Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I'm new to SDN - can someone tell me, is it true that D.O.s are real doctors?
....Ha - just kidding. Now that I have your attention (and some of you are about ready to squeeze your mouse like a stress ball to the point of rupture) I just wanted to make my first post. Not trying to draw negative attention... just being a fool (please bare with me). I've actually been following SDN for about 6 mos now, but haven't posted anything yet. Sorry, but after reading all of the trolling, flaming, etc, etc, over the last 6 months, I simply couldn't help myself. (Have kind of a sick sense of humor).
Anyway, I am a non-trad (32yrs old) pre-med who is currently working as a chemist at a pharmaceutical company. I have been following the osteo and allo forums, as I will be applying to both DO/MD schools based on geographic location. However, I am taking a special interest in the osteo forums, as I think that out of the half dozen or so schools that I will be applying to - that my best shot will be with the one osteo school of the group. I really don't have a strong preference DO vs MD. I do have to say though, after learning much about the osteopathic profession/history over the past year, that I am absolutely stunned at the number of people in the general population who do not know what a DO is. Or shall I say, I can't believe who how many people don't realize that there are two different degrees earned by U.S. physicians (I guess really three if you want to count podiatrists - hope I'm not missing any other groups). I don't view either philosophy (DO/MD) as better or lesser, but I have to say that I am disheartened by this lack of awareness. In fact, I myself had a DO as my FP for several years about 5 yrs ago - but never even realized it myself until I began seeking information about medical education. When I think back, he even used the "name, followed by initials" format on his name tag, so the DO heritage was obvious. Strange.... I think that maybe it simply just doesn't register with some people that the initials are different than the traditional MD initials, or maybe some even some think it has to do with their specialty instead (there are so many acronyms and abbreviations used in medicine, its almost impossible to keep them all straight). I have to say it doesn't appear that the AOA does much to help this out. (I wonder why?) Well, maybe the public awareness will eventually take care of itself, as the numbers are on the rise and will eventually reach the practicing physician ranks and attain greater public exposure (out of the 2004 med school graduates, just under 15% were from DO schools - so there is a definite upward trend forming).
The knock about the trolling and flaming aside... I wanted to thank all of you on SDM (or at least those who have made it this far reading through my mostly meaningless post) that I have learned much about medical education (and the career thereafter) here on SDN. It's very nice that people take the time to organize and moderate a collective tool such as this (kudos to the moderators, et al). I'm looking forward to being an active participant in the future.
....Ha - just kidding. Now that I have your attention (and some of you are about ready to squeeze your mouse like a stress ball to the point of rupture) I just wanted to make my first post. Not trying to draw negative attention... just being a fool (please bare with me). I've actually been following SDN for about 6 mos now, but haven't posted anything yet. Sorry, but after reading all of the trolling, flaming, etc, etc, over the last 6 months, I simply couldn't help myself. (Have kind of a sick sense of humor).
Anyway, I am a non-trad (32yrs old) pre-med who is currently working as a chemist at a pharmaceutical company. I have been following the osteo and allo forums, as I will be applying to both DO/MD schools based on geographic location. However, I am taking a special interest in the osteo forums, as I think that out of the half dozen or so schools that I will be applying to - that my best shot will be with the one osteo school of the group. I really don't have a strong preference DO vs MD. I do have to say though, after learning much about the osteopathic profession/history over the past year, that I am absolutely stunned at the number of people in the general population who do not know what a DO is. Or shall I say, I can't believe who how many people don't realize that there are two different degrees earned by U.S. physicians (I guess really three if you want to count podiatrists - hope I'm not missing any other groups). I don't view either philosophy (DO/MD) as better or lesser, but I have to say that I am disheartened by this lack of awareness. In fact, I myself had a DO as my FP for several years about 5 yrs ago - but never even realized it myself until I began seeking information about medical education. When I think back, he even used the "name, followed by initials" format on his name tag, so the DO heritage was obvious. Strange.... I think that maybe it simply just doesn't register with some people that the initials are different than the traditional MD initials, or maybe some even some think it has to do with their specialty instead (there are so many acronyms and abbreviations used in medicine, its almost impossible to keep them all straight). I have to say it doesn't appear that the AOA does much to help this out. (I wonder why?) Well, maybe the public awareness will eventually take care of itself, as the numbers are on the rise and will eventually reach the practicing physician ranks and attain greater public exposure (out of the 2004 med school graduates, just under 15% were from DO schools - so there is a definite upward trend forming).
The knock about the trolling and flaming aside... I wanted to thank all of you on SDM (or at least those who have made it this far reading through my mostly meaningless post) that I have learned much about medical education (and the career thereafter) here on SDN. It's very nice that people take the time to organize and moderate a collective tool such as this (kudos to the moderators, et al). I'm looking forward to being an active participant in the future.
