Is it time to unify both degree names, yet?

[DrBumblebee]

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There are two types of complete physicians in the United States:

MDs (Doctor of Allopathic Medicine).
DOs (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)

What are their meanings?

Allopathic: treatment of the disease by inducing effects opposite to those produced by the disease using drugs or surgical techniques

Osteopathic: treatment of the disease by manipulating bones and muscles (structure of the skeleton) as well as using drugs or surgical techniques

...

Philosophical roots and discussions aside, both degree holders have been practicing the same methods and techniques of medicine in our today's United States.

...

Question:

1) Isn't it the time to discuss to unify both degree names under one, yet more meaningful, name?

2) If yes, then what're your name suggestions that will unify us all US physicians under one name?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

MD does not stand for Doctor of Allopathic Medicine, it stands for Doctor of Medicine or the latin Medicinae.


Anyway, I personally give this disjunction between the degrees till 2020. The degrees have been through the last 50 years proceeding to equality and with the now unified residency system it will inevitably result in effectively a total unification of licensing boards and accreditation systems. Which personally I welcome as the LCME would do a better Job than COCA.

That being said... I favor the MD, DO option for DO schools to take up. DO schools can produce Diplomates of Osteopathic Medicine along with training students to be conventional MDs.

 

[JaBoomDay]

I think if you pass the COMLEX you earn a DO degree. If you pass the USMLE, you earn an MD degree. If you pass both, you're a DO, MD.

LOL am I crazy?

 

[Mehd School]

I feel it should happen soon, but know that it will not.

If it were up to me, an accreditation body would make all US medical schools grant the MD degree, and give a short number of years for the medical schools to rise to the minimum requirements for accreditation. If a school can't meet those standards, they'll be on probation until they can fulfill the requirements and or be shut down (not sure how you can shut someone down if they're private).

Of course, I'm just dreaming here. I feel that DO's should become MD's and the new MD's that are interested in OMM can enroll themselves in OMM education as they see fit. I don't feel it should be mandatory since such an insignificant number of physicians utilize OMM.

People get bent out of shape if they're a DO and are called or listed as MD. To me, MD = medical doctor which technically a DO is a medical doctor, so who cares. But I digress.

 

[user3]

If DO schools were to be converted to MD granting schools, I wonder if they would all move to AMCAS and no longer use the grade replacement.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

If DO schools were to be converted to MD granting schools, I wonder if they would all move to AMCAS and no longer use the grade replacement.

Possibly, unless they modify AMCAS to have a sub section dedicated to DO apps.

 

[MedPR]

There are two types of complete physicians in the United States:

MDs (Doctor of Allopathic Medicine).
DOs (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)

What are their meanings?

Allopathic: treatment of the disease by inducing effects opposite to those produced by the disease using drugs or surgical techniques

Osteopathic: treatment of the disease by manipulating bones and muscles (structure of the skeleton) as well as using drugs or surgical techniques

...

Philosophical roots and discussions aside, both degree holders have been practicing the same methods and techniques of medicine in our today's United States.

...

Question:

1) Isn't it the time to discuss to unify both degree names under one, yet more meaningful, name?

2) If yes, then what're your name suggestions that will unify us all US physicians under one name?

 

[DocVapor]

I vote yes!

And then to take it a step further, let's combine everything with DMD's, DPT's, DC's, and DNP's as well. That way everyone can be completely the same and we can all feel good about each other and go camping and post facebook pictures of each other and follow each other on twitter and then maybe have a whole reality TV show about just how awesome it is that we are now all indistinguishable from each other!

And then,

 

[DrWily]

Not gonna happen anytime soon.

 

[Bacchus]

Cross posted in Pre Allo. That thread has more responses so this thread will be closed. Continued discussion can occur in that forum.