MD Parents disapproving of DO

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willen101383 said:
Maybe if more premeds from the south grew a pair and stopped being such pu$$ies riding around in mommy and daddy's pockets this supposed bias would be eliminated by now. There is a reason the only southern state ive been to is Florida...and that hardly counts.
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This is the reason I've avoided New York, New Jersey and most of Boston like the plague.
 
pmc2025 said:
Big hug!
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😍
willen101383 said:
I like florida....minus all the old people 🙁
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our old people are mostly the happy, retired type. enjoying their golden years in sunny so fla (thats "south florida" for those who don't get the lingo 😉). they don't seem anything like the miserable "stay off my lawn ya dang kids" old people i see on tv living in other places... :laugh:
 
The Poet Sings said:
😍

our old people are mostly the happy, retired type. enjoying their golden years in sunny so fla (thats "south florida" for those who don't get the lingo 😉). they don't seem anything like the miserable "stay off my lawn ya dang kids" old people i see on tv living in other places... :laugh:
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haha
 
willen101383 said:
I like florida....minus all the old people 🙁
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Florida is rad. I'm a little sad I didn't end up going to med school there. Got into 2 schools there, but had another one win out in the long-run. I'm definitely looking forward to vacationing there in the future. Also, hopefully I'll be able to fish there at some point (without having to catch something that can survive in oil).
 
TJ87 said:
First off, Bacchus needs to be thrown off SDN for his derogatory comments posted earlier.
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mechanictodr said:
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YouMad.jpg


I guess I missed the big deal with the post? Your parents are acting like idiots. Where I come from the truth is the truth even if it sucks.

It is your life, your choice. Tell them to deal with it.
 
I'm a 36 year old nontrad applicant and here are my two cents:

1. Your parents are scientists and researchers. Print out your research and share it with them (including a list of DOs that have been hugely successful).
2. Let them know that you have thoughtfully considered their comments.
3. If you want to go DO, tell them that you appreciate and respect their input, but that you have come to a different conclusion than they have and that you hope they will respect your decision.

The fact is, you're going to make plenty of decisions in life that they disagree with. How you arrive at those decisions and how you deal with the ramifications will determine whether you earn your parents' respect in the long run. I'm a parent and can tell you that I always look out for my child, but I'm not always right.
 
The DO philosophy really embraces primary care and to be honest, I've never personally met one in research before. In fact, when I talk to DO adcoms about my research experience, the general consensus is to check it off as experience and then say, "Please focus on something else." Your parents, as medical researchers, are probably biased by this. Maybe if you're clear to them about what you want to do with your medical degree, they'd be more understanding?
 
CookDeRosa said:
>>

As someone whose probably twice your age, I'll tell you two things.
1) you have to have your own mind at some point, and part of that will be breaking from what your parents suggest and going with what you think is best. If it isn't college, it'll be marriage- or raising children, or something. At some point, you'll make the transition.
2) HOW you make the transition will either make you look like a brat-idiot that they must always worry about- waiting for you to fail. Or, a man.

Make that transition as a mature adult. Suggesting "follow your own dream, f your parents" is a short term solution to a long term life. Have a conversation with your parents. Not about what you feel, but about medicine. Your parents are MDs for goodness sakes. How many of us here would love to have the personal advice of 2 MDs in our corner? Really, your parents want success for you. I'm not siding with them, I'm suggesting you talk to them professionally. Consider what they say as doctors, not Mom and Dad. Ask them to be reasonable, and you be reasonable too. Maybe you have not considered all points of view? Perhaps applying to both and then picking together? Maybe your parents REALLY want you to attend a certain school and it's not MD vs DO? I will also say this, if you take their money, then they should get to pick. You pay= you pick.

In 20 years when everyone is sitting at Thanksgiving dinner and you are there with your wife and 10 children, you'll want it to be loving- not hostile.
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OK, so clearly you're one of those people who's never encountered or had to deal with terrible parents.

Some parents are so manipulative/off the wall/ridiculous that their children really are much better off breaking away and calling the shots themselves. I see no reason why you or anyone else should consider this "immature" or "unmanly" or whatever. I've seen good people be absolutely smothered and dominated by horrible parents that can't see the forest for the trees and refuse to look out for the best wishes of their children. And your concern over whether the parents will consider their kid a "brat-idiot" - who cares? If he applies to DO schools, gets accepted, completes med school and becomes a successful doc, he's clearly not a "brat-idiot that they need to worry about failing". He'll be a successful physician, and they'll be pompous *******s.

