Is DO a disadvantage for EM?

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doc4sure

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Hey, I have interviewed at UTMB, TCOM, UTSA, A&M and Tech in Texas. I also interviewed at some out of state DO schools. I have been accepted to 2 DO schools (Des Moines and Arizona). I put down the initial deposit for Des Moines and the second deposit is due in March which is thankfully after the Texas Match.
Prior to starting my applications, I really didn't know anything about DO's and I honestly only applied to these schools because I am a reapplicant and I don't want to wait another year. I really got a good feeling that is hard to explain when I was up in Des Moines. Of course the city isn't the most exciting but the faculty staff and students all got to know me on a personal level. The Dean even sent me a personal letter after my acceptance. Also, I can't decide between TCOM and UTSA in TX.
The problem is that I am worried about getting into a good residency if I go to a DO school. As of now, I am a paramedic and I see myself going into EM. Does anyone have any opinions on DO's? I just get a feeling that there is discrimination toward DO's and I don't want to make a choice that could damage my career. Plus I feel like I am the only Texan out there that is in a hurry to get out of this state. I am afraid that my desire to get out of Texas might cause me to make a bad career choice. I guess I should have applied to a bunch of out of state MD schools but too late now+pissed+ Oh well, I just basically want to know your opinions on DO schools. Thanks
 
Thanks, I personally don't see a problem with going to a DO school. I guess I just worried because I am a paramedic for American Medical Response in San Antonio and I haven't seen any DO's in any of the ER's and I have been to all of them in SA. I am just wondering if I should go to an MD school if I am accepted to one. So many people have told me go MD if I have the chance but of course all of these people were MD's themselves or had no clue what a DO is. Also do you think it matters if I go to TCOM or DMU? TCOM seems to get people into awesome residencies for EM (one person got a residency at DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) but I got a warm fuzzy feeling at DMU that I didn't get anywhere else. Maybe I should just shut up and pick the school that I like the best and not care about what anyone else says because this is my life and my future and I will succeed if I rock the house in med school no matter where I go. Sorry, I am just on edge because this is the biggest decision of my life until residency.:wow: :scared:
 
Ack that link didn't work in any case..
Gale T. Gregory-Laine, DO
City: San Antonio State/Province: TX ZIP: 78209 Country: USA
Primary specialty: Emergency Medicine AOA board certified: YES Type of practice: Office-Based Patient Care Fellowships: Osteopathic Medical College: Des Moines Univ - Osteopathic Medical Center Year of graduation: 1993 AOA Membership: AOA DO Member Year of birth: 1956 DO-Online Website:

I list her cause she went to DMU.


Here are the others:


Annette M Mann Brunetti, DO

R. Donovan Butter, DO

CAPT Julio R. Lairet, DO

MAJ Craig A. Manifold, DO

Patrick James McHugh, DO

Keri Jo Abshire Vinson, DO

James M. Williams, DO, MS
 
In my opinion, DOs are best suited for EM. Come on, Osteopathic manipulative knowledge is extremely helpful. I.e. suited well for patients with breaks or sprains...
 
Hey doc4sure,

I know what you mean about everyone telling you to go MD. I get the same since I have been accepted to both but will probably go DO. Sometimes you got to go with your gut feeling and forget about what others say.

As for DMU vs TCOM, as I understand it, the tuition is a lot less at TCOM since you are a Texas resident so that should factor in heavily in your decision. I would go to the cheapest school, MD or DO, that I felt the most comfortable at.
 
Thanks for the encouraging words, slickness. As far as the school is concerned, I like TCOM and UTSA about the same. I guess I want to go to TCOM because I grew up in San Antonio and I am still living there. I guess I just think SA kind of sucks and I want a change in scenery. Family isn't an issue because my parents are going to move to Alabama soon and my only sister will be travel nursing out of state. The only thing good about SA is the Mexican food and the SPURS!!!!!!!!! I guess if I grew up in Ft. Worth I would probably want to go to SA. As far as going out of state is concerned, I will only do that if I get the Air Force Scholarship that I am applying for. They will pay for school plus give me over 1k per month for living so I will probably go to the most expensive school that I like in that case 😀 😀 . I mean, who wouldn't take advantage of that situation?
 
