MD/DO Experience.

[Van Chowder]

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Hi everyone, I am a little premed that will be applying in a couple of years.
After reading these forums, I have gotten tired of the same MD vs DO threads that seem to be all to common in the Pre-Allo/-Osteo forums.
As resident physicians, what are your experiences with either being a DO or being and MD working with DO's. By this I don't mean to rate their quality as a physician, as I'm sure we will all agree there is really no difference in quality of patient care between the two. But I am curious as to how the 'stigma' against DO's actually plays out, and to get a better geographical understanding of where it happens the most, and how so.

Thanks everyone!
(Btw I do know this post is worded funny, but I just woke up from a long night of fiestaing and my brain is still not functioning up to par, if there is anything you need clarified please let me know)

 

[Brunette1981]

You're not even applying for medical school yet and you are "tired" of hearing about a stigma concerning DOs? If you are so concerned, why don't you apply to allopathic programs?

Not to be mean but if you spent a little more time studying and less being "tired" of a stigma (hard to see how you can have any experience of a stigma, or any knowledge of the patient care equivalency of MDs and DOs for that matter) and "fiestaing", you could have the sort of grades and application that allows you to choose what sort of degree you end up with.

 

[Van Chowder]

You're not even applying for medical school yet and you are "tired" of hearing about a stigma concerning DOs? If you are so concerned, why don't you apply to allopathic programs?

Not to be mean but if you spent a little more time studying and less being "tired" of a stigma (hard to see how you can have any experience of a stigma, or any knowledge of the patient care equivalency of MDs and DOs for that matter) and "fiestaing", you could have the sort of grades and application that allows you to choose what sort of degree you end up with.

It appears as if you aren't having the best day. When I said tired of the same MD/DO threads, I meant in the aspect that they seem to always turn into pissing contests. I apologize for not making my self clearer. I hope your MD/PHD program is going well because your reading comprehension could use some work. I did not say I am tired of the stigma, I am simply trying to understand it better, because I honestly can more or less see where it comes from ( given that it is harder to get into Allo schools than osteo). You are very right, that aside from my volunteer and shadowing experience, I do not have much experience with the stigma, especially sense the hospital I do volunteer and shadow at, does not have any DO's.
Hence the question.
I would also like to point out that my GPA has nothing to do with my ignorance in the matter, as 'studying more' will not do me much good given that I am a rising junior at Berkeley with a 3.94 GPA, ( only prerequisite left is organic chem). Unless I am mistaken my GPA does allow me to choose what kind of degree I have, and not only that, as far as my GPA is concerned it also makes me a competitive applicant where ever I very well do choose to apply. You could argue that I have not taken my MCAT yet which is true, however I anticipate I will do well on the MCAT given my ability to excel in one of the most elite institutions in the country.
With that said, I hope your pathetic attempt at trying to make your proverbial penis larger, helped.

 

[PunkmedGirl]

It appears as if you aren't having the best day. When I said tired of the same MD/DO threads, I meant in the aspect that they seem to always turn into pissing contests. I apologize for not making my self clearer. I hope your MD/PHD program is going well because your reading comprehension could use some work. I did not say I am tired of the stigma, I am simply trying to understand it better, because I honestly can more or less see where it comes from ( given that it is harder to get into Allo schools than osteo). You are very right, that aside from my volunteer and shadowing experience, I do not have much experience with the stigma, especially sense the hospital I do volunteer and shadow at, does not have any DO's.
Hence the question.
I would also like to point out that my GPA has nothing to do with my ignorance in the matter, as 'studying more' will not do me much good given that I am a rising junior at Berkeley with a 3.94 GPA, ( only prerequisite left is organic chem). Unless I am mistaken my GPA does allow me to choose what kind of degree I have, and not only that, as far as my GPA is concerned it also makes me a competitive applicant where ever I very well do choose to apply. You could argue that I have not taken my MCAT yet which is true, however I anticipate I will do well on the MCAT given my ability to excel in one of the most elite institutions in the country.
With that said, I hope your pathetic attempt at trying to make your proverbial penis larger, helped.

LOL.

 

[asmallchild]

You're tired of the same MD vs DO threads so you decided to come to the residents forum and start one? 🙄

My experience is that it doesn't matter when it comes down to actually doing your job. I've met phenomenal and crappy MDs. I've met phenomenal and crappy DOs.

My experience has also been that being a DO makes things tougher if you're applying for more competitive fields like radiology, ophtho, derm, surgical subspecialties, etc...

In short, if it concerns you, don't apply to DO programs then. It's a simple solution...

Hi everyone, I am a little premed that will be applying in a couple of years.
After reading these forums, I have gotten tired of the same MD vs DO threads that seem to be all to common in the Pre-Allo/-Osteo forums.
As resident physicians, what are your experiences with either being a DO or being and MD working with DO's. By this I don't mean to rate their quality as a physician, as I'm sure we will all agree there is really no difference in quality of patient care between the two. But I am curious as to how the 'stigma' against DO's actually plays out, and to get a better geographical understanding of where it happens the most, and how so.

