Go to Alternative Med school first?

[lilpizi]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi! I've always been interested in the health field and I want to practice in a way where I see patients and have a strong background in alternative medicine as well as western medicine. I'm concern if I go straight to MD or DO that I would lose that foundation in alternative medicine because I would be swept up in it.

There's a school called Pacific College of Oriental Medicine that would give me my Masters in Traditional Oriental Medicine. I was wondering if I should go that route first before med school? I know I don't need to get into med school, but I'm thinking about how I would like my career to be.

Any advices? Anybody know if I can get that strong background if I go into med school first?

Thanks!

 

[SFs Own Tone]

You should look into the field of integrative medicine, which can be pursued as either MD or DO.

 

[redsquareblack]

Hi! I've always been interested in the health field and I want to practice in a way where I see patients and have a strong background in alternative medicine as well as western medicine. I'm concern if I go straight to MD or DO that I would lose that foundation in alternative medicine because I would be swept up in it.

There's a school called Pacific College of Oriental Medicine that would give me my Masters in Traditional Oriental Medicine. I was wondering if I should go that route first before med school? I know I don't need to get into med school, but I'm thinking about how I would like my career to be.

Any advices? Anybody know if I can get that strong background if I go into med school first?

Thanks!

If you simply must get wrapped up in so-called "alternative" medicine, I'd advise you do it before med school. I say this because once you actually study medical science, you may find yourself having a hard time swallowing some of the more comical descriptions of mechanisms and physiology characteristic of many alternative modalities.

 

[apumic]

If you simply must get wrapped up in so-called "alternative" medicine, I'd advise you do it before med school. I say this because once you actually study medical science, you may find yourself having a hard time swallowing some of the more comical descriptions of mechanisms and physiology characteristic of many alternative modalities.

Wouldn't it be better, then, for the OP to get a firm foundation in the medical sciences prior to sitting through a bunch of poorly-constructed supposed "pathways" and pseudo-biology? That way, s/he is not getting bad information without having the knowledge to filter out the crap. Seems to me, the OP would be best off going for the MD/DO and then seeing what sort of alternative medicine is still of interest. Perhaps the OP could consider other approaches such as preventive medicine that work better with the current medical model but are also [important] alternative approaches to medical care.

 

[ronaldo23]

I would say go for the MD/DO and ditch the alternative option. After you get your medical degree there are plenty of opportunities to learn about some alternative medical techniques and try to incorporate that into your practice. I feel like spending 2+ years getting a masters in that stuff is going to be VERY LOW yield if your end goal is to be a physician.

 

[fMRI]

Just adding a perspective and facts from England:
http://www.dcscience.net/?p=1899

If you are serious about medical school, go to med school first and don't harm your chances by applying with a "Masters in Quackery". That's what most "serious scientists" will think of it. If you wish to integrate alternative perspectives and do this evidence based, there will be room for that at med school -- some schools more, some less.

My 2p.

 

[wannabeaDO]

What about Naturopathic Medicine?

 

[redsquareblack]

What about Naturopathic Medicine?

Hahahahaha....

oh, wait. You were serious.😱

 

[redsquareblack]

Wouldn't it be better, then, for the OP to get a firm foundation in the medical sciences prior to sitting through a bunch of poorly-constructed supposed "pathways" and pseudo-biology? That way, s/he is not getting bad information without having the knowledge to filter out the crap. Seems to me, the OP would be best off going for the MD/DO and then seeing what sort of alternative medicine is still of interest. Perhaps the OP could consider other approaches such as preventive medicine that work better with the current medical model but are also [important] alternative approaches to medical care.

Well yes, naturally, it would be better. But I was guessing OP really, really buys into "alternative" medicine. I figured if he/she wanted any prayer of still buying into it, it'd be best to swallow it before getting a solid foundation in real science.

 

[lilpizi]

You guys write as a true science skeptic. =)

I understand there is that stigma of alternative medical "quackery" and it's foolish magic medicine that has no scientific proof, which I believe is due to the lack of research. All over the world, "alternative medicine" has been used...China, Africa, South America, and the list goes on and we all know the statistics of health in those countries in comparison with American, BOTH bad and good. Once we harness their good and combine it with our good in medicine, it may pave the way to something great.

I don't want to stand by the usual "prescribe a drug and be on your way" methodology that a good chunk of the doctors seem to use as their mantra. Everybody has their own environmental factors and born with different advantages and disadvantages.

Science is hardcore, no doubt about it, but there is a hint of creativity and dreaming. How else is Galileo able to pave our way to the moon if he didn't see outside and obsess about it?