As for this case, the OP's parents are clearly in the wrong. He's interested in becoming a licensed physician in the US. Sounds great, right? How on earth can anybody defend his parents' attempts to keep this from happening? They said it's MD or nothing - isn't this absurd? So apparently they'd rather have their child not participate in medicine altogether if he can't do it as an MD? That's callous and ridiculous. In fact, if I were his parents and I found out that my son interested in becoming something like a chiropractor, physical therapist, etc I'd supply some advice and then be supportive.

But honestly...don't castigate the OP for being "immature" or something. His parents are the immature ones here and they deserve all the jeers that the posters above have delivered.
 
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Personally I think that if you are mature enough to go to medical school (which I assume u are) than telling your parents you want to do _____ shouldn't be a big deal (unless u tell them u want to be a hooker or drug dealer).

If you want to do DO and dont because your parents frown upon it..... maybe u dont want to do medicine for the right reasons..... just saying.

I think you should do what u wanna do. You aren't 16 anymore

Good Luck
 
@ op, just know you are not alone. Mine are pulling the same thing. I am applying to both MD and DO, mostly as my in state MD schools cost a lot less than any other schools, though I do prefer the DO philosophy and residency programs, but I have quite a few osteopathic schools placed above my state MD schools. The rents are even pulling the refuse to help me with finances if I go DO card, and my mom has even said she wouldn't want to tell people that I'm a DO, but she'd be happy to brag about me as an MD. They're even friends with many DOs, work with many DOs, and know students in DO programs. I guess it's more of a bragging thing for my parents. Normally I'd say they want what's best for you, and for me, but at least in my case I think it's a case of manipulative parents wanting to brag to the neighbors.

Best of luck. I need to get out of this destructive environment 🙂
 
Kevin Baker said:
@ op, just know you are not alone. Mine are pulling the same thing. I am applying to both MD and DO, mostly as my in state MD schools cost a lot less than any other schools, though I do prefer the DO philosophy and residency programs, but I have quite a few osteopathic schools placed above my state MD schools. The rents are even pulling the refuse to help me with finances if I go DO card, and my mom has even said she wouldn't want to tell people that I'm a DO, but she'd be happy to brag about me as an MD. They're even friends with many DOs, work with many DOs, and know students in DO programs. I guess it's more of a bragging thing for my parents. Normally I'd say they want what's best for you, and for me, but at least in my case I think it's a case of manipulative parents wanting to brag to the neighbors.

Best of luck. I need to get out of this destructive environment 🙂
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what's wrong with them just saying "our little kevin is going to be a doctor"? it's not like they'd be lying... i dno man the more i read this stuff the more i thank my lucky stars that my parents' only criteria for my life goal was "legal (so no drug dealing), decent (so no stripping), and paid (no being a life long volunteer or something for fun)".
 
The Poet Sings said:
what's wrong with them just saying "our little kevin is going to be a doctor"? it's not like they'd be lying... i dno man the more i read this stuff the more i thank my lucky stars that my parents' only criteria for my life goal was "legal (so no drug dealing), decent (so no stripping), and paid (no being a life long volunteer or something for fun)".
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You and me both. My dad is an MD and while he hasnt always advocated me going into medicine considering the current state of affairs...he has always supported my decision to go to PCOM and always acknowledges they are the same thing in practice. Its funny because most physicians have too much $hit going on in their careers to worry about such petty nonsense as whether their kid is a DO or an MD. Maybe its just because im toward the end of my 20s..and am financially free from my parents and have been for years....but its a little nuts to me that people who are GOING TO BE MAKING LIFE OR DEATH DECISIONS in a few years....are still being governed by mommy and daddy. Helicopter parenting much? I wonder what the P value is for "parents controlling their college age kids life vs said college kid being forced to wear a leash as a child"
 
willen101383 said:
You and me both. My dad is an MD and while he hasnt always advocated me going into medicine considering the current state of affairs...he has always supported my decision to go to PCOM and always acknowledges they are the same thing in practice. Its funny because most physicians have too much $hit going on in their careers to worry about such petty nonsense as whether their kid is a DO or an MD. Maybe its just because im toward the end of my 20s..and am financially free from my parents and have been for years....but its a little nuts to me that people who are GOING TO BE MAKING LIFE OR DEATH DECISIONS in a few years....are still being governed by mommy and daddy. Helicopter parenting much? I wonder what the P value is for "parents controlling their college age kids life vs said college kid being forced to wear a leash as a child"
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while it would be considered overprotective, helicopter parenting in this culture, in many others it's just considered good parenting. i think i wouldn't enjoy it, just as many who come on here complaining about their parents. huge cultural divide. strangely, i haven't seen many kids on leashes lately. i feel like that was a fad that died out. maybe if they're lucky they won't remember those years of being treated like a puppy hahaha.
 
