Real Talk: What IS the difference between DO and MD?

[deleted812153]

Is there actually a difference in anything besides the letters in the names, admissions standards and OMM? If so, what is it? Can you quantify it?

Thank you for any advice you can offer.

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[Major]

Is there actually a difference in anything besides the letters in the names, admissions standards and OMM? If so, what is it? Can you quantify it?

Thank you for any advice you can offer.

 

[Podstar]

 

[FutureD.O]

DOs have to become both level 2 bone wizards and level 4 alchemists before graduating, as opposed to our MD counterparts who only become level 4 alchemists.

 

[samac]

Troll fail 2/10.
I know you can do better than that Donald.

 

[bears1992]

For the sake of a DO interview, there are so many differences between DO and MD and DO is better in many many ways. Outside of a DO interview, there is no difference and I have asked both DOs that I've shadowed and some of the staff at my hospital. Nobody has ever said they notice any difference between the two. Usually I'll ask the nurses/techs what they thought about the DOs that worked there and the usual response is "what's a DO?"

 

[alecseriously]

For the sake of a DO interview, there are so many differences between DO and MD and DO is better in many many ways. Outside of a DO interview, there is no difference and I have asked both DOs that I've shadowed and some of the staff at my hospital. Nobody has ever said they notice any difference between the two. Usually I'll ask the nurses/techs what they thought about the DOs that worked there and the usual response is "what's a DO?"

Be careful, I was asked this is my interview and got it thrown back in my face with "wrong, there is no difference between MD/DO except OMM".

Edit: I got in btw

 

[CastleG8]

I applied DO because there was a DO school on TMDSAS. I just wanted to stay in Texas and Fort Worth is perfect. I was being interviewed by an MD at TCOM when asked about "why DO?"
I just want to be a physician in Texas.

 

[bears1992]

Be careful, I was asked this is my interview and got it thrown back in my face with "wrong, there is no difference between MD/DO except OMM".

Edit: I got in btw

I guess it all depends on your interviewer. Goro seems to have a realistic opinion that DO vs MD is stupid because most students don't care and just rehearse answers to appease the school. It seems that most people said they went on and on about how DOs are different/better than MDs because x,y&z and that their interviewers ate it up. I don't think schools want to hear that you are only choosing DO because the stats aren't there for MD.

 

[deleted812153]

This is a serious question. I personally don't believe there really is a meaningful difference in any way, but you have to play the game for interviews and personal statements. I am more than open to having this view changed.

I apologize for retreading this subject for the biglyth time. The search function on SDN sucks.

Can anyone give me a genuine answer (without using the word 'holistic')?

I appreciate any advice that you can offer.

 

[TheLeadSeed]

DO schools also teach the 4 tenets of osteopathic medicine and emphasize structure and function and how they are related, hence the use of OMT.

While one can argue both MD and DO get to know their patients, I think the way osteopathic medicine started is to focus on the patient and treat the patient, rather than just the symptoms presented.

I shadowed a DO last week that was reallll old-school osteopathic medicine, like he only used OMT and said he never drew blood or ran a diagnostic test (X-ray, etc.) and seems liked everything works out for him and he taught me everything mentioned above.


Sent from my iPad using SDN mobile

 

[bears1992]

DO schools also teach the 4 tenets of osteopathic medicine and emphasize structure and function and how they are related, hence the use of OMT.

While one can argue both MD and DO get to know their patients, I think the way osteopathic medicine started is to focus on the patient and treat the patient, rather than just the symptoms presented.

I shadowed a DO last week that was reallll old-school osteopathic medicine, like he only used OMT and said he never drew blood or ran a diagnostic test (X-ray, etc.) and seems liked everything works out for him and he taught me everything mentioned above.


Sent from my iPad using SDN mobile

Hopefully your doctor is not a PCP or a hospitalist. There's a holistic approach and then there's a homeopathic approach. That DO sounds like he's taking a homeopathic approach which is not the approach that any doctor should have. A doctor like that is going to miss so many cancer/infection diagnosis by not using easily accessible tools like blood tests/MRI. Hopefully your doctor sends his patients to specialist and does not trying to cure every disease under the sun with OMT.