Originally posted by doc4sure
Hey, I have interviewed at UTMB, TCOM, UTSA, A&M and Tech in Texas. I also interviewed at some out of state DO schools. I have been accepted to 2 DO schools (Des Moines and Arizona). I put down the initial deposit for Des Moines and the second deposit is due in March which is thankfully after the Texas Match.
Prior to starting my applications, I really didn't know anything about DO's and I honestly only applied to these schools because I am a reapplicant and I don't want to wait another year. I really got a good feeling that is hard to explain when I was up in Des Moines. Of course the city isn't the most exciting but the faculty staff and students all got to know me on a personal level. The Dean even sent me a personal letter after my acceptance. Also, I can't decide between TCOM and UTSA in TX.
The problem is that I am worried about getting into a good residency if I go to a DO school. As of now, I am a paramedic and I see myself going into EM. Does anyone have any opinions on DO's? I just get a feeling that there is discrimination toward DO's and I don't want to make a choice that could damage my career. Plus I feel like I am the only Texan out there that is in a hurry to get out of this state. I am afraid that my desire to get out of Texas might cause me to make a bad career choice. I guess I should have applied to a bunch of out of state MD schools but too late now+pissed+ Oh well, I just basically want to know your opinions on DO schools. Thanks
Click to expand...

I don't think being a DO will be a problem at all for this.

Coops
 
Don't forget our SDN grown DO EM residents, QuinnNSU is the only one that comes to mind but I know there are others.
 
There are lots of DOs in EM. I know a few in San Antonio, granted they were all at Wilford Hall since I am Air Force. Just go to the school where you feel the most comfortable. As a current MSI, I can tell you that your personal happiness is an important aspect of a successful med school experience.

BTW, the AF does not discriminate against DOs.
 
Originally posted by cdreed

BTW, the AF does not discriminate against DOs.
Click to expand...

I was under the impression that the military actually liked DOs? I think I just got this idea since the majority of the DOs I know are in the military.
 
You're right. To the military, DO and MD are identical entities. There is a much higher percentage of DOs in the military than in the civilian sector. I can only speculate as to why this is so... some say that DO school is usually so expensive that the HPSP is a good trade off.

I, on the other hand, was military first turned DO student. I just felt more at ease at the DO programs I interviewed at versus the MD ones. I am a non-trad, and I really liked that DO programs were amenable to this. I appreciated their interest in my experiences and the fact that a greater proportion of my classmates are closer to my age.
 
I've been accepted at both MD and DO schools. Initially, I applied DO to increase my chances. I then really liked the schools that I interviewed at and got accepted to both of them.

However, I've also been accepted at a couple of good MD programs, one top tier school too.. I'll be honest with you. If I lived in a different world, and my parents weren't physicians, and I didn't worry about what others think of me. I'd probably choose DO over MD. I haven't completely decided, but I'm leaning toward MD.

It's so hard to know what the right choice is. Lets just be happy we're in.
 
Originally posted by LP1CW
I've been accepted at both MD and DO schools. Initially, I applied DO to increase my chances. I then really liked the schools that I interviewed at and got accepted to both of them.

However, I've also been accepted at a couple of good MD programs, one top tier school too.. I'll be honest with you. If I lived in a different world, and my parents weren't physicians, and I didn't worry about what others think of me. I'd probably choose DO over MD. I haven't completely decided, but I'm leaning toward MD.

It's so hard to know what the right choice is. Lets just be happy we're in.
Click to expand...

You best get over what others think of you real quick, otherwise it will hinder your medical education as well as your professional life. The last thing the world needs is another doctor who second-guesses himself because the attending or a colleague may be thinking he's a *****.

If you feel more comfortable and think you would be happier at a DO school, **** everyone else and go. Do you want to live your life or theirs?
 
Trust me, I understand what you're saying. But we live in a world that judges us. And when it comes to residencies, jobs, life, the choices we make now are going to matter. So, I do care about what others think of me. For instance, I have a pierced nose, but when I'm back home and I go to synagogue I always remove it. I did when I interviewed too.

I'm also 21 and still figuring out who I am and who I want to be. But there are somethings that I do know. I know I want to be doctor to really help people. I know that I want a family. And I know that I want enjoy this life.
 
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