MD or DO

[dapmp91]

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hello, i'm new to this forum and i would like really know the difference bewtween DO and MD. I have heard so many stories about the differences bewtween the two and i still don't get it. I have heard that DO's are chiropracters in Europe but licensed doctors here in the USA, which is true, however I have heard two things about DO's, I heard that they cannot do surgery, and I have heard they can do surgery?? Also once you have a DO what do you do like, are there specialites such as pediatrics or radiologists or something? I would like to know 😱 itz driving me crazy guys any feedback would be appreciated becasue i am really interested in what they both do, thaks guys
😛 (gosh i;m mellow)

 

[phassett74]

Strange! I have heard DOs only ride unicorns, heal the blind with a mere glance in their direction, can fuse vertebrae with yogic chanting, and have been seen soaring in the air with flocks of Canadian geese at their sides. It is also said that DOs can talk with the animals, are masters of turning coal into precious gem stones, and can converse in over 27 different languages and dialects.


Enough yet? Do a search on this site, or better yet, pick up several of the books that are readily available at amazon, borders, or your local library. Not really sure how someone who is considering going into medical school can't figure out how to do some VERY elementary research on the field they want to go into.

 

[medhacker]

Strange! I have heard DOs only ride unicorns, heal the blind with a mere glance in their direction, can fuse vertebrae with yogic chanting, and have been seen soaring in the air with flocks of Canadian geese at their sides. It is also said that DOs can talk with the animals, are masters of turning coal into precious gem stones, and can converse in over 27 different languages and dialects.


Enough yet? Do a search on this site, or better yet, pick up several of the books that are readily available at amazon, borders, or your local library. Not really sure how someone who is considering going into medical school can't figure out how to do some VERY elementary research on the field they want to go into.

Ok that maybe unnecessary (unless the OP is a troll) but anyway DOs can do any medical specialty and in many countries are full practitioners just like in the U.S. - if you search these forums you will find lost of info. and if you have further questions don't hesitate to ask.

😍

 

[MikeyLu2010]

sitting back..and gettin popcorn

 

[Nate]

Try reading "*FAQ Please Read First" thread stuck right on top of this forum, all your questions are answered there.

 

[Taus]

hello, i'm new to this forum and i would like really know the difference bewtween DO and MD. I have heard so many stories about the differences bewtween the two and i still don't get it. I have heard that DO's are chiropracters in Europe but licensed doctors here in the USA, which is true, however I have heard two things about DO's, I heard that they cannot do surgery, and I have heard they can do surgery?? Also once you have a DO what do you do like, are there specialites such as pediatrics or radiologists or something? I would like to know 😱 itz driving me crazy guys any feedback would be appreciated becasue i am really interested in what they both do, thaks guys
😛 (gosh i;m mellow)

dapmp91..check these out...they should answer all of your questions:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos074.htm
http://www.studentdoctor.net/do/mdordo.asp
http://www.studentdoctor.net/do/about.asp
http://www.osteopathic.org/index.cfm?PageID=ost_main

 

[MedicineNutt]

^^wow, good info about DO's...i think i have more respect for DO's now...even before i didnt recognize the difference between MD or DO...im really considering the DO route than MD because DO's have a better philosophy on how to treat patients...but i have a long way to decide as i am a soph in college!!! lol good info though

 

[gottalovemilk]

try using this http://www.google.com

put in the search box: osteopathic medicine allopathic differences

 

[theraball]

Here's how it works around here, broken down into 4 easy steps:
1. Post an innocent question on sdn
2. Be scolded by experienced, knowledgeable people.
3. Be cowed into not posting until you're experienced and knowledgeable.
4. Now you can scold new posters because it gives you status points on sdn.
😛
Get used to it; abuse is part of medical training. Might as well start here on an internet forum full of 22-year-olds.

Oh, in answer to your questions: you are correct that in Europe, osteopaths are not physicians, they're complementary bodyworkers akin to chiropractors. In the U.S., osteopaths are physicians equivalent to graduates of medical schools. Many osteopathic doctors in the U.S. go through allopathic residency programs and thus receive the identical training to that of their M.D. colleagues, and they are then considered pretty much comparable except for the extra OMM training they received.

Oh and by the way, D.O.s can and do serve in every specialty including surgery and radiology. My father ran a large radiology dept. in the midwest and he has said his D.O. residents were every bit as good as their M.D. colleagues. There was a time when he didn't think they were as good but in recent decades osteopathic medical schools have come to be equivalent to allopathic schools. The main issues are public awareness of what a D.O. is and overseas acceptance--you may not be able to work for WHO in Africa as a D.O. for example (someone please please prove me wrong!). Maybe in a few years though.

