How would you respond?

[JustPlainBill]

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Ok, there I was, taking my kiddo to a well child visit
to our local pediatrician (M.D. - no D.O. pediatricians
available) who's been really super supportive of my
efforts.

There's some remodeling going on and I asked about
it and the office manager mentions they're hiring another
doctor.

I commented that they might be seeing my resume' in
a few years.

The medical assistant pipes up w/"But you're in a D.O.
program, aren't you?". My first thought was anti-D.O.
discrimination. I didn't say anything, just wanted to
wait and see. They continued the thought with,'Most
D.O.'s go into Family Practice'.

I let her know that our school had people doing rotations
up at Yale and were matching Opthamology, Orthopedics,
CT surgery, etc.

She had this troubled look on her face like it was
difficult to believe.

The appointment started and I let it go.....

Comments?

 

[SomeDoc]

I think you handled it fine. Not many are educated properly on DO's simply due to lack of exposure, and you explained things briefly to make things clearer for the assistant. DO grads are increasing as a percentage of the physician population along with the consideration of allopathic school expansions, so you will see less of this in coming years.

 

[Dr JPH]

Ok, there I was, taking my kiddo to a well child visit
to our local pediatrician (M.D. - no D.O. pediatricians
available) who's been really super supportive of my
efforts.

There's some remodeling going on and I asked about
it and the office manager mentions they're hiring another
doctor.

I commented that they might be seeing my resume' in
a few years.

The medical assistant pipes up w/"But you're in a D.O.
program, aren't you?". My first thought was anti-D.O.
discrimination. I didn't say anything, just wanted to
wait and see. They continued the thought with,'Most
D.O.'s go into Family Practice'.

I let her know that our school had people doing rotations
up at Yale and were matching Opthamology, Orthopedics,
CT surgery, etc.

She had this troubled look on her face like it was
difficult to believe.

The appointment started and I let it go.....

Comments?

I would be very surprised if the doc trained in a large city (philly, chicago, NYC, LA, etc). Or maybe she trained >30-40 years ago.

Occasionally you will run across this perception but its more often from the old gruff MD surgeon who "back in my day DOs only cracked backs"...which was true when they trained. I dont think this was discrimination but rather misinformation...again, I would be pretty darn shocked if she trained in a palce where there were a lot of DOs...especially in the last 10 years. Either that or your Peds extra personal perception skills are awful.



EDIT...

It was the MEDICAL ASSISTANT that questioned you?

JustPlainBill: 1 Medical Assistant: 0

OR

JustPlainBill: $175,000 Medical Assistant; $22,000

😀

 

[group_theory]

Actually I am even more surprised that the MA knew what a DO was, let alone the fact that DOs have tendencies to go into primary care.

 

[sweet2th]

yeah i have a comment....she's an idiot

 

[VALSALVA]

Personally, I would have let it roll off my back or maybe I just would have said, "That simply isn't true. DO's may enter any field of medicine." I always have a negative visceral reaction when people drop names or programs (i.e. I know DO's at Yale, etc.), but that's just me. Otherwise, represented yourself fine IMO.

 

[Pansit]

Ok, there I was, taking my kiddo to a well child visit
to our local pediatrician (M.D. - no D.O. pediatricians
available) who's been really super supportive of my
efforts.

There's some remodeling going on and I asked about
it and the office manager mentions they're hiring another
doctor.

I commented that they might be seeing my resume' in
a few years.

The medical assistant pipes up w/"But you're in a D.O.
program, aren't you?". My first thought was anti-D.O.
discrimination. I didn't say anything, just wanted to
wait and see. They continued the thought with,'Most
D.O.'s go into Family Practice'.

I let her know that our school had people doing rotations
up at Yale and were matching Opthamology, Orthopedics,
CT surgery, etc.

She had this troubled look on her face like it was
difficult to believe.

The appointment started and I let it go.....

Comments?

Whats the problem? She didnt know beforehand but now she knows...thats only a good thing

 

[medstud2ndyr]

...

 

[Mr hawkings]

She is a "medical assistant".. What does she know? NOTHING!!

No need to look down on the people whos job is to make yours easier. Educate them and move on.

 

[Sartre79]

 

[tcamdg]

No need to look down on the people whos job is to make yours easier. Educate them and move on.

Well said. Maintain your own dignity, respect others. OP, I think you handled it very well. Personally, I think dropping names is an effective way to the point, so long as it's done tactfully/not overbearing.

 

[112258]

When I went to my gynecologist this past summer, she is an MD from Pakistan I think (so I'm not sure if she trained here or there), but we are friendly bc her daughter was in my high school class, and my mom is a patient as well. So I told her I got into medical school and she was so excited and I told her Lake Erie. Her daughter is now applying but apparently she is worried about getting in because she said "she is willing to go to the Caribbean if she doesn't get in". And I said "oh that's how I was originally, but I applied allopathic and osteopathic and I got into 2 D.O. schools." And she had like a sneer on her face and said "oh but don't go there, its not real medicine, you're not a real doctor!". And I was so surprised because she misinterpreted what I said, and so shocked because she is an M.D., how do they not know these things?? True, she has her own practice so maybe no interaction but it is at a hospital. So I was going to correct her but ...you know...I was in an "odd" position and I didn't want her to stop to talk to me haha. And by the time that was over she flew out of the room so I never got the chance. Oh well...

