Having Second Thoughts about DO

[droshan]

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So, I already hold an acceptance at an MD school. However I was recently treated by a DO w/ indirect OMM treatment and it was honestly the most incredible healing experience I've ever had. I've been plagued with nagging pains and imbalances for the past 2 years due to a severe ankle sprain. MDs haven't really helped and eventually my ACL gave out. I just hate how MDs look at the problem area and don't realize that the body is connected. I'm sorry I'm bitter about it and I'm sure there are some MDs that do have a hollistic approach but I've had bad luck. Anyways, I want to go into sports medicine and I feel like being a DO you have more tools at your disposal and can more helpful to your patients. Any thoughts on this? Can MDs get legit training in OMM? Is it too late for a primary app?

 

[saylorsdad]

it is getting late in the process. You need to get on the ball now if you are to get your application in to DO schools. You have to first apply through aacomas, and that process takes 4-6 weeks. With a cutoff of most schools around the end of feb you are getting a late start.

 

[spicedmanna]

So, I already hold an acceptance at an MD school. However I was recently treated by a DO w/ indirect OMM treatment and it was honestly the most incredible healing experience I've ever had. I've been plagued with nagging pains and imbalances for the past 2 years due to a severe ankle sprain. MDs haven't really helped and eventually my ACL gave out. I just hate how MDs look at the problem area and don't realize that the body is connected. I'm sorry I'm bitter about it and I'm sure there are some MDs that do have a hollistic approach but I've had bad luck. Anyways, I want to go into sports medicine and I feel like being a DO you have more tools at your disposal and can more helpful to your patients. Any thoughts on this? Can MDs get legit training in OMM? Is it too late for a primary app?

Yeah, it's probably too late for the primary application, if you want to make it for this cycle. Honestly, you have an acceptance already. If I were you I'd run with it. The tendency is to think that there is a lot of difference between allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, but there isn't. You'll get essentially the same training at either one.

There is OMM training in osteopathic medical schools, but it isn't as emphasized as one might think; it amounts to about 2 hrs of OMT lab per week and sporadic 1 hr OMM theory lectures a few times each semester. It's definitely not to the degree you'd see at a European osteopathic program. The primary emphasis is going to be on what you'd expect from any medical school in the US, whether MD or DO. There isn't really a different philosophy or approach. I don't think my education is training me to be more holistic or anything. I think it's more based on individual character/predilection than on training in the first two years. Perhaps osteopathic schools attract more people with that tendency, but who knows...

If you want to get OMM training as an MD, you can do it as a CME. It's available and legit. In my humble opinion, there's no reason for you to pursue DO at this point in time, given your MD acceptance in hand.

 

[DannMann99]

For sports medicine OMT would be kind of a handy tool to have, and i'm very sure you would end up using it.

But on that note do you think it would be worth waiting another year for? I wouldn't.

Also, some MD CMEs offer seminars in OMM from what i've heard.

 

[beachblonde]

With your stats, submit your primary to aacomas ASAP and start shadowing a DO so you can get a letter. Even though it's late in the cycle, you might still have some luck. I had a friend who applied this time last year and is a very happy OMS1 right now.

If you don't try, you certainly won't get in, so if you have some extra cash it's worth sending in your primary.

 

[JaggerPlate]

So, I already hold an acceptance at an MD school. However I was recently treated by a DO w/ indirect OMM treatment and it was honestly the most incredible healing experience I've ever had. I've been plagued with nagging pains and imbalances for the past 2 years due to a severe ankle sprain. MDs haven't really helped and eventually my ACL gave out. I just hate how MDs look at the problem area and don't realize that the body is connected. I'm sorry I'm bitter about it and I'm sure there are some MDs that do have a hollistic approach but I've had bad luck. Anyways, I want to go into sports medicine and I feel like being a DO you have more tools at your disposal and can more helpful to your patients. Any thoughts on this? Can MDs get legit training in OMM? Is it too late for a primary app?

You can get OMT training as an MD ... I'm just not sure about billing.

 

[NPEMTIV]

So, I already hold an acceptance at an MD school. However I was recently treated by a DO w/ indirect OMM treatment and it was honestly the most incredible healing experience I've ever had. I've been plagued with nagging pains and imbalances for the past 2 years due to a severe ankle sprain. MDs haven't really helped and eventually my ACL gave out. I just hate how MDs look at the problem area and don't realize that the body is connected. I'm sorry I'm bitter about it and I'm sure there are some MDs that do have a hollistic approach but I've had bad luck. Anyways, I want to go into sports medicine and I feel like being a DO you have more tools at your disposal and can more helpful to your patients. Any thoughts on this? Can MDs get legit training in OMM? Is it too late for a primary app?