Thank you all for your thoughts. I will definitely take it into consideration. =)

 

[redsquareblack]

You guys write as a true science skeptic. =)

I understand there is that stigma of alternative medical "quackery" and it's foolish magic medicine that has no scientific proof, which I believe is due to the lack of research. All over the world, "alternative medicine" has been used...China, Africa, South America, and the list goes on and we all know the statistics of health in those countries in comparison with American, BOTH bad and good. Once we harness their good and combine it with our good in medicine, it may pave the way to something great.

I don't want to stand by the usual "prescribe a drug and be on your way" methodology that a good chunk of the doctors seem to use as their mantra. Everybody has their own environmental factors and born with different advantages and disadvantages.

Science is hardcore, no doubt about it, but there is a hint of creativity and dreaming. How else is Galileo able to pave our way to the moon if he didn't see outside and obsess about it?

Thank you all for your thoughts. I will definitely take it into consideration. =)

Lil, you might not be able to appreciate it, but there's a crucial difference between Galileo & "alternative" med proponents: Galileo was right. You can't just label every single person whose ideas run counter to mainstream science as a David v. Goliath; their hypothesis must be supported by rigorous research. For every Galileo throughout history, there have been far more quacks, so you tell me what is the most likely scenario here.

Creativity and dreaming are necessary, and to some extent a willingness to think "outside the box". But this thinking and dreaming must nevertheless be supported by methodical observation, and offer at least a plausible relationship to our understanding of physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, etc.

Add to that the fact that so-called "traditional Chinese medicine" isn't really very traditional at all. For instance, acupuncture wasn't formalized in China until the 19th - 20th century, and even then primarily through the influence of Europeans.

I keep using quotes around the phrase "Alternative" medicine, because there's no such thing. Any therapies that actually work aren't alternative at all, but are just medicine.

 

[ronaldo23]

You guys write as a true science skeptic. =)

I understand there is that stigma of alternative medical "quackery" and it's foolish magic medicine that has no scientific proof, which I believe is due to the lack of research. All over the world, "alternative medicine" has been used...China, Africa, South America, and the list goes on and we all know the statistics of health in those countries in comparison with American, BOTH bad and good. Once we harness their good and combine it with our good in medicine, it may pave the way to something great.

I don't want to stand by the usual "prescribe a drug and be on your way" methodology that a good chunk of the doctors seem to use as their mantra. Everybody has their own environmental factors and born with different advantages and disadvantages.

Science is hardcore, no doubt about it, but there is a hint of creativity and dreaming. How else is Galileo able to pave our way to the moon if he didn't see outside and obsess about it?

Thank you all for your thoughts. I will definitely take it into consideration. =)

Again, since your a pre-med you don't really know that much about how the typical doctor actually approaches medicine. After you finish medical school, if you still stand by this post, then consider alternative, as your opinions will probably significantly change from now and then.

 

[muhali3]

Btw, there has been a lot of research on alternative medicine and most of the times the results show the effects of it to be no different than if given a placebo.

 

[45408]

Med school first. It would probably hurt your application to be applying with a masters in SCAM (supplemental, complementary and alternative medicine).

 

[schrizto]

Uh, I don't consider alternative medicine to be in the same league as real medicine. No way.

 

[mmmcdowe]

You guys write as a true science skeptic. =)

I understand there is that stigma of alternative medical "quackery" and it's foolish magic medicine that has no scientific proof, which I believe is due to the lack of research. All over the world, "alternative medicine" has been used...China, Africa, South America, and the list goes on and we all know the statistics of health in those countries in comparison with American, BOTH bad and good. Once we harness their good and combine it with our good in medicine, it may pave the way to something great.

I don't want to stand by the usual "prescribe a drug and be on your way" methodology that a good chunk of the doctors seem to use as their mantra. Everybody has their own environmental factors and born with different advantages and disadvantages.

Science is hardcore, no doubt about it, but there is a hint of creativity and dreaming. How else is Galileo able to pave our way to the moon if he didn't see outside and obsess about it?

Thank you all for your thoughts. I will definitely take it into consideration. =)

Actually, Galileo didn't obsess about the moon. He was much more interested in finding new moons and pleasing his patron.

Your assumption is that science can not be creative. Far from it, the only stipulation is that scientific creativity attempts to follow a systematic approach of discover. Have some idea about how this or that works, find a way to test it, repeat until you get it right (or at least righter). Alternative medicines and traditional remedies are constantly being investigated. Finding something that already works is vastly cheaper than discoveing something from scratch. The problem is, in conventional medicine a disproven rememdy is not sold for a treatment that it was thought to have.

If you are interested in alternative medicine, it woul be better for you to do a MD first, but logistically it is probably better to do the CAM first. You will be in a lot of debt after medical school and eager to begin your life as an attending. You probably won't have the time to go to a CAM school.

http://www.quackcast.com/

Enjoy.