M.D vs D.O

[nanaschool2000]

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I just wondered how many post bacc students are planning on applying to both M.D and D.O schools. When I read threads, I found out that many of you are only thinking of M.D schools. I want to hear your opinions.

a) Only M.D schools
b) Only D.O schools
c) I don't care if it's M.D or D.O. I just want to become a physician.

 

[future doc???]

I just wondered how many post bacc students are planning on applying to both M.D and D.O schools. When I read threads, I found out that many of you are only thinking of M.D schools. I want to hear your opinions.

a) Only M.D schools
b) Only D.O schools
c) I don't care if it's M.D or D.O. I just want to become a physician.

c) I don't care if it's M.D or D.O. I just want to become a physician.

 

[Maxprime]

I'm not far along enough (no MCAT) to know my options, but I am planning on applying to MD's only, so:

a) MD only

It's a personal thing and I hope with time I'll change my answer to c)

 

[MissCutie]

I just wondered how many post bacc students are planning on applying to both M.D and D.O schools. When I read threads, I found out that many of you are only thinking of M.D schools. I want to hear your opinions.

a) Only M.D schools
b) Only D.O schools
c) I don't care if it's M.D or D.O. I just want to become a physician.

I only applied to M.D. schools in my first round, and I definitely regret that choice. I think I would have been able to get into a program had I not made that choice. Second time around, I'll apply to both, but I cant say I dont care. I'm in the position to get into a D.O. program right now, so it seems silly to do all the extra work. But more than anything, I do want to be a physician so I'll take either.

 

[lexrageorge]

My answer is (c).

But, I believe I can give some perspective why many would answer (a). First, geography is a big issue for me, as it is for a lot of post-bacc'ers. Most DO schools tend to be located in certain regions of the country, and many are in rural areas. Yes, it's true that residency location is more important than the location of your medical school. But, many graduates do end up doing residency near their medical school. So, medical school location is important. I, for one, have no interest in attending medical school or practicing in a rural area.

Second, there are additional hassles one must endure as a DO student. For one, there is a separate licensing test, the COMLEX. While widely accepted by allopathic residency programs, some specialty residencies prefer to see the USMLE scores. So, many DO students endure two licensing exams. Setting up clinical rotations is more of a hassle at some DO schools as well.

Finally, many DO schools push themselves as being "primary care" focused, or even "rural primary care" focused. While that all sounds nice and makes everyone feel warm and fuzzy, the fact is that many incoming students are not necessarily dedicated to becoming primary care docs upon matriculation. Personally, I am undecided as to specialty, etc., and prefer to keep my options open. Yes, I do realize that there are many practicing DO's in all medical specialties. But I think the DO schools are doing themselves a disservice here by unnecessarily scaring off some well qualified potential applicants.

BTW, I have nothing against DO's or DO schools. The above is just an impression I get from my research into this matter. I don't think any of the above (except, maybe, for geography) should keep applicants from exploring the DO route.

 

[Maxprime]

1) Some people don't agree with DO's approach to patient care.
2) Some people have an image problem with being a DO. Everyone and their mom knows what an MD is, nobody knows what a DO is. These people generally want to be doctors "to be doctors", not care for patients.
3) DO's are often more concentrated on primary care. For people who want to be PCP's, this is great. For people who don't or who don't know, this is not so great.


This may be controversial, but JMO:
4) DO's generally have lower numbers than MD's. A great student who went DO b/c they agree with that the principles of Osteopathy, IMO, on paper puts them down a bit. Osteos, on average, do worse on the boards. I think these factors make it harder to get a top allo residency from an osteo background.

At the end of the day, they're both doctors.

 

[Kuba]

1) Some people don't agree with DO's approach to patient care.
2) Some people have an image problem with being a DO. Everyone and their mom knows what an MD is, nobody knows what a DO is. These people generally want to be doctors "to be doctors", not care for patients.
3) DO's are often more concentrated on primary care. For people who want to be PCP's, this is great. For people who don't or who don't know, this is not so great.


