Licensed Acupuncturist Applying MD

[Zoopeda]

I'm new to the forum and noticed a few similar threads but nothing that answered my questions, so I'll give it a shot. I've recently decided to pursue medicine (likely MD, although open to DO) after finishing a 4-year MS in Oriental Medicine and running a successful practice for a short time as an acupuncturist. My formal training involved over 1000 clinical hours of practice and observation (a bit of which was with a western MD who exclusively practiced Chinese medicine). My questions are:

1. To what extent will this experience 'count' toward my overall clinical shadowing/volunteering/exposure needed for med school? My feeling is that I ought to explore some other mentorships with MDs in different fields, but am I correct in also feeling that I should proudly present my 'alternative medicine' training as an educational opportunity working with patients, conducting intakes and treatments, running clinic logistics, etc?

2. Unfortunately the entire 4-year MS program evaluates students as pass-fail-honors. I graduated "With Honors," but I don't imagine this contributes at all to my cumulative GPA. How are these types of grades factored in by admissions?

3. I've noticed certain schools--many of them 'non-trad-friendly'--have Integrative Medicine Centers (at least for research). I imagine some of these schools, such as UVM, OHSU, and UW Madison, might be more open to my particular background. Make no mistake, I want to study western medicine and become a western doctor, but I think there's a role for alternative medicine in the modern American setting. Can anyone suggest schools that are either sympathetic to those interested in complimentary and alternative medicines or schools (out-of-state friendly; I'm in Oregon) with this sort of Integrative medicine clinic/center?

Thank you!

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[Catalystik]

I've recently decided to pursue medicine (likely MD, although open to DO) after finishing a 4-year MS in Oriental Medicine and running a successful practice for a short time as an acupuncturist. My formal training involved over 1000 clinical hours of practice and observation (a bit of which was with a western MD who exclusively practiced Chinese medicine). My questions are:

1. To what extent will this experience 'count' toward my overall clinical shadowing/volunteering/exposure needed for med school? My feeling is that I ought to explore some other mentorships with MDs in different fields, but am I correct in also feeling that I should proudly present my 'alternative medicine' training as an educational opportunity working with patients, conducting intakes and treatments, running clinic logistics, etc?

2. Unfortunately the entire 4-year MS program evaluates students as pass-fail-honors. I graduated "With Honors," but I don't imagine this contributes at all to my cumulative GPA. How are these types of grades factored in by admissions?

1) I think that your experience working with patients would be considered as strong clinical patient experience and your understanding of the business side would be looked at as a plus. You still need clinical environment experience, too, which you could cover with some hospital volunteering, to broaden your experience with acutely ill and injured patients and learn about typical healthcare institution policies. Gaining some physician shadowing in a few fields is also a good idea. You don't need much. About 50 hours total is the average listed.

2) The AMCAS grade conversion guide doesn't cover a three grade system, so you'd have to call AMCAS about that. But most US MD schools will judge you primarily by your undergrad coursework anyway. Do you have all the prerequisites already? You didn't mention where you went to school, but you will find that AMCAS doesn't accept foreign transcripts if you were educated overseas. (AACOMAS, however, does.)

 

[Zoopeda]

I did go to school in the US. My undergrad GPA isn't stellar, but I also only took 2 science classes as an undergrad, meaning my current pre-reqs have the potential to skyrocket my science GPA. (I won't apply until 2013 or even 2014.) With a little work, and a little luck, hopefully things will work out. Thanks for your help.

 

[Political]

I did go to school in the US. My undergrad GPA isn't stellar, but I also only took 2 science classes as an undergrad, meaning my current pre-reqs have the potential to skyrocket my science GPA. (I won't apply until 2013 or even 2014.) With a little work, and a little luck, hopefully things will work out. Thanks for your help.

My only advice is to try and finish your MCAT by 2015 since that when the new MCAT starts being administered (meaning you'll have to memorize much more material than ever before)

Good luck

 

[Zoopeda]

That's great advice, thanks. Any sense for which allopathic schools might be interested in someone of my background?

 

[EndangeredPasta]

I'm new to the forum and noticed a few similar threads but nothing that answered my questions, so I'll give it a shot. I've recently decided to pursue medicine (likely MD, although open to DO) after finishing a 4-year MS in Oriental Medicine and running a successful practice for a short time as an acupuncturist. My formal training involved over 1000 clinical hours of practice and observation (a bit of which was with a western MD who exclusively practiced Chinese medicine). My questions are:

1. To what extent will this experience 'count' toward my overall clinical shadowing/volunteering/exposure needed for med school? My feeling is that I ought to explore some other mentorships with MDs in different fields, but am I correct in also feeling that I should proudly present my 'alternative medicine' training as an educational opportunity working with patients, conducting intakes and treatments, running clinic logistics, etc?

2. Unfortunately the entire 4-year MS program evaluates students as pass-fail-honors. I graduated "With Honors," but I don't imagine this contributes at all to my cumulative GPA. How are these types of grades factored in by admissions?