I think Harvard has some OMM classes, but that's the only MD school I've heard of that offers it in any form. You can apply the osteopathic philosophies no matter where you train. I agree with the above person though, as far as billing for OMT, probably a no go. Also, using treatments like HVLA without proper training could come back to bite you. I'd probably say stick out what you have and keep the attitude that you don't want to be like some of the other docs you've dealt with. Some DOs look at problems with a narrow focus and some MDs have an excellent holistic approach.

 

[WDeagle]

Why not apply? Check the AACOMAS deadline dates and the secondary deadline dates. If you are not too late, go for it. It might not hurt to apply to a few schools and interview. If you dont like it, you can still go to drexel. You might even find that you like some of the DO schools you visit better than drexel. I think OMT is incredible for sports med. It has personally done alot for my own athletic performance. If you werent interested in sports med, however, i would say not to bother with the DO apps this late.

 

[Altruist]

There was an athletic trainer at one of my interviews who kinda nailed the OMM doc during a demonstration they did for us. The doc did muscle energy and a high velocity low amplitude (HVLA) manipulation to show us what OMM would be like. The trainer raises his hand.

Trainer: "How does your muscle energy technique differ from an athletic trainer's, or a physical therapist?"
Doc: "Well... it doesn't."
Trainer: "Oh. So it's pretty much what I do now."
Doc: "Yes."

To the OP, I'd say don't worry about it. Going DO might mean you start out with an advantage in your sports med fellowship 8 years from now, but that's about it. My impression is that all of the evidence-based manipulations would be covered in any sports medicine training, MD or DO. I'm not saying OMM isn't useful; your experience shows that it can be. But it's not like the OMM techniques are beyond the reach of an MD to learn and practice. Good luck to you, whatever you decide.

 

[Vita]

The MD school in my hometown (ETSU - QCOM) often has OMT sessions at their various clinics. I think it depends on where you go, but I'd say you can still get a decent amount of OMT training if you really want it.

Then again, like someone already mentioned, I'm not sure about billing and if you get some sort of license or certification.

 

[nlax30]

I'd say take the acceptance since you already have it and not wait the extra year..... regardless of DO vs MD if you can go now then do it, why delay? Assuming of course you want to go to the school you were accepted to. I've seen several OMM type seminars for MDs offered.

That said, if you have the money and have fairly competitive scores you could always try applying this current cycle and see what sticks. Some schools have late deadlines going into March/April so you could apply to those.

 

[WDeagle]

There was an athletic trainer at one of my interviews who kinda nailed the OMM doc during a demonstration they did for us. The doc did muscle energy and a high velocity low amplitude (HVLA) manipulation to show us what OMM would be like. The trainer raises his hand.

Trainer: "How does your muscle energy technique differ from an athletic trainer's, or a physical therapist?"
Doc: "Well... it doesn't."
Trainer: "Oh. So it's pretty much what I do now."
Doc: "Yes."

To the OP, I'd say don't worry about it. Going DO might mean you start out with an advantage in your sports med fellowship 8 years from now, but that's about it. My impression is that all of the evidence-based manipulations would be covered in any sports medicine training, MD or DO. I'm not saying OMM isn't useful; your experience shows that it can be. But it's not like the OMM techniques are beyond the reach of an MD to learn and practice. Good luck to you, whatever you decide.

I dont know what to infer from your story because everyone does muscle energy. PT's, athletic trainers, OMT docs, and whoever else all do muscle energy. Its a pretty basic thing to do(probably the simplest OMT concept there is), of course its not going to vary between different professions. However, DO's probably have an expanded versions of muscle energy and use it for different reasons beyond sports performance.

 

[Altruist]

I dont know what to infer from your story because everyone does muscle energy. PT's, athletic trainers, OMT docs, and whoever else all do muscle energy. Its a pretty basic thing to do(probably the simplest OMT concept there is), of course its not going to vary between different professions. However, DO's probably have an expanded versions of muscle energy and use it for different reasons beyond sports performance.

My point was the OMM techniques that have been supported by research have spread to other disciplines. DO's are not the only health care workers who use these techniques. And if trainers and PT's perform a technique, I am sure it would be taught to your average sports med doc, so the OP needn't worry about missing something by going to an allopathic school.

