Questions about DO

[Mastashake]

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Okay, so I have some general questions about a DO, which I haven't been able to find on the net. If someone can link me or give me an answer, that'd be awesome.

1) What exactly are all the differences between an allopathic and osteopathic doctor?

2) Is being a DO for me if I am a person who doesn't really believe in naturopathic remedies (herbs are not the cure for everything).

3) Is it harder to get a "good" residency if you are a DO instead of an MD?

4) Is it harder to become a specialist in fields like radiology or orthopedics? What about pediatrics?

Any answers for this would be great.

 

[skypilot]

Here are the frequently asked questions from the sticky at the top of the page.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=114983

I think it depends on your definition of a "good" residency. Pediatrics would not be hard to get but Ortho and Rads would be tough for a MD grad and a just a little tougher for a DO grad.

Believe it or not a few years ago Rads was easy to get. The director of the University of Pittsburgh Rads residency program is a DO.

DO is as much a doctor as an MD and has nothing to do with herbal remedies. The only difference is that as a DO you also learn osteopathic manipulation which is a type of physical therapy.

 

[wertyjoe]

here are some answers

1. the difference is philosophy (treating the parts vs. treating the sum of parts as a whole) and osteopaths learn Osteopathic manipulative medicine. Other than this there isn't really a difference.

2. DO doesn't mean naturopathic it means holistic. ND's are naturopathic docs and have a very limited practice rights. DO's have full practice rights! However, I do believe most DO's are open minded to alternative treatments.

3. I don't think so however a few pre-allo will probably be on here later to say otherwise.

4. Radiology and ortho are tough for both allopathic and osteopathic. If you score well and have good grades its possible for anyone to get into. It all depends on you. Pediatrics is fairly easy to match into along with family practice, internal medicine, and psychiatry.

This may start into a flame war like most DO vs. MD threads. My advice to you is "don't believe what most pre-allos say on a osteopathic forum" they just like to incite hatred and spread misinterpreted information.

 

[Ministry]

In becoming a DO you will reach the same goals if you went the MD route. Getting there, though, you may have to follow a more convoluted path. If you have questions, PM me.

ministry

 

[OSUdoc08]

Okay, so I have some general questions about a DO, which I haven't been able to find on the net. If someone can link me or give me an answer, that'd be awesome.

1) What exactly are all the differences between an allopathic and osteopathic doctor?

2) Is being a DO for me if I am a person who doesn't really believe in naturopathic remedies (herbs are not the cure for everything).

3) Is it harder to get a "good" residency if you are a DO instead of an MD?

4) Is it harder to become a specialist in fields like radiology or orthopedics? What about pediatrics?

Any answers for this would be great.

1) Different schools & DO's learn osteopathic manipulation

2) DO's use the same medicines as MD's

3) You can get any residency you want to if you perform well on the boards---DO's have their own residency programs

4) Primary care areas are easier to secure and super subspecialties can be more difficult-----The DO residency programs have limited spots, and DO's must compete for MD residencies

 

[Mastashake]

when I look up holistic medicine, all I get is stuff like herbs and meditation and stuff like that, but I thought holistic was a bit more scientifically proven when it appled to Osteopathy.

Any advice?

Mastashake

 

[OSUdoc08]

when I look up holistic medicine, all I get is stuff like herbs and meditation and stuff like that, but I thought holistic was a bit more scientifically proven when it appled to Osteopathy.

Any advice?

Mastashake

Holistic medicine = treatment of the entire body in a homeostatic sort of way

(all organ systems are interrelated, especially with the neuromusculoskeletal systems----illness/injury to one system affects the other systems)

The herbs would have to go with your ND (Naturopathic Doctor)

 

[bababuey]

here are some answers

3. I don't think so however a few pre-allo will probably be on here later to say otherwise.

This may start into a flame war like most DO vs. MD threads. My advice to you is "don't believe what most pre-allos say on a osteopathic forum" they just like to incite hatred and spread misinterpreted information.

Bullcrap... do you honestly believe that DO's dont have a harder time matching into competitive resdiency spots???? Please, i hate to start a "flame war" but lets be honest to ourselves and all the pre-meds that read this site. I really dont care about this DO vs MD thing, but when someone passes along bad information then i will call you on it. Match lists at the different DO and MD schools will tell you that DO dont match as well at more competitive residencies than MDs. This is a fact and not my opinion.