 

[Mr hawkings]

When I went to my gynecologist this past summer, she is an MD from Pakistan I think (so I'm not sure if she trained here or there), but we are friendly bc her daughter was in my high school class, and my mom is a patient as well. So I told her I got into medical school and she was so excited and I told her Lake Erie. Her daughter is now applying but apparently she is worried about getting in because she said "she is willing to go to the Caribbean if she doesn't get in". And I said "oh that's how I was originally, but I applied allopathic and osteopathic and I got into 2 D.O. schools." And she had like a sneer on her face and said "oh but don't go there, its not real medicine, you're not a real doctor!". And I was so surprised because she misinterpreted what I said, and so shocked because she is an M.D., how do they not know these things?? True, she has her own practice so maybe no interaction but it is at a hospital. So I was going to correct her but ...you know...I was in an "odd" position and I didn't want her to stop to talk to me haha. And by the time that was over she flew out of the room so I never got the chance. Oh well...

Not suprising.
I had never even heard of DO till i got on SDN.
My father is an MD in a foreign country and he thought DOs were pretty much people that practice homeopathic medicine (or non-scientific mumbo jumbo, to put it in his words). So i can imagine that there is a lot of misconception among MDs that come from other countries. Even if they came to med school here, they may still not have been exposed to it much.
Once again, you have to educate them and hope it helps.

 

[Jack Daniel]

When I went to my gynecologist this past summer, she is an MD from Pakistan I think (so I'm not sure if she trained here or there), but we are friendly bc her daughter was in my high school class, and my mom is a patient as well. So I told her I got into medical school and she was so excited and I told her Lake Erie. Her daughter is now applying but apparently she is worried about getting in because she said "she is willing to go to the Caribbean if she doesn't get in". And I said "oh that's how I was originally, but I applied allopathic and osteopathic and I got into 2 D.O. schools." And she had like a sneer on her face and said "oh but don't go there, its not real medicine, you're not a real doctor!". And I was so surprised because she misinterpreted what I said, and so shocked because she is an M.D., how do they not know these things?? True, she has her own practice so maybe no interaction but it is at a hospital. So I was going to correct her but ...you know...I was in an "odd" position and I didn't want her to stop to talk to me haha. And by the time that was over she flew out of the room so I never got the chance. Oh well...

We need to keep in mind that DOs in other countries usually aren't full physicians. Her comment on DOs is completely fair from her point of view.

However, what amazes me is how people still hold to uninformed opinions even after presented with countering facts. It's like they say to themselves, "Don't confuse me with the truth--let me believe what I want to believe."

 

[Pansit]

When I went to my gynecologist this past summer, she is an MD from Pakistan I think (so I'm not sure if she trained here or there), but we are friendly bc her daughter was in my high school class, and my mom is a patient as well. So I told her I got into medical school and she was so excited and I told her Lake Erie. Her daughter is now applying but apparently she is worried about getting in because she said "she is willing to go to the Caribbean if she doesn't get in". And I said "oh that's how I was originally, but I applied allopathic and osteopathic and I got into 2 D.O. schools." And she had like a sneer on her face and said "oh but don't go there, its not real medicine, you're not a real doctor!". And I was so surprised because she misinterpreted what I said, and so shocked because she is an M.D., how do they not know these things?? True, she has her own practice so maybe no interaction but it is at a hospital. So I was going to correct her but ...you know...I was in an "odd" position and I didn't want her to stop to talk to me haha. And by the time that was over she flew out of the room so I never got the chance. Oh well...

I cant help but think that this could be something totally misinterpreted by you Lisa. i mean, we are so concious about the whole MD/DO debate that anything that may seem like a snipe when we mention DO may not be one at all. When we mention DO or osteopathic medicine and we dont hear an overly positive response we automatically wonder if they are questioning the degree, which may or may not be true. I mean, it seems like you know this doctor very well and for her to sneer at you just doesnt seem right.

But for my own personal story, my PCP is a FMG (some asian country, I forgot) and when I mentioned DO, he said "Oh DO's, they are just like us, but even better bc they do manipulations". I was a bit surprised but it was pretty reassuring for me.

 

[J1515]

The medical assistant pipes up w/"But you're in a D.O.
program, aren't you?". My first thought was anti-D.O.
discrimination. I didn't say anything, just wanted to
wait and see. They continued the thought with,'Most
D.O.'s go into Family Practice'.

I let her know that our school had people doing rotations
up at Yale and were matching Opthamology, Orthopedics,
CT surgery, etc.

She had this troubled look on her face like it was
difficult to believe.

The appointment started and I let it go.....

Comments?