This may be controversial, but JMO:
4) DO's generally have lower numbers than MD's. A great student who went DO b/c they agree with that the principles of Osteopathy, IMO, on paper puts them down a bit. Osteos, on average, do worse on the boards. I think these factors make it harder to get a top allo residency from an osteo background.

At the end of the day, they're both doctors.

I think your #2 is more controversial to your #4. #4 some truth to it while the second sentence of #2 is just wrong.

 

[ERdoc08]

1) Some people don't agree with DO's approach to patient care.
2) Some people have an image problem with being a DO. Everyone and their mom knows what an MD is, nobody knows what a DO is. These people generally want to be doctors "to be doctors", not care for patients.
3) DO's are often more concentrated on primary care. For people who want to be PCP's, this is great. For people who don't or who don't know, this is not so great.


This may be controversial, but JMO:
4) DO's generally have lower numbers than MD's. A great student who went DO b/c they agree with that the principles of Osteopathy, IMO, on paper puts them down a bit. Osteos, on average, do worse on the boards. I think these factors make it harder to get a top allo residency from an osteo background.

At the end of the day, they're both doctors.

DO's and MD's have the exact same patient care, in general.

The MCAT and GPA has no actual determination in what type of physician you will be.

Saying that "nobody knows what a DO is" excludes anyone who lives near a DO school or has had a DO as a physician. The numbers will only increase.

 

[relentless11]

DO's and MD's have the exact same patient care, in general.

The MCAT and GPA has no actual determination in what type of physician you will be.

Saying that "nobody knows what a DO is" excludes anyone who lives near a DO school or has had a DO as a physician. The numbers will only increase.

I want to add that most patients mainly associate a physician with whatever walks in as a white coat..lol. In our emergency department at UC Davis Medical Center, as well as our department of critical care and pulmonary medicine, we have a good number of DO's. Although the MDs probably out number them, I see them frequently as residents. So at least in these fields, I don't think the patient really cares if its an MD or a DO, or even notices their name tag😉. But it is for certain that these DO's scored high enough to get into an internal medicine residency, followed by a felllowship in critical care at a UC med center.

On a side note, I am aiming for just MD. Nothing wrong with DO programs though. This too is a personal thing. As you can infer from my statements, I'm all for DOs, its just not for me at the moment🙂.

 

[daeojkim]

What determines whether you will be a good doctor is not whetheryou are MD or DO. It is how much commitment you have as a doctor. THere are plenty of DOs who are better dictors than many MDs and they can do all the patient care that an MD can.

Who cares if a post bac is only applying to MD or DO schools. Your commitment should be on patient care and not on your title.

 

[Maxprime]

I think your #2 is more controversial to your #4. #4 some truth to it while the second sentence of #2 is just wrong.

Did you know what a DO was before you looked into going to med school?

 

[Maxprime]

What determines whether you will be a good doctor is not whetheryou are MD or DO. It is how much commitment you have as a doctor. THere are plenty of DOs who are better dictors than many MDs and they can do all the patient care that an MD can.

Who cares if a post bac is only applying to MD or DO schools. Your commitment should be on patient care and not on your title.

I agree - I've never heard of anyone w/ a GSW sitting on the table and finding out the surgeon was a DO and fleeing the hospital. GPA, MCAT, etc. don't tell what kind of doctor you'll be.

A DO will save a lot more lives than someone who never gets into an MD program.

 

[Kuba]

Did you know what a DO was before you looked into going to med school?

Yes I did, but that is irrelevant. If you read my post carefully you would realize I was referring to this statement - These people generally want to be doctors "to be doctors", not care for patients. - which is unfounded.

 

[Jack Daniel]

THere are plenty of DOs who are better dictors than many MDs and they can do all the patient care that an MD can.

I, for one, will never be a better dictor than an MD. It sounds like something that might raise my professional liability insurance.

 

[D.O.Spot]

Second, there are additional hassles one must endure as a DO student. For one, there is a separate licensing test, the COMLEX. While widely accepted by allopathic residency programs, some specialty residencies prefer to see the USMLE scores. So, many DO students endure two licensing exams. Setting up clinical rotations is more of a hassle at some DO schools as well.

