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I'm just curious to here your opinions on when you think most of the general public will recognize the DO degree as a physician that is equivalent to an MD?
Public opinion about DO
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Depends.
Condition 1 - don't know what a DO is
If I give someone a card that says "Group Theory, DO" and nothing else - they will not know what a DO is.
If on a lab coat/scrubs, or in a phone book - they'll just assume it's some sort of medical degree or other qualification like FACP, or FACS, etc.
Some might think it means more training than MD because there are so few DOs around.
This is assuming they have no idea what a DO is.
Condition 2 - know what a DO is
For those who do know what DO is - it depends. Some will view it as a second-rate doctor, others will view it as a chiropractor who can prescribe drugs, while others will view them as equals to MDs. There are some who will actively seek out DOs who practice OMM.
The vast majority of the public will not know what DO is, and condition 1 applies. For those who do, Condition 2 applies.
Condition 1 - don't know what a DO is
If I give someone a card that says "Group Theory, DO" and nothing else - they will not know what a DO is.
If on a lab coat/scrubs, or in a phone book - they'll just assume it's some sort of medical degree or other qualification like FACP, or FACS, etc.
Some might think it means more training than MD because there are so few DOs around.
This is assuming they have no idea what a DO is.
Condition 2 - know what a DO is
For those who do know what DO is - it depends. Some will view it as a second-rate doctor, others will view it as a chiropractor who can prescribe drugs, while others will view them as equals to MDs. There are some who will actively seek out DOs who practice OMM.
The vast majority of the public will not know what DO is, and condition 1 applies. For those who do, Condition 2 applies.
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Thats a good question...
Personally, I don't really care if or when the general public will come to the understanding that DOs and MDs are professional equivalents because the public's understanding of osteopathy has little bearing on the care that I will provide to my patients or the community.
I have every hope that sometime in the near future MDs and DOs will be equilvalent in everyone's eyes, and this future is contigent on two factors; the general public becoming more proactive in the provision healthcare and there are approximately the same as the number of DOs as there are MDs.
I am very hopeful that there will someday be 100+ DO schools, but that will take time and money, both things I don' have enough of to make a difference in this situation... But I can't wait to be a DO so I can relay the philosophies that have attracted me to medicine in the first place... I find myself talking about osteopathy everyday, even with the flight nurses that I work with who already know that DOs and MDs are basically the same but aren't familiar with the historic or philosphical differences, which is the best I can do as a lowly DO school applicant.
Good question though... can't wait to see what everyone else thinks..
Brian Enriquez
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Personally, I don't really care if or when the general public will come to the understanding that DOs and MDs are professional equivalents because the public's understanding of osteopathy has little bearing on the care that I will provide to my patients or the community.
I have every hope that sometime in the near future MDs and DOs will be equilvalent in everyone's eyes, and this future is contigent on two factors; the general public becoming more proactive in the provision healthcare and there are approximately the same as the number of DOs as there are MDs.
I am very hopeful that there will someday be 100+ DO schools, but that will take time and money, both things I don' have enough of to make a difference in this situation... But I can't wait to be a DO so I can relay the philosophies that have attracted me to medicine in the first place... I find myself talking about osteopathy everyday, even with the flight nurses that I work with who already know that DOs and MDs are basically the same but aren't familiar with the historic or philosphical differences, which is the best I can do as a lowly DO school applicant.
Good question though... can't wait to see what everyone else thinks..
Brian Enriquez
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If there's a "Post of the Year" award, I think it should go to Fenrezz, hands down. 
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The common argument that MD's make to belittle DO's is that the general public doesn't know what a DO is. That if John Q public sees the initials DO next to your name in the phone book, he will look elsewhere. Or if he drives by your practice and sees DO next to your sign, he will leave the parking lot.
The reason why this argument makes little to no sense is that patients don't seek physicians by flipping through the yellow pages or driving by their office. If you want to see a family practice physician, are you really going to go to the yellow pages and blindly choose a name among a hundred doctors? What are you going to? Blind fold yourself and throw darts a list of names?
