Md/do+od?

[Odwizardo]

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Has anyone ever heard of combining degrees, for instance, going to med school first then going to optometry school, to practice as an ophthalmologist minus the surgery aspect. Is that doable? Is that idea worth pursuing?

 

[DrBowtie]

That sounds like the biggest waste of 3-7 years I've ever heard of.

 

[Odwizardo]

any way you can that back that up? otherwise, your response is a waste of space friend.

 

[ICU23]

If you go to med school then do optometry school? You're not considered an ophthalmologist. You would need do ophthalmology residency (which is pretty competitive) to get board certification. I'm sure legally, a regular MD can refract and do an exam, but most don't.

 

[DrBowtie]

any way you can that back that up? otherwise, your response is a waste of space friend.

Why would you take the time to go through 4 years of medical school (while incurring 150K worth of debt, go through an Ophtho residency of 4-5 years (while making 40-50K), and then go to OD school where you would incur even more debt, all while your previous debt compounds massive interest?

It would be completely silly to go through the surgical optho residency if you don't want to do surgery. Do you just want to call yourself an Ophtho for prestige? I'm throughly confused by the motive.

 

[cpw]

Going MD to OD doesn't make much sense. If you're doing it to practice as an OD.. there's really no reason to go to med school in the first place. Now, if you realize you're unhappy being an OD and not doing surgery.. then I'd recommend going back to med school and trying to match into ophthalmology.

 

[JeffChou]

Has anyone ever heard of combining degrees, for instance, going to med school first then going to optometry school, to practice as an ophthalmologist minus the surgery aspect. Is that doable? Is that idea worth pursuing?

It is doable. It would be ALMOST a complete waste of 4 years + tuition at an optometry school. You don't need and can't use a degree in optometry to practice ophthalmology. You would have to go through a residency in ophthalmology to practice as an ophthalmologist. To subtract the surgical aspect from your practice, you just tell people you don't do surgeries.

You can certainly get an MD, then an OD, and then practice as an optometrist, but of course, that would be a waste of med school.

 

[jefguth]

Has anyone ever heard of combining degrees, for instance, going to med school first then going to optometry school, to practice as an ophthalmologist minus the surgery aspect. Is that doable? Is that idea worth pursuing?

There is currently a 4th year student at ICO that already is a practicing MD. I agree it is hard to see the benefit of someone doing this, but as long as an MD OD maintains their medical licsence he/she can still practice all facets of optometry + additional procedures that optometrists may not be permiteed to perform in a particular state. Now, whether insurance companies would reimburse such a practioner for certain codes, I really have no idea (prob not for those that are explicitly surgical), but it is concievable that they would pay out for all of the general medical ophthalmology codes. In essence, he/she could practice in the same manner that a "medical" ophthalmologist (as opposed to comprehensive or surgical) does. However, that's basically what optometrists can do now, an MD OD would just have an easier time getting on medical insurance panels.

 

[Critical Mass]

Move to Oklahoma where optometrists can do surgery.