 

[DO2015CA]

The correct answer for interviews is OMT. You start spouting off the holistic, whole body bs they will know you aren't sincere and are just using buzzwords. The truth is they have a historical difference but have merged into more or less the same thing except for OMT. I believe as a DO student I am better at functional anatomy than my MD counterparts because it's constantly reinforced. I also believe the MD counterparts are better at biochemistry and research skills. The USMLE focuses more on Biochem than the comlex and so they learn it more. They also stress research more and so they delevop better research skills. However as a practicing physician they're identical, especially those who do not use OMT (95% of practicing DOs don't use OMT)

 

[DO2015CA]

Hopefully your doctor is not a PCP or a hospitalist. There's a holistic approach and then there's a homeopathic approach. That DO sounds like he's taking a homeopathic approach which is not the approach that any doctor should have. A doctor like that is going to miss so many cancer/infection diagnosis by not using easily accessible tools like blood tests/MRI. Hopefully your doctor sends his patients to specialist and does not trying to cure every disease under the sun with OMT.

Sounds like an NMM specialist to me. My guess cash pay practice to treat msk and visceral dysfunctions. I'm hoping he works on a referral only so that he is not missing those real disgnosis

 

[bears1992]

Sounds like an NMM specialist to me. My guess cash pay practice to treat msk and visceral dysfunctions. I'm hoping he works on a referral only so that he is not missing those real disgnosis

Ok, that would make more sense. I was thinking he/she was a doctor that was treating patients with leukemia symptoms using OMT.

 

[Goro]

Shadow some of each then report back.

There are differences, from what I have observed in the field. But you know, the differences between several MDs were as great as the differences between the DOs and MD.

Is there actually a difference in anything besides the letters in the names, admissions standards and OMM? If so, what is it? Can you quantify it?

Thank you for any advice you can offer.

 

[GypsyHummus]

But what's the difference between a DDS and a DMD? Is one more holistic than the other?

 

[McRibs]

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

While one can argue both MD and DO get to know their patients, I think the way osteopathic medicine started is to focus on the patient and treat the patient, rather than just the symptoms presented.

Just.....no.....

 

[TheLeadSeed]

Hopefully your doctor is not a PCP or a hospitalist. There's a holistic approach and then there's a homeopathic approach. That DO sounds like he's taking a homeopathic approach which is not the approach that any doctor should have. A doctor like that is going to miss so many cancer/infection diagnosis by not using easily accessible tools like blood tests/MRI. Hopefully your doctor sends his patients to specialist and does not trying to cure every disease under the sun with OMT.

You're exactly right and I even brought it up! He replied with something alone the lines of "I would be stupid if I tried using OMT to treat someone who obviously has something that can't be treated with it. If someone comes in with signs of cancer or brain tumor, you think I'm going to use OMT? I'm going to refer them to a specialist!"

Some advice he gave for DO interviews is try to avoid using the words "osteopathy" and "osteopath." Use "Osteopathic medicine" and "osteopathic physician."

 

[JB50]

I think I have yet to see a koality thread by DJT just to use political jokes. come on mods. We all know the difference.

 

[TheLeadSeed]

Sounds like an NMM specialist to me. My guess cash pay practice to treat msk and visceral dysfunctions. I'm hoping he works on a referral only so that he is not missing those real disgnosis

You are totally correct! He called it "fee for service" I think but he said he only accepts cash and credit/debit. He even showed me how much he made ($475 for new patient appointment, $240 for each follow up appointment). Anyways, he was awesome in teaching me the history of osteopathic medicine and how OMT is used.

In my future (hopeful) interviews, if they asked my "Why DO?," I would mention how my shadowing experiences really built my passion for it and the DO's I observed motivated and inspired me. That is why I think it is important for everyone applying to DO should have a DO letter or DO shadowing. Also, I would mention how OMT is a useful and intimate tool to treat patients and use your own hands to treat the patient. Wherever you are in the world, you have your hands with you. Finally I would probably mention how I am interested in primary care and that a majority of DO's go into primary care.