Good luck!
-Therapy Ball

 

[docbill]

Here's how it works around here, broken down into 4 easy steps:
1. Post an innocent question on sdn
2. Be scolded by experienced, knowledgeable people.
3. Be cowed into not posting until you're experienced and knowledgeable.
4. Now you can scold new posters because it gives you status points on sdn.
😛
Get used to it; abuse is part of medical training. Might as well start here on an internet forum full of 22-year-olds.

Oh yeahhhhhh good times!

 

[docbill]

Also its funny since the sticky on top said MD vs. DO

 

[andi_cvr]

sitting back..and gettin popcorn

Stealing the rest of DrMikeyLu's popcorn. Did I miss the show already? 🙂

 

[medhacker]

Oh, in answer to your questions: you are correct that in Europe, osteopaths are not physicians, they're complementary bodyworkers akin to chiropractors.

you may not be able to work for WHO in Africa as a D.O. for example (someone please please prove me wrong!). Maybe in a few years though.

Good luck!
-Therapy Ball

DOs now have full practice right in England and consider yourself proven wrong DOs can work with full practice rights in many countries in Europe. Even as med-students you may participate in health efforts in Africa.

 

[shamrokme]

hello, i'm new to this forum and i would like really know the difference bewtween DO and MD. I have heard so many stories about the differences bewtween the two and i still don't get it. I have heard that DO's are chiropracters in Europe but licensed doctors here in the USA, which is true, however I have heard two things about DO's, I heard that they cannot do surgery, and I have heard they can do surgery?? Also once you have a DO what do you do like, are there specialites such as pediatrics or radiologists or something? I would like to know 😱 itz driving me crazy guys any feedback would be appreciated becasue i am really interested in what they both do, thaks guys
😛 (gosh i;m mellow)

Ok where to start........first off we can do anything MDs can do here, that means any specialty etc etc including surgery. In England yes, they're called "osteopaths" and all they are licensed to do is OMM and that's all....that's about the only place I know specifically though. We have exactly the same training as MDs, but we learn more in the end cuase we have 200+ hours of OMM training (which honestly I don't know how they get thru med school without it...it becomes your best friends, especially after tests). So basically we have added arsenal in our bags to help treat people besides just same things we do as MDs. There is kinda a growing trend we're starting to notice too shifting towards DO too (at least we're noticing a growing interest from other students at MD schools in what we can do)...we have a lot of nearby MD schools in so cal and we actually have MDs coming and learning OMM on a rotation at our school.

Basically to be brief...the only real difference between MD and DO degree is the OMM and the basic philosophy. OMM is kinda a part of teaching that everything in the body is interconnected (which is our main philosophy) and you'll see this when you learn OMM if you go to a DO school. But honestly other than those two things we learn all the same stuff, work our asses off just as much and just as hard as they do. We just add the OMM on top of it-and I promise you will know and understand Anatomy and the body in that sense more than you ever wanted and possibly better than most MD students when your done because of the OMM.

Hope that helps! 🙂

 

[OSUdoc08]

hello, i'm new to this forum and i would like really know the difference bewtween DO and MD. I have heard so many stories about the differences bewtween the two and i still don't get it. I have heard that DO's are chiropracters in Europe but licensed doctors here in the USA, which is true, however I have heard two things about DO's, I heard that they cannot do surgery, and I have heard they can do surgery?? Also once you have a DO what do you do like, are there specialites such as pediatrics or radiologists or something? I would like to know 😱 itz driving me crazy guys any feedback would be appreciated becasue i am really interested in what they both do, thaks guys
😛 (gosh i;m mellow)

DO's vs. MD's are like BA's vs. BS's in college. Both are "majors" in medicine. Both have the EXACT same jobs (just like a BS or a BA in education works as a teacher.)

The only difference is the musculoskeletal manipulation that DO's learn, which is much like that which physical therapists use.

All of the residencies are exactly the same, and DO's can do MD residencies or their own.

 

[chiddy]

DO's vs. MD's are like BA's vs. BS's in college. Both are "majors" in medicine. Both have the EXACT same jobs (just like a BS or a BA in education works as a teacher.)

The only difference is the musculoskeletal manipulation that DO's learn, which is much like that which physical therapists use.

All of the residencies are exactly the same, and DO's can do MD residencies or their own.