Acctually if the specialty they want requires the USMLE, then they dont have to take the comlex

 

[group_theory]

Acctually if the specialty they want requires the USMLE, then they dont have to take the comlex

Nope. Comlex is required.

Starting with the graduating class of 2008, you need to pass Step 1 and Step 2 of COMLEX in order to fulfill graduation requirement at a DO school. (AOA accreditation requirement)

COMLEX is accepted in all 50 US States (and DC and i believe all US territory but not 100% sure on that)

As a DO, if you don't finish COMLEX but finish all 3 USMLE, there are some states that will NOT licensed you (california being one of them) simply because you didn't finish comlex.

 

[Nasrudin]

C) except with a few caveats that repeat what lexrageorge said.

I think its obvious that DO schools give the same basic education as MD schools so that i would satisfied with. The things that i would not like would be duplicating the exams in order to apply MD residencies. I realize this may not be required but when you're competing for a spot you don't leave anything to chance as far as giving someone an excuse to pass up your application for prejudicial or other reasons.

Secondly beyond the traditional mid-western DO schools affiliated with larger public institutions, the more modern DO school is a private education that is extremely expensive that offers less in terms of clinical opportunities in hospitals that are supported by MD residency programs in multiple specalties. I realize that this is a generalization but so is applying to medical school and residencies in which one puts the best foot forward you can. And lastly i am interested in the possibility of international work in Infectious disease and DO degrees while recognized by the CDC... i've heard about practice rights for DO's abroad being variable while the MD degree is universally recognized in all corners of the globe. But despite these smaller obstacles i would be happy to go to certain DO schools if accepted, it's just that i would probably go with a MD option if i had it.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Does anyone ever feel like everyone who has ever gone to a DO school uses SDN? There just seems to be a lot of people who feel the need to justify going to a DO school and then equating it with an MD. I find it funny because 99% of people are shooting for an MD. It is as though people were forced into going to a DO school and had to make themselves feel better by coming on SDN and saying how great the type of school they had to settle for is. Personally I always felt that those schools were for people who just could not get into med school, hence the drastically lower numbers.

I am not trying to cut down DOs. If you go to a DO school you'll become a doctor and maybe a great one. You will however have much fewer options to play with when compared to an MD.

 

[Kuba]

Does anyone ever feel like everyone who has ever gone to a DO school uses SDN? There just seems to be a lot of people who feel the need to justify going to a DO school and then equating it with an MD. I find it funny because 99% of people are shooting for an MD. It is as though people were forced into going to a DO school and had to make themselves feel better by coming on SDN and saying how great the type of school they had to settle for is. Personally I always felt that those schools were for people who just could not get into med school, hence the drastically lower numbers.

I am not trying to cut down DOs. If you go to a DO school you'll become a doctor and maybe a great one. You will however have much fewer options to play with when compared to an MD.

If this were true then why wouldnt DO schools just convert to the lowest tier MD schools?

 

[sunriver]

My answer is (c).

But, I believe I can give some perspective why many would answer (a). First, geography is a big issue for me, as it is for a lot of post-bacc'ers. Most DO schools tend to be located in certain regions of the country, and many are in rural areas. Yes, it's true that residency location is more important than the location of your medical school. But, many graduates do end up doing residency near their medical school. So, medical school location is important. I, for one, have no interest in attending medical school or practicing in a rural area.

Second, there are additional hassles one must endure as a DO student. For one, there is a separate licensing test, the COMLEX. While widely accepted by allopathic residency programs, some specialty residencies prefer to see the USMLE scores. So, many DO students endure two licensing exams. Setting up clinical rotations is more of a hassle at some DO schools as well.

Finally, many DO schools push themselves as being "primary care" focused, or even "rural primary care" focused. While that all sounds nice and makes everyone feel warm and fuzzy, the fact is that many incoming students are not necessarily dedicated to becoming primary care docs upon matriculation. Personally, I am undecided as to specialty, etc., and prefer to keep my options open. Yes, I do realize that there are many practicing DO's in all medical specialties. But I think the DO schools are doing themselves a disservice here by unnecessarily scaring off some well qualified potential applicants.