 

[vegangirl]

just a thought.....i understand you dont believe in naturopathic rememdies but im kinda confused by your comment. most people who seek alternative medicine do so in conjuction with standard treatments. Another point to consider is that different people have different background/cultural references than you and though you may not agree with their culture, that doesnt mean you should just dismiss it. just my 2 cents 🙄

 

[OSUdoc08]

Bullcrap... do you honestly believe that DO's dont have a harder time matching into competitive resdiency spots???? Please, i hate to start a "flame war" but lets be honest to ourselves and all the pre-meds that read this site. I really dont care about this DO vs MD thing, but when someone passes along bad information then i will call you on it. Match lists at the different DO and MD schools will tell you that DO dont match as well at more competitive residencies than MDs. This is a fact and not my opinion.

they don't match as highly into the more competitive MD spots---this is true

don't disregard the fact that there are quite a few new neurosurgery and cardiothoracic surgery AOA spots opening up within the next few years (obviously DO's would easily match into these spots, since these are the only ones accepted)

 

[PJ1120]

NYCOM is starting a Urology residency and adding more Orthopedics spots as well. However, i MUST say to get these spots, u better dam be at the top of ur class. Overall, since MD programs have more spots, probably statistically more MDs have a chance in landing harder subspecialties, just my guess. Regardless, if u want to be specialized in a hard area (urology, etc), just do good and get ur name out. I met a DO who's a gastroenterologist and another that is in a allopathic orthopedic program. They said they just got good grades, board scores, and got their name out. So it is entirely possible. But my guess is that most ppl will change their minds after they find out just how long some of these surgical residencies are, and that u actually want a family soon?. lol .. That's why most MDs/DOs are internal med, FP, EM, peds, etc. regardless if u went to Harvard. 🙄

 

[wertyjoe]

Bullcrap... do you honestly believe that DO's dont have a harder time matching into competitive resdiency spots???? Please, i hate to start a "flame war" but lets be honest to ourselves and all the pre-meds that read this site. I really dont care about this DO vs MD thing, but when someone passes along bad information then i will call you on it. Match lists at the different DO and MD schools will tell you that DO dont match as well at more competitive residencies than MDs. This is a fact and not my opinion.

I new there would be a pre-allo in here starting crap. Go back to your own forum and bring your arrogance with ya.

Oh, by the way, if you read the original post correctly the question ask about a good residency not f***ing harvard which would be a competitive residency! And yes it is just as easy for a DO to get a good residency.

 

[bababuey]

I new there would be a pre-allo in here starting crap. .

Um... you "NEW"???? hahhaha ok.... and no im not a pre-allo... dont try to minimize what i say by protraying me as someone without any knowledge about the things I say. Oh and im not trying to start "crap"... just correcting the "crap" that you posted.

Go back to your own forum and bring your arrogance with ya. .

Oh im arrogant? Truth hurts eh?.... no need to insult me

Oh, by the way, if you read the original post correctly the question ask about a good residency not f***ing harvard which would be a competitive residency! And yes it is just as easy for a DO to get a good residency.

Well a "good" residency is just a matter of perspective isnt it? Maybe for you a "good" residency is a crap residency for others. Oh and can i just say you're full of $hit saying that it is just as easy for DO's to get good residencies as MD's. Why dont you look at the match lists for each DO school and for each MD school. Proof is in the match list.

 

[wertyjoe]

Um... you "NEW"???? hahhaha ok.... and no im not a pre-allo... dont try to minimize what i say by protraying me as someone without any knowledge about the things I say. Oh and im not trying to start "crap"... just correcting the "crap" that you posted.




Oh im arrogant? Truth hurts eh?.... no need to insult me



Well a "good" residency is just a matter of perspective isnt it? Maybe for you a "good" residency is a crap residency for others. Oh and can i just say you're full of $hit saying that it is just as easy for DO's to get good residencies as MD's. Why dont you look at the match lists for each DO school and for each MD school. Proof is in the match list.

Like I said, take your arrogance back to the allo forums before you make an a$$ out of yourself!

 

[crys20]

to the OP...hard to get into specialties like radiology or ortho are hard for ANYONE to get into, including students from MD schools. to land one you have to work very hard and do very well on the USMLE step 1. that said, they will be harder to get into for DOs excluding spots in DO programs which as mentioned above will be opening soon. if you think you may want to, and be capable of, getting into one of these specialties, apply to both MD and DO schools and if you get into an MD one go there...because it may make things easier. however, if you are interested in peds or primary care or ER or OBGYN, etc. DO schools will get you there just fine and you can pick where you go based on location, for instance. do a search and you will find hundreds of MD vs DO threads...ultimately they do the same thing but if you want to do something competitive and can get into either you might be better off at an MD school MAYBE.

 

[bababuey]

Like I said, take your arrogance back to the allo forums before you make an a$$ out of yourself!

Wertyjoe,

hard to refute facts huh? i guess this is the best rebuttal you have?

Like i said, this is not about trying to prove MDs are better than DO's, etc, etc. I just dont like it when people like you post "crap" online that is not true.