The Poet Sings said:
while it would be considered overprotective, helicopter parenting in this culture, in many others it's just considered good parenting. i think i wouldn't enjoy it, just as many who come on here complaining about their parents. huge cultural divide. strangely, i haven't seen many kids on leashes lately. i feel like that was a fad that died out. maybe if they're lucky they won't remember those years of being treated like a puppy hahaha.
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Hahaha....sadly I actually saw a child on a leash at the mall fairly recently. I tried to get a shot but my damn phone camera is so slow. Oh well. I guess for these early 20s kids the prospect of financial help in med school is too lucrative to give up...rather than telling mom and pop to shove it.
 
willen101383 said:
Hahaha....sadly I actually saw a child on a leash at the mall fairly recently. I tried to get a shot but my damn phone camera is so slow. Oh well. I guess for these early 20s kids the prospect of financial help in med school is too lucrative to give up...rather than telling mom and pop to shove it.
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hey i'm in my early 20s! except 1) my parents can't afford to pay for what i do so i have to take out loans and 2) if they could they'd financially support me if i was going md/do/rn/pa/etc. or something not in the medical field at all.

i will admit i'm a little jealous of those whose parents can fully support them through school. i was fortunate enough to have scholarships to pay for almost everything and my parents to pitch in whenever they could for everything else.

i think we should round up a bunch of kids and put them on leashes and walk them. i don't have any kids, but i doubt that i'll ever put mine on one. what's wrong with just holding their hand or sticking them in a stroller? maybe i'm old school.
 
The Poet Sings said:
hey i'm in my early 20s! except 1) my parents can't afford to pay for what i do so i have to take out loans and 2) if they could they'd financially support me if i was going md/do/rn/pa/etc. or something not in the medical field at all.

i will admit i'm a little jealous of those whose parents can fully support them through school. i was fortunate enough to have scholarships to pay for almost everything and my parents to pitch in whenever they could for everything else.

i think we should round up a bunch of kids and put them on leashes and walk them. i don't have any kids, but i doubt that i'll ever put mine on one. what's wrong with just holding their hand or sticking them in a stroller? maybe i'm old school.
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Yes I shouldnt generalize. You seem to have a solid head on your shoulders and are far more mature than many people your age on here. I wont go so far as to say my parents never supported me in college...or even after college as a bit of supplemental income. But I would NEVER expect them to be paying for my PROFESSIONAL school. And I would never allow them to be making my decisions for me. Sure, your opinions are welcome, but that doesnt mean I will take them seriously if they are BS. My parents HATE that I just adopted a 3rd dog. They tried to threaten they wouldnt allow me to come visit them. Eh oh well...I wont come then. I am a grown man..I make my own decisions.
 
willen101383 said:
Yes I shouldnt generalize. You seem to have a solid head on your shoulders and are far more mature than many people your age on here. I wont go so far as to say my parents never supported me in college...or even after college as a bit of supplemental income. But I would NEVER expect them to be paying for my PROFESSIONAL school. And I would never allow them to be making my decisions for me. Sure, your opinions are welcome, but that doesnt mean I will take them seriously if they are BS. My parents HATE that I just adopted a 3rd dog. They tried to threaten they wouldnt allow me to come visit them. Eh oh well...I wont come then. I am a grown man..I make my own decisions.
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my sister and i remind our parents that if the worst thing we do is come home with more animals, they've got it pretty good considering what other people's kids are up to. parents are so silly sometimes. would they rather i come home pregnant, drunk, and running from the cops for robbing a bank? yeah, i guess, as long as i didn't get a new pet! :laugh:
 
The Poet Sings said:
my sister and i remind our parents that if the worst thing we do is come home with more animals, they've got it pretty good considering what other people's kids are up to. parents are so silly sometimes. would they rather i come home pregnant, drunk, and running from the cops for robbing a bank? yeah, i guess, as long as i didn't get a new pet! :laugh:
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Haha...I love dogs..my parents not so much...so they will never understand. However it is perfectly acceptable for them to have 3 cats.
 