 

[TheLeadSeed]

Just.....no.....

You think it would be bad to mention about treating not only the symptoms but getting to know the patient? I know it's a doctor to doctor basis and that some MD's do this and some DO's don't. But, the first tenet of osteopathic medicine is that the body is a unit of mind, body, and spirit.

Hate to get all technical, but I also understand that some interviewers may like hearing that and would be surprised if others saw it as just plain old BS.

 

[redsox93]

"More holistic" and "patient centered" are just buzz words that hold no merit. Shadow DOs and MDs if you really want some insight into the difference. I don't know any practicing physician that actually uses OMM, and I've worked at a pain management clinic with a DO (where you would think OMM would be applicable). The main differences comes in training and licensing exams. In practice, there isn't much difference.

 

[JB50]

DO's do learn certain palpation techniques which are useful for getting more neuromusculoskeletal information. That's about it. We get paid the same.

 

[DO2015CA]

You think it would be bad to mention about treating not only the symptoms but getting to know the patient? I know it's a doctor to doctor basis and that some MD's do this and some DO's don't. But, the first tenet of osteopathic medicine is that the body is a unit of mind, body, and spirit.

Hate to get all technical, but I also understand that some interviewers may like hearing that and would be surprised if others saw it as just plain old BS.

All MDs and DOs look at the whole person and not just the symptoms or else MDs wouldn't understand that nutrition can affect atherosclerosis which can in turn cause a stroke. Those are 3 different systems. If they only treated their patients as a bag of symptoms then they wouldn't see atherosclerotic changes and counsel their patients on proper nutrition.

You'll start to realize as you get into medicine that a lot of it is just words. The tenents are something you'll learn Day 1 of OMM but really they aren't that much different than what MDs understand.

 

[deleted812153]

I think I have yet to see a koality thread by DJT just to use political jokes. come on mods. We all know the difference.

I didn't mean to piss anybody off or to troll! I just wanted to cut through all the crap about it. Didn't realize that this was so painfully overdone. Sorry everybody!

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

You think it would be bad to mention about treating not only the symptoms but getting to know the patient? I know it's a doctor to doctor basis and that some MD's do this and some DO's don't. But, the first tenet of osteopathic medicine is that the body is a unit of mind, body, and spirit.

Hate to get all technical, but I also understand that some interviewers may like hearing that and would be surprised if others saw it as just plain old BS.

That's the thing, it really is BS. OMM is the only thing that separates the two. Spend time with a DO who isn't a NMM specialist (see: 95% of them) and you will see what I mean, they are completely indistinguishable from the MDs around them.

 

[MADD!!!]

This is a serious question. I personally don't believe there really is a meaningful difference in any way, but you have to play the game for interviews and personal statements. I am more than open to having this view changed.

I apologize for retreading this subject for the biglyth time. The search function on SDN sucks.

Can anyone give me a genuine answer (without using the word 'holistic')?

I appreciate any advice that you can offer.

The real answer, and why you're asking, is stigma. In the real world, some people do hold a stigma that DO's are sub-par physicians to MD's. Others believe that DO's can only do primary care and do not have the ability to do surgeries. In short, stigmas of different sorts.

We have all clearly established and know that none of it is true, but in the real world some people like to judge others and look for any weaknesses they can.

Now unfortunately, some of this stigma is carried by old physicians, some of whom are current PD's at prestigious hospitals. Maybe they think DO's are subpar? Maybe they think brining in a DO into their residency somehow makes their program seem less competitive/prestigious? Either way, there are some residencies who literally say "no DO's".

In short, you get the same training, same legal priveledges, and equal pay but with less opportunities for specialization and an associated stigma of various sorts that you're not as qualified as you really are.

People always say why do MD vs DO threads pop up and this is the reason.

With all that said, you have a choice. Is it worth it for you to enter this profession fully understanding the information above?

 

[Bacchus]

Thread closed. See stickies and multiple other threads.