Question to MD students

[Plinko]

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I was hoping to get an allopathic perspective on my situation.

I am new to SDN, and from what I've read thus far, questions such as these are apt to spin out of control into incessant, often immature mudslinging about which is better: allopathy or osteopathy. Inciting such arguments is in no way my intention here. Simply put, now that I am well into my first year of osteopathic medical school I am having doubts about whether or not I made the correct choice in choosing the school I now attend. Essentially, it all comes down to my absolute disdain for OMM (Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine). I am at the top of my class in classes such as Neuro, Cardio, MS, etc. When it comes to OMM however I am more than struggling. It's not that I find it hard, but that I cannot concentrate on something I find so incredibly boring. For me, it ranks right up there with obtaining a doctorate in Sanskrit. In fact, this was so much the case that I straight up failed the first semester of it. Beyond the humiliation of failing a class for the first time in my life is my confusion as to how I could not focus on topics that do not present as all that complex.

I know I want to practice medicine, yet I also know I want nothing to do with OMM. I don't mean to sound harsh, and I certainly don't want to offend anyone who invests much belief and energy into their OMM studies, but I find myself in the middle of a quandary over this and would appreciate any input as to how I should approach my educational future. I was accepted into two allopathic schools out of college but chose my current school because the tuition is in-state and the two allopathic schools were not. I also liked my first impression of the school I currently attend and also never took to the whole DO vs. MD thing. A doc's a doc in my opinion--I hope not to incite any riots with that comment. Now I'm wondering if it is worth the trouble to transfer to an allopathic school, or whether I should just stick it out and attempt to wade through the OMM coursework for the remainder of my education. I have found six MD programs that have said they'd be happy to consider my application for transfer into their second year class. About forty more take applications from DO students for entry into the third year. The tuition is a huge $20K bump, and relocating and starting all over again at a new school is never any fun. It's a heavy decision and I seem unable to find the criteria to decide.

As a side note, I am entirely unaware of my level competiveness as a DO to MD transfer applicant so any comments relating to it from someone with experience in this matter would also be appreciated. I'm about 20th in my class (out of 125) save for the failed OMM course. I see on the applications that I have that undergrad work is also needed so I suppose I should provide that as well: 32T MCAT, 3.45 UG GPA (from a top fifty state school) and a 3.3 Postbac GPA (from Colmbia Univ., NYC). Additionally, I was wondering if anyone had any insight into how an allopathic addcom might receive the failing of a purely osteopathic course.

 

[womansurg]

If you're truly only worried about hating OMM, just suck it up and pass that class. All of us feel that way about portions of our training (wait until you take psych - JK!).

If you are actually concerned about the quality of your education at your institution, transferring might make sense. In general, med schools tend to frown on transfers, so be ready to defend your decision. Your stats seem acceptable for lower to mid tier schools.

Good luck.

 

[doepug]

You've got to go with your gut.

Ultimately, I think you need to think seriously about your goals. Remember that you chose osteopathic medicine for a reason, and that medical education invariably involves biting the bullet, no matter where you are.

I had always thought it quite unusual for medical students to transfer schools. Although some programs might "consider your application," I have no idea how likely it is that you'd be accepted. Most of the mythical transfer students have significant family or health issues that necessitate going to another school to avoid forfeiting a medical education. I think you would need to establish a very compelling reason for why you should be an allopathic physician; unfortunately, I don't think hating your OMM class is enough.

For what it's worth, I think that there is a considerable amount of discrimination (for good or for ill) against osteopathic physicians. I have yet to meet a DO (attending, fellow, or resident) at my institution in the three years I've been here. If I were in your shoes, the best reason to consider an allopathic track would be to pursue a "competitive" field that is essentially limited to MDs (e.g. derm, ENT, neurosurg, rads) or if you have a commitment to the practice of academic medicine. There is much condesension toward DOs, evidenced by a series of jokes that I heard in the OR from an attending last week.

My advice would be to think carefully about what you want to get out of your medical education, and if it's possible to get there with a DO. If not, you'll need to come up with an excellent reason that the adcoms can't turn down. Failing a course will just give fuel to the devil's advocates who will invariably read your application. But unless you're interested in a very competitive residency or academic medicine, I think you should stick it out, grit your teeth, and do your best to get your DO.

Cheers,
doepug (MS III)

 

[Behcet]

most DOs don't use their OMM anyway, and if you're in an MD residency program, they may even ban you from it (I say that based on one experience, because I had a family practice DO resident who tried OMM on a patient in the ER and got chewed out by the program director because the program's malpractice insurance doesn't cover OMM). I wouldn't worry too much about your OMM scores, if the rest of your residency resume is solid.

