a lot of this is a mystery to people. He's also seen a DO PCP for the past 20 years and obviously doesn't know or has never had a second thought about the DO behind his name on every appointment card and script we get.

 

Actually, out of curiosity, I delved in the psych forums and there does seem to be a fairly significant difference between PhD and PsyD, the former being more for research/academia and the latter being more clinical, but there is nothing keeping one from doing the other's so called specialty. Although, I doubt the psych people would say they are equivalent.

 

I know plenty about the field and those degrees. Although there is a large difference in the obtaining of the degrees as well as the career plans of most who choose one over the other, the independent practice rights to be a licensed independent psychologist are the same.

 

Funny. I was born and raised in Erie PA. I can remember my grandmother (now 86) sayiong she would never go to one of those DOs and how the two bigger local hospitals only had MDs when I was young and there was a stigma with the DO vs. MD thing.

Since LECOM started in 1992, the line has vanished here. No one even gives it another thought. I swear the ratio has to be 50-50 here. I am a pharmaceutical rep for now and even the docs I call on are as much DO as MD. Some even practice together.

I actually forget that some areas are not like this and there is still (no pun intended) a perceived difference.

Overall, it is like anything else.....with exposure and education by everyone they will see that DOs have all the privilages plus OMM

 

I stand corrected then.

How about nursing, is there a difference between the BSN and BS in nursing?

 

It does get rather annoying, I agree. However, I think the assertion that the general public is "coming around" is just hot air. How long have DO's been around now?? The DO degree will never be as ubiquitous as MD. It just wont. I accepted this before I even applied to DO schools. It doesn't make it any better or any worse, it just is what it is. There are 130+ MD schools and 26 (?) DO schools, and DOs are regionally concentrated unlike MDs who are everywhere. I know, I know, DOs are everywhere too, but they arent in the majority and they tend to be concentrated more in certain areas.

I just tell people I am applying to medical school (and hopefully going!) If they ask where, I tell them the name of the school and usually it stops there. But sometimes they ask further and I just tell them the truth, that there are two types of fully licenced and recognized physicians in the US, MDs and DOs. DOs learn a little bit extra in addition to regular medical training, but the difference is negligible.

I am STILL explaining to my family what exactly a DO is and that they are real doctors. My grandma still thinks they are chiropractors. It is annoying as hell, but what can i do?

 

Yeah, what I got from the FAQ section was that the earning of the two degrees comprised the majority of the differences. I think with either degree it's possible to do anything in the field.

I don't know about that one. I might sit down and look into it for the sake of knowing.

 

To my knowledge, absolutely no difference. BSN=Bachelor's of Science-Nursing, so kind of a mute point. However, there are some subtle differences between ADN (Associate's Degree of Nursing) and BSN, especially at the administrative level. If anyone has any other understanding different, please feel free to correct me.