Reason for choosing DO

[Dr.Inviz]

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...But If you had the chance, you will always pick MD over D.O .Trust me.

Congrats on MCW. 👍

 

[arsenewenger]

Congrats on MCW. 👍

THANKS!

 

[lateapplicant]

...But If you had the chance, you will always pick MD over D.O .Trust me.

...But if you had the chance, the vast majority will pick MD over DO. For justified reasons.

There are many MD schools I would turn down to go to many DO schools. For some it's at least an overlapping continuum.

Though MCW would not be one of the overlapped. Congrats.

 

[DrLargo1995]

Congradulations on your acceptance to MCW! It's a wonderful school!
Unfortunately I was rejected by the allopathic schools I applied to but found a wonderful home at COPM and I couldn’t be happier! 🙂 🙂 Best wishes in your future pursuits!!!!!

 

[Toohotinvegas33]

The students in MD schools are on average much better performers on both regular and standardized tests going in. To expect DO schools to turn students who are average premed performers (whatever the reason for their performance) into outstanding students is ridiculous. To me, .

Here's my problem with that arguement, Hypothetically if I have competitive grades but a weaker MCAT, and I either do an SMP or retake MCAT and do very well, both which requires waiting another year. Am I really a better student then I was before? On paper I might look better, but in reality I would say no, I have jsut tailored my stats for an entrance.

 

[arsenewenger]

Here's my problem with that arguement, Hypothetically if I have competitive grades but a weaker MCAT, and I either do an SMP or retake MCAT and do very well, both which requires waiting another year. Am I really a better student then I was before? On paper I might look better, but in reality I would say no, I have jsut tailored my stats for an entrance.

A very good argument indeed. However, Medschools need to have a benchmark, if not how would they get rid of the contenders from the pretenders. Without those ,relative, benchmarks they can as well accept anybody and everybody that applies to their school!

 

[Doc2007]

A very good argument indeed. However, Medschools need to have a benchmark, if not how would they get rid of the contenders from the pretenders. Without those ,relative, benchmarks they can as well accept anybody and everybody that applies to their school!

I agree that the medical schools need to have a benchmark but not to the extent that it is detrimental to the society and the profession. For example, the benchmark has been so high for the past several years that now we are running into the problem of shortages of the physicians. To fix this problem, we need to add more seats for medical schools and residnecy. Adding more seats for medical school and residency requires funding from the government and we all know that government will not fund more seats because medicare is running out of money. So then what is the solution to the problem? Well we have Nurse Practioners and Physician Assistants who will lobby government so that they can get more rights to practice medicine. It will be cheaper for the government for the to give them rights to practice than fund seats for medical school and residency. So they may in the future become your competitior. Do I consider that situation to be a bad situation? I don't know because I am just a premed.

 

[lateapplicant]

Here's my problem with that arguement, Hypothetically if I have competitive grades but a weaker MCAT, and I either do an SMP or retake MCAT and do very well, both which requires waiting another year. Am I really a better student then I was before? On paper I might look better, but in reality I would say no, I have jsut tailored my stats for an entrance.

I think in reality you have shown the medical school that A) you are capable if you put in enough effort, and B) you are willing to put in enough effort.

I would like to know the doctor who was treating me could get 80s in all his classes, even if he just did so for his last year or during an extra one.

 

[DeLaughterDO]

I went to school in Texas, where all the schools (aside from Baylor) were in the same 'match' and so all could be applied to and were all on equal seating. They even all participate in the same 'rank listing' for 'match day' (combined match, indeed!).

I applied to most of the Texas schools (with a couple of exceptions - Houston, because it had just flooded a year before I started and I heard it was a terrible mess afterwards, and Tech, because I didn't want to have to move after the first 2 years) and I interviewed at most of them, as well as a few out of state schools - just in case I wanted to leave Texas.

In the end, I chose the in-state DO school (TCOM) over the MD schools (although UTHSC-SA was a very close second) because I thought the students there were happier with the school and the atmosphere seemed much more easy-going than at the MD schools. I ranked TCOM 1st and matched there for med school.

I've been completing a Traditional internship this year (will be done in June - only 3 more months to go!) and have matched into EM for next year - at an allopathic program...

Long story short - if you go to an Osteopathic school and apply yourself you can do most anything you want. Same as for Allopathic schools. However, if you go and slack off... you are screwed no matter what school you attend.

as an aside - TCOM is up to 11k/year now? Damn - when I started it was 6.5K/year. It is still a huge bargain compared to some of the out of state schools I applied to...

 

[DocBR]

TCOM is up to 11k/year now? Damn - when I started it was 6.5K/year. It is still a huge bargain compared to some of the out of state schools I applied to...

Wow. AZCOM is 38k/year.

That is just depressing.

If I could get 6.5k tuition, I would be in the Republic of Texas thread worshiping Chuck Norris and all things Texan too.

