is there a real difference between md and do?

[jt6234]

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seriously, what's the difference? I've shadowed both and didn't really see a difference in the way that they approached things. I respect dos just as much as mds and honestly see dos as being at a slight advantage when it comes to treatment options with omm, but other than that I genuinely don't understand the difference. I don't subscribe to the theory that dos are automatically more holistic caregivers either; both can be great practitioners or crappy... I fully intend to plan to apply to md and do when the time comes, I'm just trying to figure out what I would say to "why do" other than that it's a path to being a physician that would give me the training I need to do the job i want to do with extra skills (omm) that a lot of my peers wouldn't have. is there something i'm missing?

 

[Goro]

The only difference is that as medical students, DO students have to pay a special tax called taking OMM/OMT classes.

Suggest learning how to use the search function here.

 

[MacBee]

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Clinically nothing. DOs have different residency opportunities.

 

[Calizboosted76]

Green grape


Purple grape

 

[jt6234]

LOL sorry y'all… I have looked at many a thread (and the rest of the internet) already about this and what @Goro said was pretty much what I found but thought there might be something else, thanks for responding

 

[ExploringOptions]

As a patient, I prefer DOs for primary care. My primary care DO was amazing and never condescending or rushed like the MD primary docs I have had. She just retired, and I am only looking for DOs for primary care. I found the DOs to be more about preventative care and less eagerness to just write an Rx as an easy solution.

 

[Synchronous]

Here we go again.....

 

[NITRAS]

DOs get the opportunity to do two different licensing tests....DO schools are also more expensive on average.

I guess us MDs get the extra classes in condescension and unnecessary Rx writing.....

 

[Calizboosted76]

DOs get the opportunity to do two different licensing tests....DO schools are also more expensive on average.

I guess us MDs get the extra classes in condescension and unnecessary Rx writing.....

I disagree. I have met multiple DO physicians that must have took those two classes you mentioned as well. Anyone who honestly knows, knows that the title doesn't make the person. The person makes the title. I know some DO physicians that are borderline pill mills.

 

[Calizboosted76]

DOs get the opportunity to do two different licensing tests....DO schools are also more expensive on average.

I guess us MDs get the extra classes in condescension and unnecessary Rx writing.....

Oh wait, I just seen you're a hospitalists..... lol Pain in the asses of the hospital. jkjkjkjkjk

 

[Calizboosted76]

The females in DO schools are older but more mature. The females in MD schools are younger but less mature. Your pick OP.

I cant tell if my sarcasm detector is going off or not.... lol

 

[jt6234]

me @ myself right now haha, i’ll show myself out

 

[Tenk]

MD definitely sets you up on a pathway to greatness. My residency was in being condescending and writing unnecessary rx’s. I went on to do a work note/disability fellowship. I am currently a board certified Pez dispenser.

 

[Goro]

MD definitely sets you up on a pathway to greatness. My residency was in being condescending and writing unnecessary rx’s. I went on to do a work note/disability fellowship. I am currently a board certified Pez dispenser.

I'm going to get Banhammered for doxxing Tenk, but I have to share this pic of him:

 

[Tenk]

I'm going to get Banhammered for doxxing Tenk, but I have to share this pic of him:
View attachment 272709

I knew I never should have sent you that pic.

 

[Peter Pan.]

seriously, what's the difference? I've shadowed both and didn't really see a difference in the way that they approached things. I respect dos just as much as mds and honestly see dos as being at a slight advantage when it comes to treatment options with omm, but other than that I genuinely don't understand the difference. I don't subscribe to the theory that dos are automatically more holistic caregivers either; both can be great practitioners or crappy... I fully intend to plan to apply to md and do when the time comes, I'm just trying to figure out what I would say to "why do" other than that it's a path to being a physician that would give me the training I need to do the job i want to do with extra skills (omm) that a lot of my peers wouldn't have. is there something i'm missing?

It’s funny but in a lot of cases nothing at all in how they treat patients. Got a cousin who is a DO surgeon and shadowed a DO doctor as well. Neither one of them have ever used OMM on any of their patients their entire career. And in their residencies they were trained by MDs. Some sports medicine and family medicine doctors use OMM but aside from that not a lot even use OMM.

In the end I decided to apply to only MD programs anyway. If I don’t get in this cycle then maybe I will apply to DO.

 

[Ms Procrastinator]

 

[Dr. Stalker]

Ok, I'll bite. Use the search function too.

DOs do face an uphill battle for the more competitive residencies? Are there exceptions? Of course, check out one of the interns at HUP ENT. However, don't ever bank on being the "exception." Students (both MD and DO) often come from physician families, and don't advertise that. One of my classmates fathers is dept. chair of surgery - he doesn't go around flaunting this information. He will match surgery with zero problems. When you see DOs matching super competitively they have often:
1. killer USMLE scores
2. High class rank
3. insane pubs
4. GAP YEAR DURING MED for research/LoRs from big names in the field

MDs don't have an easy ride either. They likely do all of the above, but you don't have a stigma applying to competitive fields.


Before everyone jumps on me, read what I said a few times. Then roast me.

 

[907914]

One of them puts a DO after their name. The other puts an MD.

To echo and summarize what others have already said, there is no difference at the level of attending, there is no difference at the level of fellow or resident. The differences lie in school and upon transition to resident. DO must do OMM stuff (a tax as @Goro calls it) and DOs tend to have a much more difficult time matching outside of primary care and non-competitive specialties.

 

[993444]

One of them puts a DO after their name. The other puts an MD.

To echo and summarize what others have already said, there is no difference at the level of attending, there is no difference at the level of fellow or resident. The differences lie in school and upon transition to resident. DO must do OMM stuff (a tax as @Goro calls it) and DOs tend to have a much more difficult time marching outside of primary care.

There are several non-PC specialties that are very DO friendly (EM, neuro, path, anesthesiology, etc).

 

[907914]

There are several non-PC specialties that are very DO friendly (EM, neuro, path, anesthesiology, etc).

Addendum made. Thanks!

 

[993444]

Addendum made. Thanks!

Those specialties are still competitive. I'd just say "matching into the most competitive specialties"