Thanks everyone!
(Btw I do know this post is worded funny, but I just woke up from a long night of fiestaing and my brain is still not functioning up to par, if there is anything you need clarified please let me know)

 

[Winged Scapula]

In a nutshell:

MDs: some suck, some are great, most are in between

DOs: some suck, some are great, most are in between

FMGs/IMGs: some suck, some are great, most are in between

Female residents: some suck, some are great, most are in between

Pregnant residents: some suck, some are great, most are in between

Older residents: some suck, some are great, most are in between

Harvard/Hopkins/"top tier" residents: some suck, some are great, most are in between

Does that include all the usual arguments?

 

[Pinkertinkle]

If you want to do an MD residency you should go with the MD.

 

[Rendar5]

I think what the OP is actually trying to say is this:

MD/DO threads in the pre-med forums suck because you've got tons of ppl discussing the actual pro's and con's of DO in regard to snagging residency spots without knowing any better because they're just premeds or med students. He'd like someone who's actually been there/done that to inform him instead whether it's harder to get residency spots or not as a DO, and where in the country this problem exists if it does.

As I have not gone the DO route, and 2/10 of my residency class is DO, I can't say there's a huge issue in EM, but I'm not fully sure. I can't speak for any other specialty

 

[MrBurns10]

It appears as if you aren't having the best day. When I said tired of the same MD/DO threads, I meant in the aspect that they seem to always turn into pissing contests. I apologize for not making my self clearer. I hope your MD/PHD program is going well because your reading comprehension could use some work. I did not say I am tired of the stigma, I am simply trying to understand it better, because I honestly can more or less see where it comes from ( given that it is harder to get into Allo schools than osteo). You are very right, that aside from my volunteer and shadowing experience, I do not have much experience with the stigma, especially sense the hospital I do volunteer and shadow at, does not have any DO's.
Hence the question.
I would also like to point out that my GPA has nothing to do with my ignorance in the matter, as 'studying more' will not do me much good given that I am a rising junior at Berkeley with a 3.94 GPA, ( only prerequisite left is organic chem). Unless I am mistaken my GPA does allow me to choose what kind of degree I have, and not only that, as far as my GPA is concerned it also makes me a competitive applicant where ever I very well do choose to apply. You could argue that I have not taken my MCAT yet which is true, however I anticipate I will do well on the MCAT given my ability to excel in one of the most elite institutions in the country.
With that said, I hope your pathetic attempt at trying to make your proverbial penis larger, helped.

 

[asmallchild]

I'm so stealing this for future use.

 

[Old_Mil]

I would also like to point out that my GPA has nothing to do with my ignorance in the matter, as 'studying more' will not do me much good given that I am a rising junior at Berkeley with a 3.94 GPA, ( only prerequisite left is organic chem). Unless I am mistaken my GPA does allow me to choose what kind of degree I have, and not only that, as far as my GPA is concerned it also makes me a competitive applicant where ever I very well do choose to apply. You could argue that I have not taken my MCAT yet which is true, however I anticipate I will do well on the MCAT given my ability to excel in one of the most elite institutions in the country.
With that said, I hope your pathetic attempt at trying to make your proverbial penis larger, helped.

After reading your post, it's clear to me that you should go MD - preferrably at a large university center in the northeast (Manhattan, Philly, Boston). After that, you might seriously want to consider completing a residency in OB/Gyn or General Surgery.

 

[adam6]

Back to the original question(?) -
I do not think that having a DO carries much stigma in primary-care oriented fields. Allopathic and osteopathic training seems to be rather similar these days. In my internal medicine residency (university-affiliated), we had a fair number of DOs (maybe 20%). However, since it was an allopathic residency, there was no appreciable difference in the actual practice of medicine. To my knowledge, none of the DOs used manipulation techniques in daily practice (possibly one did in his outpatient clinic?). We were all taught and taught to practice the same EBM, etc, during our training. Additionally, over half of the DOs in my program wanted to specialize and almost everyone obtained a fellowship position (even in GI/cards) -- though they had to work their tails off to do serious research with prominent people. Fact is - they got it done!
I haven't met anyone who has gone through an osteopathic residency, so I can't comment on that experience.

Geographically, I only have experience in the midwest and would say that it is generally respectful of MD/DO. At larger university centers, there is still a strong bias towards MD. At my current institution, I do not believe there are any DOs in the internal medicine program and very few (if any?) in the IM fellowships (maybe geriatrics or palliative care). There are the occasional DO faculty members - but they are a small minority.

 

[Van Chowder]

Thank you for the serious answers, folks!
Have a wonderful weekend!😀