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The topic has been butchered to death, but I haven't seen any consideration of the following. The only real difference at DO schools vs MD is that they teach OMT. I'm going to skip the philosophy and everything else and just single out OMT as the only real thing separating the two professions as many DO's don't actively use it.
The real question is, if DO schools were to begin handing out MD degree's, then in truth would DO schools really exist anymore. For example there are already MD programs that follow a holistic approach. Differentiating schools as Medical School's and Osteopathic Medical School's means nothing to anyone (except pre-meds who might become confused). Really, would the Osteopathic school system die if MD replaced the DO initials? Also many people don't apply DO because of the initials, this roadblock may cause Allopathic interested students to apply DO because they feel that "hey MD is MD" which it really is.
My belief is that this would send GPA requirements up to be virtually equal to Allopathic programs (due to even greater competitiveness) as the nature of DO programs often seek students who come from non-traditional backgrounds and likes to see what else they bring to the table (other than grades; though I am not arguing against the importance of good grades to be accepted DO, just pointing out that they are usually a tad less important than when applying to Allopathic programs).
I think a lot of the issue with the MD, DO is because of television. Historically TV has educated the general public on a Doctor's title being MD (Medical Doctor). The general public does not understand the lack of difference between MD and DO; truth be told no one ask in a hospital "if you're a Medical Doctor"; they just ask, "are you a Doctor". I don't think the DO should go away or even be modified to MD, DO. It would probably serve no purpose. Just look at DDS and DMD; it just does more to confuse people than anything else. It seems that DO is becoming more and more of an accepted profession and the only ones that have an issue with it are Pre-Med's and Med students themselves.
What are you're thoughts. Would changing DO to MD at Osteopathic schools; literally kill off DO programs and simply cause them to become the same as Allopathic schools which would eliminate DO as an alternative path to Medicine.
The real question is, if DO schools were to begin handing out MD degree's, then in truth would DO schools really exist anymore. For example there are already MD programs that follow a holistic approach. Differentiating schools as Medical School's and Osteopathic Medical School's means nothing to anyone (except pre-meds who might become confused). Really, would the Osteopathic school system die if MD replaced the DO initials? Also many people don't apply DO because of the initials, this roadblock may cause Allopathic interested students to apply DO because they feel that "hey MD is MD" which it really is.
My belief is that this would send GPA requirements up to be virtually equal to Allopathic programs (due to even greater competitiveness) as the nature of DO programs often seek students who come from non-traditional backgrounds and likes to see what else they bring to the table (other than grades; though I am not arguing against the importance of good grades to be accepted DO, just pointing out that they are usually a tad less important than when applying to Allopathic programs).
I think a lot of the issue with the MD, DO is because of television. Historically TV has educated the general public on a Doctor's title being MD (Medical Doctor). The general public does not understand the lack of difference between MD and DO; truth be told no one ask in a hospital "if you're a Medical Doctor"; they just ask, "are you a Doctor". I don't think the DO should go away or even be modified to MD, DO. It would probably serve no purpose. Just look at DDS and DMD; it just does more to confuse people than anything else. It seems that DO is becoming more and more of an accepted profession and the only ones that have an issue with it are Pre-Med's and Med students themselves.
What are you're thoughts. Would changing DO to MD at Osteopathic schools; literally kill off DO programs and simply cause them to become the same as Allopathic schools which would eliminate DO as an alternative path to Medicine.
