Questions about pursuing a DO

[KayD]

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I won't be applying for any medical schools for at least 2 more years as I am only just finishing my second year of my degree right now. I developed an interest in medicine after suffering from a severe traumatic brain injury. My major before my car accident was a double major in criminology and psychology, so I am beginning to take sciences outside of my degree to prepare for medical school.
I am Canadian, so the only options in Canada are MD, currently I am sitting at a cGPA of 3.8, but I am worried about my brain injury affecting potential acceptance even if I am able to keep my GPA at a good level.
I only recently learned about DOs through joining this forum, as most people I know seem to only know about MDs in Canada and the states, or moving to the Caribbean which I am really not fond of past the weather.

I guess my question is how easily transferable is a DO back to Canada for residency and Are they more open to less traditional applicants?

I just continue to worry that my injury will cause doubts in my abilities, and would like to look at all options I have so I can have the best opportunity to succeed.

 

[coolingglasses]

I don't think your brain injury will affect your acceptance unless you find it's detrimental to your performance. I don't know how Canadian DOs transfer back to Canada, but they are decently represented in the application cycle.

In fact, if you search, there's a thread just for Canadians in the Pre-Osteo forums somewhere.

 

[Mosonik]

Unfortunately, not all Canadian territories/provinces/states (?) recognize the US DO and so restrict them only to the use of manipulation, a few others I believe offer unlimited practice rights. I think regardless, if you pursue the US DO you will likely need to do residency state side though maybe someone else on here knows more than I do.
Many DO schools here are very Canadian friendly, at the top of those being MSU-COM. It seems like though many Canadians coming to to osteopathic medical school here are planning to stay stateside for practice too so maybe this affects your situation more than most.

 

[TriagePreMed]

There is no part of your application where you need to disclose traumatic brain injury, so no, it wouldn't matter for admissions. Besides, DO school is no less easy and wouldn't give you a break over brain injury if MD didn't.

 

[NeuroLAX]

There is no part of your application where you need to disclose traumatic brain injury, so no, it wouldn't matter for admissions. Besides, DO school is no less easy and wouldn't give you a break over brain injury if MD didn't.

Isn't there a typical question asking if you (the applicant) have any medical conditions that may prohibit you from fulfilling all responsibilities and performance requirements?

I don't know how they would view a TBI if disclosed... but I would want to know that you have been medically cleared.

 

[NontradCA]

Isn't there a typical question asking if you (the applicant) have any medical conditions that may prohibit you from fulfilling all responsibilities and performance requirements?

I don't know how they would view a TBI if disclosed... but I would want to know that you have been medically cleared.

No. There is for licensing but I actually think its against the law for schools to ask that.(think)

 

[TriagePreMed]

Isn't there a typical question asking if you (the applicant) have any medical conditions that may prohibit you from fulfilling all responsibilities and performance requirements?

I don't know how they would view a TBI if disclosed... but I would want to know that you have been medically cleared.

I don't remember that as part of my application. Perhaps that was on some secondaries? If so, it still sounds rather subjective whether they can perform tasks or not.

 

[survivordo]

I am trying to think back, I think that some of my med school applications actually did have that question or one similarly. However, if you are able to maintain a solid GPA, study for long hours, and are otherwise mentally and physically up to the task than you wouldn't need to disclose this on your app.

Survivor DO

 

[Goro]

Canada is one of those countries that doesn't fully recognisze the DO degree.

My understanding of admissions is that it's difficult for Canadians to gain entrance into American medical schools. However, I know I've had at least one Canadian student in the past.

We're NOT allowed to ask you about your medical conditions,but you have to disclose anything that might limit your perfromance in medical school. For example, you have to physically be able to perform OMM. No getting around this one. No computers, no demos, no adjuncts, facilitators or stand-ins.

I won't be applying for any medical schools for at least 2 more years as I am only just finishing my second year of my degree right now. I developed an interest in medicine after suffering from a severe traumatic brain injury. My major before my car accident was a double major in criminology and psychology, so I am beginning to take sciences outside of my degree to prepare for medical school.
I am Canadian, so the only options in Canada are MD, currently I am sitting at a cGPA of 3.8, but I am worried about my brain injury affecting potential acceptance even if I am able to keep my GPA at a good level.
I only recently learned about DOs through joining this forum, as most people I know seem to only know about MDs in Canada and the states, or moving to the Caribbean which I am really not fond of past the weather.

I guess my question is how easily transferable is a DO back to Canada for residency and Are they more open to less traditional applicants?

I just continue to worry that my injury will cause doubts in my abilities, and would like to look at all options I have so I can have the best opportunity to succeed.

 

[NeuroLAX]

I am trying to think back, I think that some of my med school applications actually did have that question or one similarly. However, if you are able to maintain a solid GPA, study for long hours, and are otherwise mentally and physically up to the task than you wouldn't need to disclose this on your app.

Survivor DO

I'm pretty sure it was when I was filling out matriculation papers. I had to get a physical and vaccinations, and of course the physician asked me about my PMH to be documented on a form.

 

[coolingglasses]

I am trying to think back, I think that some of my med school applications actually did have that question or one similarly. However, if you are able to maintain a solid GPA, study for long hours, and are otherwise mentally and physically up to the task than you wouldn't need to disclose this on your app.

Survivor DO

I might have seen it on some secondaries, but it is definitely something you sign off on with your acceptance papers. Technical Standards or something.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Canada is one of those countries that doesn't fully recognisze the DO degree.

This is very true, but it's also important to point out that strives have been made as only two (Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan) provinces are not fully recognizing. They are, however, in process of reviewing:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteopathic_medicine_in_Canada

 

[KayD]

Oh wow, thank you for the responses everyone! This is definitely a schooling path I will continue looking further in to.
In regards to disclosing my injury, the reason it worries me is that at some point I will have to disclose it in order to gain disability accommodations. I don't think it will affect my ability to do the work, but I am slower in some aspects and to succeed require longer time on exams. So I guess having to disclose it worries me.
You have all been super helpful!