 

[oceandocDO]

Plinko,

Sorry to hear of your troubles with OMM. I know what you're saying, it's tough to go from bread and butter science to the more artful class of OMM without some questions or hiccups. My advice, ironically, is to not take OMM so seriously. Pass the class and learn as much as you can, but dont feel discouraged or turned off. The OMM docs will hammer extension/flexion, rotations, counter-rotations, etc into your brain until you want to barf. It's dry and at times not very intuitive. Your real love, like mine, is probably medicine and science, not describing some other classmates 5th cervical vertebrae. But, be assured, in the clinical world, OMM looks nothing like it does in the textbook or in first-year lab. Basically, it's physical therapy, nothing more, nothing less. Beyond the cathartic effect for patients down the road, the training itself in OMM can be helpful, if you let it be. Biomechanics and their relation to anatomy are very stressed, much more so than in anatomy lab. OMM can be looked at like education in "living anatomy", as one MD actually referred to it after taking a weekend course in it. Just dont get tied up in the mumbo-jumbo technical crap they throw at you.

Anyway, as far as transferring, it's pretty tough in the first 2 years, but not impossible. Most schools will want to see your board scores first. By the time you take your Step I boards, 90% of OMM will be over, as the clinical years often require less technical hours of OMM and the hours you do spend are with actual patients and you can see the stuff actually work. Patients really do well with 90% of this stuff, you just have to suffer through the less exciting and often mislabeled didactic years.

I know some premed students will jump all over me for some of this, as will MD students with zero experience with OMM, but dont think your future as a D.O. is based on OMM, because that's very, very far from the truth. OMM is a tool, not a philosophy.

good luck. hang in there.

 

[hotbovie]

Regardless of whether you transfer or not, you have got to figure out how to pay enough attention/study enough to pass subject you hate and find boring. You will encounter more of them, no matter what school you attend. Perhaps considering how your failing grade will figure into your GPA would help.

There were several things both during the basic science and clincial years that I didn't like. Especially after I had spent the first 3 months of my 4th year doing only surgery electives (I'm going into surgery) then I had to turn around and take neurology..UUUUGGGGHHHH!!! I had to suck it up and study enough to pass. Now, I'm in our required ambulatory medicine class. One afternoon a week I have to go to rheumatology clinic. I'd rather operate on myself without anesthesia than go to rheumatology clinic, but go I must. And I must feign enough interest and be involved enough to pass the rotation. I am deriving absolutely no benefit to my surgery career listening to a bunch of whining women gripe about aches and pains that I merely dismiss and press on when I get those pains. It is merely a hoop to be jumped through.

Realize that even during residency, you often do rotations in various aspects of your specialty or at locations you don't like very well. It's just part of the process, and until you finish your training and are in total control of your schedule, you've got to find a way to get through that crap.

Seems like maybe you picked the osteopathic school for the wrong reason. Would't hurt to try applying to other schools, provided it won't hurt your progression where you are. Also consider the extra cost: $60,000+interest that you will add to your debt could be a huge burden. Just know there will be stuff you hate at any school you might transfer to as well.

 

[Neurogirl]

I agree with most of what's been said. Whether you are at an allo or osteo school, there will be courses/clinicals you despise. If you really want to transfer you'll have to find a better reason than a hatred of OMM. In response to an earlier statement about the disadvantages of being a DO, I think saying there is "a considerable amount of discrimination" is a bit of an exaggeration. Also, just because this student has never met a DO at his institution doesn't mean there aren't any. I suspect that a faculty or resident search would turn up at least a few. However, having said that, I will tell you there will ALWAYS be the occasional immature/insecure jerk who enjoys making fun of DOs (as well as everyone else).🙄

 

[Plinko]

Many thanks to those that took the time to write in and offer words of advice and encouragement. With an issue such at this it is hard to question people at one's home univeristy for fear of alienating yourself among your colleagues and professors. Consequently, your comments and insights mean quite a lot to me.

Upon reflection I feel it would be prudent for me to adopt the wait and see approach for the time being. Transfer after the second year, at a time when I will have the USMLE step one to better guide me, I think will would be more appropriate. Additionally, I think extra experience in medical school will afford me a better context within which to make a more informed decision. For now though I am leaning towards staying put and making the best of things, as I agree that factors in addition to a hatred of OMM are in order if I am going to make a real attempt at transferring.

Summer OMM remediation here I come.