3. I've noticed certain schools--many of them 'non-trad-friendly'--have Integrative Medicine Centers (at least for research). I imagine some of these schools, such as UVM, OHSU, and UW Madison, might be more open to my particular background. Make no mistake, I want to study western medicine and become a western doctor, but I think there's a role for alternative medicine in the modern American setting. Can anyone suggest schools that are either sympathetic to those interested in complimentary and alternative medicines or schools (out-of-state friendly; I'm in Oregon) with this sort of Integrative medicine clinic/center?

Thank you!

Did you go to National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland by chance? I'm from Portland so that is why I am curious. Also, is the Medical Doctor you shadowed affiliated with the Adventist Hospital? Just curious.

 

[Zoopeda]

Yes, I did graduate from NCNM, although I've not had any experience under a doc with Adventist affiliation. Is there someone you recommend I get in touch with over there for shadowing?

 

[link2swim06]

I did go to school in the US. My undergrad GPA isn't stellar, but I also only took 2 science classes as an undergrad, meaning my current pre-reqs have the potential to skyrocket my science GPA. (I won't apply until 2013 or even 2014.) With a little work, and a little luck, hopefully things will work out. Thanks for your help.

Your goal should be a 3.7+ for science classes and a minimum of a 3.5 to be competitive...I dont any particular school will be much more interested per your background than the rest.

Remember, many nurses, PTs, NP, PAs, pharmDs, and PhD apply and go to med school...so they are pretty use to these previously medically related fields. Just remember during apps you need emphasize why you want to become an MD not why your past career was the best thing since sliced bread. Some alternative medicine people fall in this trap...yes your background was good, but during personal statements, interviews, etc why you are excited about medicine (hint...these are the type of people interviewer and admin committees like).

My advice is the following...you said your GPA wasnt good to start with? Here is what I would do...

Apart from the core pre-reqs, you can easily pad your science GPA by finding EASY science classes and taking them. In my case, I never really scored above a B in any of the gen or organic chemistries, yet was able to get a 3.55 science GPA bc I took a TON of plant-bio classes (which at my school everyone got an A in). Also I did research, which I got 3 credits of an A for science GPA per quarter (for 3 years) which helped me a ton. Needless to say, my sea of As made the B in chemistry look like the exception.

So many people enroll in what they think they are interested in, that is a BAD idea, unless you are super smart...you will hurt your chances at med school. I didnt even take many 101 level science classes, just found ones that would look respectable on my transcript but were super easy.

I can name 3 people who were much smarter than me (MCAT wise and higher grades in the same classes we shared) however, one is in the carribean now and the other 2 are unemployed trying to apply for the 3rd time... because they took what they thought would be interesting.

P.S. You can never have too many extracurricular, the more the better!

 

[Sephiroth]

2. Unfortunately the entire 4-year MS program evaluates students as pass-fail-honors. I graduated "With Honors," but I don't imagine this contributes at all to my cumulative GPA. How are these types of grades factored in by admissions?

Hey, I just looked up your NCNM and the accrediting body is not one of the regional accrediting organizations, so nothing done there will count toward your gpa, or likely transcript at all.

 

[Zoopeda]

Hey, I just looked up your NCNM and the accrediting body is not one of the regional accrediting organizations, so nothing done there will count toward your gpa, or likely transcript at all.

NCNM is accredited by the National Commission on Colleges and Universities... The same organization that accredits OHSU, University of Washington, and on and on and on. It's a legitimate MS for which government financial aid is granted, etc...

http://www.nwccu.org/Directory of Inst/State Map/Oregon/Oregon.htm

 

[Zoopeda]

***read: Northwest Commission...

 

[Sephiroth]

NCNM is accredited by the National Commission on Colleges and Universities... The same organization that accredits OHSU, University of Washington, and on and on and on. It's a legitimate MS for which government financial aid is granted, etc...

http://www.nwccu.org/Directory of Inst/State Map/Oregon/Oregon.htm

Hmm, so it is. I didn't see that on their "About Us" page, but after some searching I see they do list that accreditation on their site. Strangely, NWCCU isn't showing up on CHEA's list of regional accreditors now and I'm not sure why, lol. And just as a side note, not that it matters in this case, but getting government loans doesn't really mean much; people can take out loans for for-profit trade schools with no meaningful accreditation (that's pretty much what those kinda places are set up for).

But as for your school, yeah, I'm not really sure then, though I'm still leaning toward it not being calculated in numerically.

 

[Zoopeda]

Thanks for the clarification on loan disbursement. NWCCU is our regional accrediting body in the Northwestern US. I've already been through this with two med schools that concur. NCNM's MS is legit in terms of the science curriculum that's been approved by the US Dept of Ed-designated accreditors, NWCCU. The same body accredits the OHSU MPH program, for example. Now the real question in all of this is how pass-fail is factored in, and it sounds like it isn't. Funny since several of the med schools I've looked at have switched to pass-fail as well!

 

[bassvp]

Just a thought, I'd look into some of the Jesuit schools (Creighton, SLU, Loyola, etc) down the road when you're applying. Most of their missions (especially SLU) incorporate ideas that are more on the "holistic" side meaning that they acknowledge the fact that medicine does not cure everything. I think this aligns well with the alternative medicine background b/c those who "believe" in alternative medicine also likely understand that medicine has limitations.