 

[CatsandCradles]

as an aside - TCOM is up to 11k/year now? Damn - when I started it was 6.5K/year. It is still a huge bargain compared to some of the out of state schools I applied to...

$11,000 multiplied by 4 years = $44,000...

That's like the cost of 1 year of school at a lot of other medical schools..

Where do they get all that money? Oil revunue?

 

[CatsandCradles]

... and you get to match in wawawa village hospital to practice OMM as a family practitioner to farmers who don't have enough money to sustain your practice.

I see, so you don't like family practice.

Maybe you should consider radiology or pathology - little to no patient contact if you know what I mean.

 

[DrBowtie]

I agree that the medical schools need to have a benchmark but not to the extent that it is detrimental to the society and the profession. For example, the benchmark has been so high for the past several years that now we are running into the problem of shortages of the physicians. To fix this problem, we need to add more seats for medical schools and residnecy. Adding more seats for medical school and residency requires funding from the government and we all know that government will not fund more seats because medicare is running out of money. So then what is the solution to the problem? Well we have Nurse Practioners and Physician Assistants who will lobby government so that they can get more rights to practice medicine. It will be cheaper for the government for the to give them rights to practice than fund seats for medical school and residency. So they may in the future become your competitior. Do I consider that situation to be a bad situation? I don't know because I am just a premed.

Every seat is always filled. Benchmarks are completely irrelevant to the shortage issue.

 

[DeLaughterDO]

Wow. AZCOM is 38k/year.

That is just depressing.

If I could get 6.5k tuition, I would be in the Republic of Texas thread worshiping Chuck Norris and all things Texan too.

Actually, I really don't like Texas, chuck norris, or Gee-dub. I voted for Kerry 🙂 (and was vilified by much of my family and friends for doing so).

Both my wife and I left almost as soon as med school was over - now we're in PA and loving it.

If you'll note the end of that sentence - 11K is still much cheaper than the out of state schools to which I applied. Which is pretty much the main reason I stayed in Tx.

 

[DocBR]

Actually, I really don't like Texas, chuck norris, or Gee-dub. I voted for Kerry 🙂 (and was vilified by much of my family and friends for doing so).

Both my wife and I left almost as soon as med school was over - now we're in PA and loving it.

If you'll note the end of that sentence - 11K is still much cheaper than the out of state schools to which I applied. Which is pretty much the main reason I stayed in Tx.

I would just keep my mouth shut when it came to issues of Dubbya. Plus, you do not need to be a Texan to vilified for being Anti-GW, my mother still swears that I voted for Kerry because I am trying to venture out and prove my independence. She claims I am secretly at heart and Republican.

Still love Chuck Norris - Walker, Texas Ranger was so terribly done and over the top, how could anyone not love watching it?

 

[DeLaughterDO]

Still love Chuck Norris - Walker, Texas Ranger was so terribly done and over the top, how could anyone not love watching it?

Because I would rather have molten lava poured into my rectum than watch that drivel.

What modern law official uses martial arts for anything? What "villain" wouldn't just shoot that jacka$$ in the face long before he got close enough to connect a roundhouse kick? Suspension of disbelief only takes me so far, and it doesn't even get me close to believing that crap could POSSIBLY be real. I'd sooner believe stargate SG-1 could be based in reality.

If I wanted to watch an awful TV show, I would watch American Idol or any of the other cookie-cutter reality shows that universally suck.

American Idol
Survivor
Reality shows on any network television channel
Walker, Texas Ranger

 

[MossPoh]

So apparently there's this band in the Boston area called "Dropkick Murphys."
And apparently they're very popular.

I heard someone talk about Dropkick Murphy the other day and I embarrassed myself by asking how long they were reading SDN.

How was I to know?

hahahahaha. Yea they are pretty damn good. If you saw The Departed one of their songs played on that a bunch.

 

[YupGypsy]

Because I would rather have molten lava poured into my rectum than watch that drivel.

What modern law official uses martial arts for anything? What "villain" wouldn't just shoot that jacka$$ in the face long before he got close enough to connect a roundhouse kick? Suspension of disbelief only takes me so far, and it doesn't even get me close to believing that crap could POSSIBLY be real. I'd sooner believe stargate SG-1 could be based in reality.

If I wanted to watch an awful TV show, I would watch American Idol or any of the other cookie-cutter reality shows that universally suck.

American Idol
Survivor
Reality shows on any network television channel
Walker, Texas Ranger

texas ranger is way better than the others you listed.
Haven't you seen his "Missing In Action" series?

 

[DocBR]

Because I would rather have molten lava poured into my rectum than watch that drivel.

What modern law official uses martial arts for anything? What "villain" wouldn't just shoot that jacka$$ in the face long before he got close enough to connect a roundhouse kick? Suspension of disbelief only takes me so far, and it doesn't even get me close to believing that crap could POSSIBLY be real. I'd sooner believe stargate SG-1 could be based in reality.