 

[wertyjoe]

Wertyjoe,

hard to refute facts huh? i guess this is the best rebuttal you have?

Like i said, this is not about trying to prove MDs are better than DO's, etc, etc. I just dont like it when people like you post "crap" online that is not true.

Rebuttal??? I'm not trying to win an debate I'm just tired of allopaths coming on a osteo forum saying blah, blah, and blah!

Facts! What f***ing facts have you shown me! Nada! nothing!

 

[bababuey]

Rebuttal??? I'm not trying to win an debate I'm just tired of allopaths coming on a osteo forum saying blah, blah, and blah!

Funny i was thinking that you were the one babbling all this "blah blah blah blah" bull$hit misinformation.

Facts! What f***ing facts have you shown me! Nada! nothing!

here are your facts. They are compiled match lists for DO and MD schools. See for yourself... even you cant deny this!

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=175626

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=187352

 

[wertyjoe]

Funny i was thinking that you were the one babbling all this "blah blah blah blah" bull$hit misinformation.




here are your facts. They are compiled match lists for DO and MD schools. See for yourself... even you cant deny this!

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=175626

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=187352

I've seen these match lists before. All it shows is that allopaths tend to specialize more than osteopaths! It doesn't prove that it is any harder for a DO to get a good residency (specializing doesn't equal good residency). Isn't that what you are arguing about. You can skew these facts anyway you want them but there is no proof that it is harder for DOs to get a good residency. It is only hearsay that tends to be spewed from the mouths of allopaths. If someone has good scores they will get a good residency regardless if MD or DO. There is no measurement to determine if it is harder for DO's.

Also, residencies at big universities that stress research arn't necessarily good residencies. It depends on the individuals and the caliber of physicians that they are graduating. Small hospital/non university affiliated can still put out excellent physicians. You are right on one thing it is in the eye of the beholder but you are wrong when you say it is harder for DO's to get a good residency. Like I said before, if someone has great scores they will get a good residency regardless of degree.

 

[wertyjoe]

I'm going to be the better person here and end this argument. If you read my original post it says "I don't think so" in the response that it is harder for DOs than MDs to get a good residency(remember specialization and university programs doesn't mean its a good residency). This is my opinion, just as you believe it is harder.

I'm sorry this argument even started. I'll go crawl back into my hole where all of us DO's belong even though this is our forum.

Warning: Don't post anything that might offend the noble allopaths. They might take away the day.

 

[bababuey]

I've seen these match lists before. All it shows is that allopaths tend to specialize more than osteopaths! It doesn't prove that it is any harder for a DO to get a good residency (specializing doesn't equal good residency).

What more do you want??? geesh! I have shown u that MDs get more matches in more competitive specialties in more competitive programs!!!! Doesnt that say anything? Even in primary care specialities the MD match at way better programs!

You can skew these facts anyway you want them but there is no proof that it is harder for DOs to get a good residency.

Who is skewing facts?? I simply posted a link with the facts for you to view yourself. If anyone is skewing facts... its YOU!! Anyways, what kind of proof are you looking for, especially if the match lists themselves dont prove anything to you?!?!?!

It is only hearsay that tends to be spewed from the mouths of allopaths.

HAHAHAHAH thats funny! what hearsay from the mouths of allopaths?... sorry dude but all i did was post the match lists.... those lists speak for themselves.

If someone has good scores they will get a good residency regardless if MD or DO.

partly true, yes good scores will help greatly, but there are other factors right? Based on your theory, i guess DO's rarely get good scores then eh? Oh let me be more politically correct... DO's dont get as good scores as MDs then....based on the match list.

Also, residencies at big universities that stress research arn't necessarily good residencies. It depends on the individuals and the caliber of physicians that they are graduating. Small hospital/non university affiliated can still put out excellent physicians.

It almosts seems to me that you are admitting that DO's dont get as many big name, well known, well respected residencies. However im sure almost everyone would agree with me that big universities programs are more highly sought after than smaller community programs.

oh by the way, yes i agree with u that anyone can go to any program and still become an excellent physicians. In fact im sure you can even train in tibet and still be an excellent physician.... but then again thats not the point.

You are right on one thing it is in the eye of the beholder but you are wrong when you say it is harder for DO's to get a good residency. Like I said before, if someone has great scores they will get a good residency regardless of degree.

OK.. sure... uh huh. Obviously, based on what we see in the match list, something just doesnt add up eh? Either it is not as simple as you make it seem.... OR..... DO's just have crappy ass scores!!!!

 

[bababuey]

I'll go crawl back into my hole where all of us DO's belong even though this is our forum.

Yeah go crawl back in your hole... not becuz ur a DO, but because you spread bad information and because you cant admit that youre wrong even when faced with evidence that prove you wrong.

Im done too...