You would do what any normal person would do. You would call a friend or family member and ask who they trust as their physician. Do you really think they are going to say: "Go see Dr. Robinson. He is an amazing physician. Oh, but he is a DO. Be warned DO's are way different than MD's. He practices osteopathic medcine and not allopathic medicine." Do you think that's what they will tell you?
Your success as a doctor will be due to your personality and skill as a physician. Patients aren't going to care whether you went to Harvard. If your patients really like you, they are going to refer you whether you are a DO or not.
The only people who spread fear and myths about DO's are MD's. It's a case of sour grapes. They don't like the idea that people with weaker GPA's and MCAT scores can become a physician when they studied all day to get into their allopathic program. DO schools accept non-traditional students more than allopathic schools and thus they are more lenient about numbers.
Don't believe the hype. You will be fine as a DO. Every DO that I know of is doing extremely well.
I think you should attend an allopathic school if you can get in. You will just have an easier time getting choice residencies. And you can have lower board scores andstill match at good programs being an MD. However, being a DO is not going to hurt you. If you want a top residency as a DO, you will have to outscore MD's on the boards. I won't deny that tidbit. But many of us just want to be physicians and we won't be depressed if we end becoming a "measily" family practice physician or internist. 🙂
The reason why this argument makes little to no sense is that patients don't seek physicians by flipping through the yellow pages or driving by their office. If you want to see a family practice physician, are you really going to go to the yellow pages and blindly choose a name among a hundred doctors? What are you going to? Blind fold yourself and throw darts a list of names?
You would do what any normal person would do. You would call a friend or family member and ask who they trust as their physician. Do you really think they are going to say: "Go see Dr. Robinson. He is an amazing physician. Oh, but he is a DO. Be warned DO's are way different than MD's. He practices osteopathic medcine and not allopathic medicine." Do you think that's what they will tell you?
Your success as a doctor will be due to your personality and skill as a physician. Patients aren't going to care whether you went to Harvard. If your patients really like you, they are going to refer you whether you are a DO or not.
The only people who spread fear and myths about DO's are MD's. It's a case of sour grapes. They don't like the idea that people with weaker GPA's and MCAT scores can become a physician when they studied all day to get into their allopathic program. DO schools accept non-traditional students more than allopathic schools and thus they are more lenient about numbers.
Don't believe the hype. You will be fine as a DO. Every DO that I know of is doing extremely well.
I think you should attend an allopathic school if you can get in. You will just have an easier time getting choice residencies. And you can have lower board scores andstill match at good programs being an MD. However, being a DO is not going to hurt you. If you want a top residency as a DO, you will have to outscore MD's on the boards. I won't deny that tidbit. But many of us just want to be physicians and we won't be depressed if we end becoming a "measily" family practice physician or internist. 🙂
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I have heard it all. My room mate thought they were witch doctors. He always pictured them rubbing their hands together and slapping them on you. I of course informed him of his ignorance (as I frequently do) and told him they were basically the same as MDs. My girlfriend thought it stood for Doctor of Obstetrics and that it required extra training. Even before I was premed I knew they were the same (plus some bone cracking hands on stuff), but I have always been interested in that stuff. In other words public opinions will probably differ greatly. In all truth most people are going to let anyone with a whitecoat work on them. I don't even wear a white coat when I volunteer but half the people say "hey doc come over here." I know in my trips to the emergency room (as a patient with dehydration, head wounds, cuts etc.) I have never asked for credentials. I just wanted to be sewn up so I could be on my way. Just a word of advice the patients that are really worried about your credentials are going to be a pain in the a$$ anyway. Personally I would want a doc with knowledge and personality. Oh yeah, I also want a doctor with a Porsche and to adult entertainment specialist making out in the back seat. Could care less where he trained if he/she is good and I am sick.
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