Anyone who thinks this was "DO Bashing" is just plain insecure. The medical assistant was simply misinformed. No need to go crazy over it.

 

[112258]

I cant help but think that this could be something totally misinterpreted by you Lisa. i mean, we are so concious about the whole MD/DO debate that anything that may seem like a snipe when we mention DO may not be one at all. When we mention DO or osteopathic medicine and we dont hear an overly positive response we automatically wonder if they are questioning the degree, which may or may not be true. I mean, it seems like you know this doctor very well and for her to sneer at you just doesnt seem right.

No, I definitely did not misinterpret it. I never blame people for being like "what's a D.O." or even associating it with naturopath/homeopath/saying "oh but you can't write prescriptions" or whatever just because they don't know, and you can't blame them for that. I never heard of a D.O. until college from my pre-med advisor. I was just shocked because she is a practicing physician, and I assume they are up on these things....I mean many M.D.s/D.O.s have joint practices, how does a doctor practicing in this country not know they can do the same things?? Its not like she just came over, she's been here for years and years, so her attitude just totally surprised me, I was not expecting it, PLUS her daughter is applying currently so you'd think her daughter would have mentioned this or something.

 

[toothless rufus]

I'm certain things will improve, and the world will embrace DOs.

 

[JustPlainBill]

Anyone who thinks this was "DO Bashing" is just plain insecure. The medical assistant was simply misinformed. No need to go crazy over it.

Not necessarily insecure --- I just didn't know what angle she was
coming from -- I've heard of D.O. bashing and even experienced
it myself when I had an old-time M.D. tell me to stay away from
anything osteopathic once I left school and do myself a favor and
associate with allopaths as much as possible after doing an allopathic
residency.....

Now, the pediatrician has commented that (talking about our school) -
'they're turning out some damn good doctors over there'....

To me, if you know your stuff and are good in all respects, people will
notice. Those who have a discriminatory bias have the problem and
it's not up to me to change them. I just need to take care of my
patients well, period.......

 

[xTinaBna]

There was one time where i was sick and went to my doctor's office and was seen by a physician assistant (who went to Midwestern University). I saw her diploma on the wall and told her I too was going to Midwestern for medical school and she then replied "oh, you didn't want to go to a regular medical school?". I was pretty surprised by her response, especially since CCOM is right on the same campus as her PA program and they probably had classes together as well. I calmly told her that I was going one of my top choice medical schools and was very excited...even though i secretly wanted to say "why didn't you want to go to a regular medical school?" 😳 I guess, we just have to be aware of the fact that even those who we may assume should know the osteopathic profession may not understand it at all

 

[JustPlainBill]

There was one time where i was sick and went to my doctor's office and was seen by a physician assistant (who went to Midwestern University). I saw her diploma on the wall and told her I too was going to Midwestern for medical school and she then replied "oh, you didn't want to go to a regular medical school?". I was pretty surprised by her response, especially since CCOM is right on the same campus as her PA program and they probably had classes together as well. I calmly told her that I was going one of my top choice medical schools and was very excited...even though i secretly wanted to say "why didn't you want to go to a regular medical school?" 😳 I guess, we just have to be aware of the fact that even those who we may assume should know the osteopathic profession may not understand it at all

If you really wanted to start something you could have said what I've heard a professor say - "Why would I want to be an incompletely trained physician?" --i.o.w. they don't get OMM training....

 

[group_theory]

"oh, you didn't want to go to a regular medical school?".

It might not have been an insult. It could have been a simple misunderstanding ... the PA probably knew there were two types of medical schools since she trained at Midwestern ... MD and DO. She probably knows that DOs are "osteopathic" ... but what type of schools are MD school? We use the term allopathic, and some medical bodies (ie., AMA) have started to adopt the usage of allopathic to describe MD schools, but to the vast majority of allopathic students, MDs, and the public, it's "regular" medical school as oppose to "osteopathic" medical school. So she probably meant "why didn't you decide to go to an MD school?" - which is a typical question that people ask when you decide on the path less taken

 

[xTinaBna]

It might not have been an insult. It could have been a simple misunderstanding ... the PA probably knew there were two types of medical schools since she trained at Midwestern ... MD and DO. She probably knows that DOs are "osteopathic" ... but what type of schools are MD school? We use the term allopathic, and some medical bodies (ie., AMA) have started to adopt the usage of allopathic to describe MD schools, but to the vast majority of allopathic students, MDs, and the public, it's "regular" medical school as oppose to "osteopathic" medical school. So she probably meant "why didn't you decide to go to an MD school?" - which is a typical question that people ask when you decide on the path less taken

yeah that's true. i can see her meaning it that way. i guess it was just the tone of her voice that probably made me perceive it as a negative.

 

[group_theory]

yeah that's true. i can see her meaning it that way. i guess it was just the tone of her voice that probably made me perceive it as a negative.

you were there, I was not. The tone of the voice, the context, the facial expression, the body language, etc. all contributes to "reality". So you have a better idea of what happened. Just giving an alternate reasoning for "why didn't you go to a regular medical school" comment.