I will be (pleasantly) surprised if, as a DO, I learn any kind of secret knowledge about manipulation that I couldn't pick up some other way.

 

[hokiedo2012]

We have an MD/PhD faculty member at VCOM who specializes in sports medicine and OMM; he's one of the instructors for our OMM class, so you can definitely get sufficient training after med school and utilize it in your practice as any other DO would.

 

[307Doc]

Yeah, it's probably too late for the primary application, if you want to make it for this cycle. Honestly, you have an acceptance already. If I were you I'd run with it. The tendency is to think that there is a lot of difference between allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, but there isn't. You'll get essentially the same training at either one.

There is OMM training in osteopathic medical schools, but it isn't as emphasized as one might think; it amounts to about 2 hrs of OMT lab per week and sporadic 1 hr OMM theory lectures a few times each semester. It's definitely not to the degree you'd see at a European osteopathic program. The primary emphasis is going to be on what you'd expect from any medical school in the US, whether MD or DO. There isn't really a different philosophy or approach. I don't think my education is training me to be more holistic or anything. I think it's more based on individual character/predilection than on training in the first two years. Perhaps osteopathic schools attract more people with that tendency, but who knows...

If you want to get OMM training as an MD, you can do it as a CME. It's available and legit. In my humble opinion, there's no reason for you to pursue DO at this point in time, given your MD acceptance in hand.

I am a first year student at KCOM, so as expected we have close to an hour of theory lecture a week and spend anywhere from 6-10 hours in the lab a week. So many school do place a strong emphasis on OMT, if OMT is what you feel you want to incorporate into your practice you stil can. You can do CME classes when you have graduated that will give you a fair amount of training in the area specific for your specialty. But as mentioned from most of the great people on the board, you do have an acceptance and many schools deadlines are fast approaching for primary applications. But there is a time and a place for OMT. YOu have a tough desicion to make. I would just start school and take classes after I'm done. Your going to be a doctor no matter what you chose. GOODLUCK!!

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Muscle energy is called PNF by the majority of the civilized world. Priprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation. I learned it in undergrad as a kinesiology major, and used it occasionally in strength & conditioning (although our strength coach preferred active-isolated stretching for most stuff, and NBA people consider him to be the best at the college level).

The absolute BEST thing about OMM so far is all the contraindication stuff. In teaching us when NOT to do OMM, we are getting a ton of instruction on trauma, including radiology, neurologic tests, etc.. Stuff that I think could go a long way in preparing us for some of our rotations.

The WORST thing about OMM is that we just practice it on each other. Nobody really has anything serious wrong with them, so I have really nothing to compare it to, and I never feel like I know if I'm doing anything correctly. Of course, this will be the case for any kind of training you get in manual therapy.

As for the original post, go to the school that accepted you already. If you have signed something, or in some way "officially" indicated that you intend to attend that school, then you walk the fine line of having already "matriculated" there. A question on any application will be if you have matriculated to any US medical school. You have to answer yes, and then a lot of people will wonder what the deal is. Some people will dismiss your application without even thinking twice about it.

You'd probably get into a DO school, but I don't know that you'd necessarily have your pick. You might, and you might not. But either way, what if you decided that you liked your original school better after all? Then you're stuck.

It is a lot to risk, and a year of six-figure salary down the drain. Just take what you've got and run with it. Learn manual therapy later if you still want to.

 

[spicedmanna]

I stand by my original advice, but I thought I'd add a more balanced point of view. There are things you can do at an osteopathic medical school that you can't do, currently, at an allopathic medical school. For instance, you have the opportunity at many osteopathic medical schools to do a one-year undergraduate OMT fellowship, which is usually post-sophomore, or right after your third year. This a great program by which you can focus on and really learn OMT, if it interests you. Generally, these types of fellowships will have a clinical component, where you treat people regularly at a clinical using OMT, a teaching component, where you help the professors teach OMT to medical students, and a research element, as well. If I were truly interested in OMT, I'd probably do a program like that.

Another thing that attending an osteopathic medical school would provide you that attending an allopathic medical school wouldn't, is the opportunity to match into an OMM/NMM residency program. Doing such a residency would obviously be a great way to get good at OMT.

Anyway, since it's already so late in the game, I still recommend sticking with your "bird in hand." I just wanted to provide a more balance view point and such. Good luck!