BTW, I have nothing against DO's or DO schools. The above is just an impression I get from my research into this matter. I don't think any of the above (except, maybe, for geography) should keep applicants from exploring the DO route.

Many DO schools are located in majr metropolitan locations: Philadelphia, Chicago, Fort Worth, DesMoines, etc. Rural location has little to do with type of education. Some of our greatest medical centers, Mayo, Geisinger, are in small towns. Not really a factor.

If taking an additional test bothers you, get out now, before it's too late. The boards make these exams look like a cake walk. And the real tests, when somebody is trying to die, and you are in charge, pale by comparrison.

As a practicing DO specialist, a graduate of PCOM, I can say that things have changed dramatically over the last 25 years. I was the first DO fellow at USC and the first DO faculty member there. I was the first DO to become a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians. Those doors, and many others, are now wide open for qualified DO's. If you are a dedicated student, you go the extra mile to enhance your clinical experience, you can succeed, in private practice or academia. I attend national meetings yearly (pulmonary and critical care) and there are always DO's presenting, more every year, some section chiefs at prestigious medical centers.

In my career I've met some astounding DO's and some terrible MD's and vice versa. Many MD's I practiced with sought my care for themselves and their families, when qualified MD's were available to them. That speaks volumes. What you become, in terms of your clinical skills, your ability to communicate with peers and patients, your status in the community, has everything to do with what you put forth, how you grow and develop as a physician, and much less with what letters follow your name.

 

[emeraldsky]

it would depend on your interest of specialties. i know that's looking really far down the line.

but i.e. i've been told that it's harder to get into the more competitive surgical specialties as a D.O. plus it's not really encouraged because a D.O.s approach is more compatible with primary patient care than with surgical which is so invasive and often very disease-focused.

but other than that, if you do well, i've been told it doesn't matter whether you are an MD or DO.

 

[Taus]

it would depend on your interest of specialties. i know that's looking really far down the line.

but i.e. i've been told that it's harder to get into the more competitive surgical specialties as a D.O. plus it's not really encouraged because a D.O.s approach is more compatible with primary patient care than with surgical which is so invasive and often very disease-focused.

but other than that, if you do well, i've been told it doesn't matter whether you are an MD or DO.

though DO's do have their own DO-only residencies for most of those insanely competative residencies.... but still the top DO's compete for those limited spots just like the top MD's compete for the limited spots in the allo match (and by top I mean grade-wise...not necessarily doctor abilities...)

 

[wooeykim]

For many people that have not been around doctors, the question between DO and MD seem to have a negative bias for DO's. The obvious reasons are that first, their approach is not as scientific and second, their reputation isn't as glamorous. I have been working in a laboratory of a top 10 Medical School where about 30% of the reserchers are physician researchers. We have alot of lab technicians applying for med school, so the topic of admissions gets tossed around in the room quite alot. One of our physician Principal Investigators once said that in the end it really didn't matter, in the end they'll see u as a doctor and judge on ur skills as a professional and not as a degree. And this was coming from a graduate of Yale Med. School (with a Columbia undergrad). He also mentioned that several of his superiors were DO's. The one difference he mentioned was that docs with a DO just f--ed around while in undergrad, while MD's did not. (those were his exact words).

 

[nanaschool2000]

The one difference he mentioned was that docs with a DO just f--ed around while in undergrad, while MD's did not. (those were his exact words).

Haha. Hilarious.

 

[chaeymaey]

I think generally many students who pursue post-baccs do have the stats to get into a DO school, but they're pursuing the post-bacc because they believe that they are capable of getting into an MD program with application strengthening.

 

[junos187]

Yup, I aint spending 40K this year to go to a DO school, MD is definately my number one choice.

 

[sunriver]

Yup, I aint spending 40K this year to go to a DO school, MD is definately my number one choice.

Better do a better job with spelling and grammer in your applications, or you'll be flipping burgers.