The Poet Sings said:
oh they're cat people? that explains EVERYTHING :meanie:
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YUP. Pretty much. Damn cats. I mentioned this in another thread a ways ago...but we learned in grad school that if you die and are left alone with your cat...they WILL begin to eat you as soon as their food supply runs out. Dogs on the other hand will stay with you and most likely starve to death.
 
first of all grow the frick up!

second of all if u read about the history of DOs u ll learn y it was a pretty gud thing for its time. Tho its impacts ahve changed, the new school MDs are not discriminative of DOs. THe old schools ones still are somewhat, some dont even have a reason except that everyone in the past was.

The MD s of the past were discriminative because of competitiion and their buisness was being taken over. That doesnt mean DOs are inferior.

o ya and grow up!!
 
I find it very, very interesting to hear about MD parents disapproving of becoming a DO. It absolutely baffles me, but I guess it also makes me more appreciative of my own parents.

I was actually introduced to osteopathic medicine by my Dad, who is an MD and cardiovascular surgeon. He moved to a town with a DO school and was extremely impressed by the quality of the students and the training they receive. He is constantly raving about the school to anyone who will listen and loves working with the students.

My mom is a Hospice RN who has worked with several DOs and absolutely loves them. She also could care less about the letters after my name.

After reading this thread, I'm very very appreciative of cool-ass parents.
 
The Poet Sings said:
oh they're cat people? that explains EVERYTHING :meanie:
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This just inspired me with a new clinical research topic. I will call it, "Correlation Between Quantity of Cats Owned and Overall Mental Instability: A Longitudinal Study to Prove What We Already Know"

It will be revolutionary.
 
willen101383 said:
YUP. Pretty much. Damn cats. I mentioned this in another thread a ways ago...but we learned in grad school that if you die and are left alone with your cat...they WILL begin to eat you as soon as their food supply runs out. Dogs on the other hand will stay with you and most likely starve to death.
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Dogs really are a person's best friend!
 
surftheiop said:
Why are you all so quick to say "Blow off your parents" ?

I don't know about you all, but having a good relationship with my parents carries quite a bit of weight in my life, even if it sometimes means doing things differently than I would if I were only considering myself. Also its not like your parents are ignorant to the world of medicine, they clearly have a huge amount of relevant experience.
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Making a decision on what to do in one's life is NOT equivalent to blowing off your parents.
 
VeeTeeHokies said:
This just inspired me with a new clinical research topic. I will call it, "Correlation Between Quantity of Cats Owned and Overall Mental Instability: A Longitudinal Study to Prove What We Already Know"

It will be revolutionary.
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genius. i hope the op doesn't mind this tangent into a cat vs dog thread! for the record though, pmc2025, are your parents cat people or dog people? it could help explain a few things 😀. and what have you decided to do?
 
The Poet Sings said:
genius. i hope the op doesn't mind this tangent into a cat vs dog thread! for the record though, pmc2025, are your parents cat people or dog people? it could help explain a few things 😀. and what have you decided to do?
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They're both! They've got both a cat and a dog... Personally I think cats are objects that can be used in lieu of a football (but thats just me).

Honestly I still dunno at this point. I've got some major work to do on my BCMP (two years as a history major, basically didn't give an eff about my required science classes...). I've got time though. I think I've pretty much decided to apply very broadly to both MD and DO and see where I get in.
 
No disrespect to your parents, but since when does choosing a career in medicine under appreciated. You need to sit them down tell them to get off their high horse. Hello! You have a kid who is considering being a doctor. What parent wouldn't be proud of that? Maybe a population trend of kids your age and what they are doing career might give them another perspective.
 
OP, I am sorry you are in this situation. I have friends who asked me "well, if DO's are regular doctors, why are they so looked down upon" UMM EXCUSE ME! I asked her what she even knew about them... of course nothing... Clearly your parents are worried that you would not succeed, that somehow you wouldn't be as successful if you're a DO vs an MD. I am with the other posters who encouraged you to try to educate them. In all reality, you have more options than people are posting. MDs are more and more able to take the additional training that DO's have as CME. You could be an MD and still have a DO philosophy and training. The philosophy is yours to have, it doesn't matter which degree you get... Educate your parents, if that doesn't work, try a compromise, get the MD with additional training, use the DO philosophy, and most importantly be happy!

Best of luck
 
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