International health work and being a DO

[eccles1214]

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Does anyone know how DO's are recognized internationally? My longterm interest is in frontier/international/rural health care and disaster relief (ala the International Medical Corps, PATH, Medicins sans Frontieres). I've traveled throughout the world, and haven't seen any DOs, only MDs. If I become a DO (which is likely because my age [45 when I apply] and grades [now 3.71 OA/3.1 BCPM] will probably keep me out of allopathic schools), will I still not be able to practice medicine abroad? I've contacted these organizations, and they all have MDs on board. I did do some work in Mexico, once, and with a DO, and I've heard of a group called DOCare which does work in Mexico. But what about other parts of Latin America and Africa?

 

[allendo]

Does anyone know how DO's are recognized internationally? My longterm interest is in frontier/international/rural health care and disaster relief (ala the International Medical Corps, PATH, Medicins sans Frontieres). I've traveled throughout the world, and haven't seen any DOs, only MDs. If I become a DO (which is likely because my age [45 when I apply] and grades [now 3.71 OA/3.1 BCPM] will probably keep me out of allopathic schools), will I still not be able to practice medicine abroad? I've contacted these organizations, and they all have MDs on board. I did do some work in Mexico, once, and with a DO, and I've heard of a group called DOCare which does work in Mexico. But what about other parts of Latin America and Africa?

I think that when you do work like this you get a temp license to practice!

 

[dr.z]

Go check out http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=107627 for more info.

 

[eccles1214]

Thanks, Dr. Z. Very informative. It appears that DOs are more widely recognized than I was previously led to believe.

Go check out http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=107627 for more info.

 

[Senor Fish]

I think England is the main place where they have trouble. You can do volunteer work (Doctors without Borders, etc.) almost anywhere, I think.

 

[tkim]

http://www.oucom.ohiou.edu/currents/archives/2002-2003/jan-feb/Doctors Without Borders.htm

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/volunteer/field/faq.cfm#osteo