That analogy just doesn't sit well with me. I agree DOs and MDs are both doctors that receive very similar education, practice in the same fields, and the only difference I see is OMM.

But, BA vs BS? In my opinion there is a bigger difference between the BA and BS degree. Mainly because BA students tend to have little science in their background. It kind of makes it seem like you're saying DOs have less science-related skills? (I'm guessing DOs are the one's being compared with the BA degree since you put the two in that order ... DO is to MD as BA is to BS?)

I prefer the analogy that DOs vs MDs are like comparing Apples vs Oranges. Both are important to your health, it your choice as to which of the two you think you'll be happiest with. 🙂

 

[docbill]

That analogy just doesn't sit well with me. I agree DOs and MDs are both doctors that receive very similar education, practice in the same fields, and the only difference I see is OMM.

But, BA vs BS? In my opinion there is a bigger difference between the BA and BS degree. Mainly because BA students tend to have little science in their background. It kind of makes it seem like you're saying DOs have less science-related skills? (I'm guessing DOs are the one's being compared with the BA degree since you put the two in that order ... DO is to MD as BA is to BS?)

I prefer the analogy that DOs vs MDs are like comparing Apples vs Oranges. Both are important to your health, it your choice as to which of the two you think you'll be happiest with. 🙂

Actually they are the same... its like DDS and DMD both dentist.

Can we get this thread closed now. You guys and gals, pre-DO's and DO MS, really need to find something better to discuss than this crap. The OP asked a question he was refered to the sticky, end of story.

Now lets go see what is going on in the NEWSWEEK HERO MD Thread.

 

[OSUdoc08]

That analogy just doesn't sit well with me. I agree DOs and MDs are both doctors that receive very similar education, practice in the same fields, and the only difference I see is OMM.

But, BA vs BS? In my opinion there is a bigger difference between the BA and BS degree. Mainly because BA students tend to have little science in their background. It kind of makes it seem like you're saying DOs have less science-related skills? (I'm guessing DOs are the one's being compared with the BA degree since you put the two in that order ... DO is to MD as BA is to BS?)

I prefer the analogy that DOs vs MDs are like comparing Apples vs Oranges. Both are important to your health, it your choice as to which of the two you think you'll be happiest with. 🙂

Both Pre-med BA's & BS's must complete all of the SAME science prerequisites. You are taking the anaology too literally with the specific courses. My analogy used education as the example, in which the amount of science courses you take wouldn't affect how good of an English teacher you would be.

Apples and oranges are too different, and MD's and DO's are too alike. How about Granny Smith Apples & Washington Red Apples?

 

[chiddy]

How about Granny Smith Apples & Washington Red Apples?

Sounds good too me! 👍 😀

 

[Shinken]

No, it's more like the difference between the traditional ("MD") rectangular keyboards and the newer ("DO") ergonomic funny-shaped keyboards. One is older, the other newer. The newer one looks different, but in the end they both allow you to type silly posts on SDN. Some people might think that the funny-looking keyboards are better because they're ergonomic, but are they really?

Think about it. Think about it hard because your future depends on the shape of the keyboard. Or not. Maybe.

 

[HunterGatherer]

DO International Practice:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=107627

 

[medhacker]

In England yes, they're called "osteopaths" and all they are licensed to do is OMM and that's all....

Not any more, U.S. trained DOs have full practice privileges in Britain. 🙂

 

[Zerosixjt]

If you are really interested, look at the AOA and AACOM web sites, they have all of the information regarding MD vs DO.

 

[CatsandCradles]

Well I look at it this way:

1) We have Catholics vs Prostestants (Religion)
2) We have Conservatives vs Liberals (Politics)
3) We have Capitalist vs Communist (Ideology)
4) We have Republicans vs Democrats (Party)
5) We have the Union vs Confederate (War)

So it only makes sense that sooner or later the smart people in medicine
would decide to follow suit. So now:

6) We have DOs vs MDs

 

[eram]

That analogy just doesn't sit well with me. I agree DOs and MDs are both doctors that receive very similar education, practice in the same fields, and the only difference I see is OMM.

But, BA vs BS? In my opinion there is a bigger difference between the BA and BS degree. Mainly because BA students tend to have little science in their background.

Not true, some institutions only confer BA degrees in their sciences. Priceton, I believe is one, and I know for a fact that my math degree from NYU is a BA?

 

[cadence]

The comparison is really more like a republican senators vs. democratic senators. They are both full senators and, as such, both have equal standing in the senate, but they have different philosophies on government