Osteopathic ???

[Mixer_Vik]

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Hi there just a quick question . I have recently decided to do graduate studies in the U.S after qualifying as an optometrist in england as my situation has changed (im originally from england). The school closest to me is NOVA southeastern - the type of medicine it offers is Osteopathic - my question is : what exactly is the difference between this and Allo...
and can i specialise after completeing the course of study to become something like an opthamologist/ general surgeon.

Thanks for your time

 

[nvshelat]

Hi there just a quick question . I have recently decided to do graduate studies in the U.S after qualifying as an optometrist in england as my situation has changed (im originally from england). The school closest to me is NOVA southeastern - the type of medicine it offers is Osteopathic - my question is : what exactly is the difference between this and Allo...
and can i specialise after completeing the course of study to become something like an opthamologist/ general surgeon.

Thanks for your time

Welcome to the states!
First, you can do a search on this website and you'll see tons - I think there's a sticky/FAQ abt the difference somewhere.
Briefly, osteopaths (DOs) are licensed to do everything that MDs are. They take a few more classes in manipulation (OMM) that allegedly helps with things like headaches and backaches. Many, if not most, osteopathic students are ones that don't get into allopathic school but still want to be a doctor (which doesn't say much since it is very difficult to get into medical school in the first place). While there may have been an ideological difference between the two, there no longer is one today. DOs don't treat pts more "holistically" than do MDs, although that is the claim that many schools will make to attract well rounded students. This tends to attract "holistically geared" students to DO schools, but the curriculum between the two is the same. It is more difficult to get a competitive residency as a DO than an MD, probably bc there are less DOs out there. Patients have no idea what the difference is between the two, and colleauges don't care. It's mainly pre-meds who try to distinguish DOs from MDs.
Hope that helps!

 

[VaGirl82]

Hi there just a quick question . I have recently decided to do graduate studies in the U.S after qualifying as an optometrist in england as my situation has changed (im originally from england). The school closest to me is NOVA southeastern - the type of medicine it offers is Osteopathic - my question is : what exactly is the difference between this and Allo...
and can i specialise after completeing the course of study to become something like an opthamologist/ general surgeon.

Thanks for your time

I think many of your questions can be answered in the MD vs. DO threads that have been permanently posted. DO's enjoy the same rights as allopathic physicians in the states. In addition to prescribing drugs, they also perform OMT (manipulation). Although encouraged to pursue primary care, osteopathic doctors have the opportunity to specialize in different areas if they wish. I'm not sure about England's view of D.O.'s in medicine, but I believe we have a thread on international D.O. rights as well. Hope that helps 😀

 

[Mixer_Vik]

I think many of your questions can be answered in the MD vs. DO threads that have been permanently posted. DO's enjoy the same rights as allopathic physicians in the states. In addition to prescribing drugs, they also perform OMT (manipulation). Although encouraged to pursue primary care, osteopathic doctors have the opportunity to specialize in different areas if they wish. I'm not sure about England's view of D.O.'s in medicine, but I believe we have a thread on international D.O. rights as well. Hope that helps 😀

we dont have D.O'S over here, we just have straight medicine - so i could go to D.O school and become a surgeon at the end of it ?

 

[dr.z]

we dont have D.O'S over here, we just have straight medicine - so i could go to D.O school and become a surgeon at the end of it ?

Yes you can. Any specialty you want if you work hard at it. You should check out www.aacom.org.

 

[Mixer_Vik]

You guys are very knowledgable about this - thankyou.
would you say it is harder to become a surgeon of some sort if i qualify this way ??

this form of medicine seems more humane in every sense - i totally agree with holistic approaches, its how they do it in eastern countries - and they generally have a much better illness cure rate than most western countries.

 

[dr.z]

would you say it is harder to become a surgeon of some sort if i qualify this way ??

It maybe harder, but surgery is a hard specialty to go into even if you went to M.D. schools. If you do well in school and look around, there will be ways to go around it too. I know some DO surgeons too so it is possible.

 

[DrChandy]

can i specialise after completeing the course of study to become something like an opthamologist/ general surgeon.

The answer is yes.


An important point to consider, however, is this:

Osteopaths in the UK are limited to manipulations only. This is because foreign trained (non-US) osteopaths do not receive the same comprehensive training as US trained osteopathic physicians.

If you are planning on going back to the UK in order to practice as an ophthalmolgist/general surgeon, you will have to go to an MD-granting school in order to be granted physician privileges.

Good luck in your endeavors.

 

[Mixer_Vik]

im planning just to stay in America so D.O should be fine

 

[DrChandy]

Edit: Please note that the above information is no longer valid. As of the fourth quarter of 2005, U.S.-trained Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine are now able to practice the full scope of medicine in the UK, which is contingent on the area's location and need for physicians.

 

[Nate]

Edit: Please note that the above information is no longer valid. As of the fourth quarter of 2005, U.S.-trained Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine are now able to practice the full scope of medicine in the UK, which is contingent on the area's location and need for physicians.

 

[DblHelix]

Many, if not most, osteopathic students are ones that don't get into allopathic school but still want to be a doctor !

I think that is a rather unfair overgeneralization and harsh assessment don't you think?

 

[nvshelat]

I think that is a rather unfair overgeneralization and harsh assessment don't you think?

Hmm.. I didn't have the exclamation point in my original post.

Looking back, I can't believe I wrote that. Kinda interesting to watch my thoughts progress via SDN

Yes, that was unfair.

 

[DblHelix]

Hmm.. I didn't have the exclamation point in my original post.

Looking back, I can't believe I wrote that. Kinda interesting to watch my thoughts progress via SDN

Yes, that was unfair.

Whoops, I forgot to delete the exclamation point from the rest of your post.

But yeah, sometimes on SDN it may seem like there is a lot of DO bashing or DO/MD pissing contests but there a lot of people who honestly chose DO over MD because it was a better fit for them personally, not as a backup.

So to the OP, whatever you pick will make you an excellent, and successful physician.

 

[state7515]

why do you not want to be an optometrist anymore?