Hmm.. a curious question for the future...

[DocInProgress]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Who else thinks that in the distant future, the separation of MDs and DOs will collapse and there will only be one title for a physician. The difference is becoming more and more miniscule. Very few DOs actually use OMM in their practice and most DOs will agree that they would prefer to land a competitive allopathic residency than a osteopathic residency. (this is not intended to bash DOs in any way as I, myself, am in the process of becoming one 😉)

 

[jp104]

Who else thinks that in the distant future, the separation of MDs and DOs will collapse and there will only be one title for a physician. The difference is becoming more and more miniscule. Very few DOs actually use OMM in their practice and most DOs will agree that they would prefer to land a competitive allopathic residency than a osteopathic residency. (this is not intended to bash DOs in any way as I, myself, am in the process of becoming one 😉)

I think it's headed that way....eventually. The old guard is retiring and an increasing number of younger DOs who do support a merge in professions are stepping into positions of leadership.

With that said, the title of "Doctor" is being used by just about every health care profession under the sun these days. You have doctor of nurse practioners (wtf?), doctors of pharmacy, doctoral PA programs. Anyway, my point is that there will be, or already is, an inflation of titles, so changing the DO or MD one won't really amount to much. In my opinion, the better fight to fight is protecting PHYSICIAN's turf from mid-levels 🙂

 

[theserbatron]

In my opinion, the better fight to fight is protecting PHYSICIAN's turf from mid-levels 🙂

agreed... particularly if HMOs and PPOs continue to exist in their current form. though i also agree with jp, it will start to happen eventually, albeit slowly. the comlex migh start to be revised to be similar to usmle, you'll start seeing more residency programs that are dual accredited, perhaps board certification boards (same discipline but md vs do) will start to move closer. slowly but surely, yes.

 

[Isoprop]

you probably won't combine degrees. look at dds and dmd for dentistry.

 

[medhacker]

Dreaming is easy...

The AOA is not going away, it is a principle of power acquisition, search old threads if you want to know the reasons why.

 

[theserbatron]

i could honestly care less about the combining of degrees with DOs and MDs. i'm more interested in how DOs are perceived, particularly in regards to the quality of their educational institutions and admissions standards, locations and residencies, and status among MDs. i know a lot of work has been done, but there's still a lot of work left to go.

how does someone like me, starting my first year this fall, do something about any of those issues?