Yeah, but that is what makes it so great! It is so corny and poorly done it is wonderful!

All before lunch he can:

-Bust meth dealers
-Teach inner-city youths martial arts
-Save an at risk teenage mother
-Jump out of a helicopter, landing on a fleeing Columbian Drug lord (on horseback), wrestling him to the ground while receiving a confession confession + the location of the kidnapped daughter of a foreign diplomat.
-Single handedly defeat 15 gunmen armed with assault weapons by hiding behind a barn door and throwing rocks
-Go to Church
-Get in touch with his Native American culture
-Square Dance

All while singing the theme song to his own TV show!

He is like MacGyver, but with bad ass Cowboy style.

I'd like to see Simon Cowel do that!

>>>>>

You will never see Walker fondle his own man-boobs either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX4duCxfG4E

 

[Bemeren]

Research has statistically shown that MD's have a dramatically better chance at gettin' those hot nurses. Research.

 

[WYOdoc3]

As an applicant who has received acceptance to both MD and DO programs, I truly see no difference in skills, recognition, or qualifications. Applicants who continue to perpetuate the stereotype that Osteopathic Medicine is a lesser degree which creates unqualified physicians are the reason everyone continues to have these silly debates. The fact is, both philosophies have their strengths and both programs have drawbacks. No degree in medicine is perfect. Earning either a DO or MD degree ultimately results in one irrefutable outcome, you will be a physician. The line that once separated the two philosophies has blurred and blended together. By picking MD or DO, applicants should make the decision which will best benefit their future goals in medicine. You can't really go wrong by picking either.

 

[NickRiviera]

As an applicant who has received acceptance to both MD and DO programs, I truly see no difference in skills, recognition, or qualifications. Applicants who continue to perpetuate the stereotype that Osteopathic Medicine is a lesser degree which creates unqualified physicians are the reason everyone continues to have these silly debates. The fact is, both philosophies have their strengths and both programs have drawbacks. No degree in medicine is perfect. Earning either a DO or MD degree ultimately results in one irrefutable outcome, you will be a physician. The line that once separated the two philosophies has blurred and blended together. By picking MD or DO, applicants should make the decision which will best benefit their future goals in medicine. You can't really go wrong by picking either.

This might be the first time I've seen someone with only 1 post and it was useful. 🙂 I agree with this. Are you going to try harder if you get into MD vs. DO? Do you think you're going to be a drastically different person or physician in the end? Either way, you'll have the opportunity to practice medicine.

 

[Toohotinvegas33]

As an applicant who has received acceptance to both MD and DO programs, I truly see no difference in skills, recognition, or qualifications. Applicants who continue to perpetuate the stereotype that Osteopathic Medicine is a lesser degree which creates unqualified physicians are the reason everyone continues to have these silly debates. The fact is, both philosophies have their strengths and both programs have drawbacks. No degree in medicine is perfect. Earning either a DO or MD degree ultimately results in one irrefutable outcome, you will be a physician. The line that once separated the two philosophies has blurred and blended together. By picking MD or DO, applicants should make the decision which will best benefit their future goals in medicine. You can't really go wrong by picking either.

Has my vote for the "Wisest First Time Post" award.

 

[Taty]

As an applicant who has received acceptance to both MD and DO programs, I truly see no difference in skills, recognition, or qualifications. Applicants who continue to perpetuate the stereotype that Osteopathic Medicine is a lesser degree which creates unqualified physicians are the reason everyone continues to have these silly debates. The fact is, both philosophies have their strengths and both programs have drawbacks. No degree in medicine is perfect. Earning either a DO or MD degree ultimately results in one irrefutable outcome, you will be a physician. The line that once separated the two philosophies has blurred and blended together. By picking MD or DO, applicants should make the decision which will best benefit their future goals in medicine. You can't really go wrong by picking either.

As applicant who received acceptance to both MD and DO I think that WYOdoc3 just read my mind!!!!!🙂 🙂 🙂

 

[DJmunster]

if you do AOA residencys instead of AMA residency then can one practice fine afterward? Why are AOA residencys thought of badly?

 

[Toohotinvegas33]

if you do AOA residencys instead of AMA residency then can one practice fine afterward? Why are AOA residencys thought of badly?

Who said they were thought of badly? I think I can speak for the rest of the board, in that we are tired of answering you questions. Use the D*** search function. And if you come up with a question that is legitimate and doesn't sound like your trolling, we will be glad to answer it. Have a good day. 🙂

 

[DocBR]

if you do AOA residencys instead of AMA residency then can one practice fine afterward? Why are AOA residencys thought of badly?

They are not thought badly of.

 

[DJmunster]

I was not trying to be a flame-warrior or troller. I had heard many folk say AMA residencys are better. Read it somewhere too. Sorry for any confusions. Makes me happy if AOA residencys are as good since I am future DO at T-COM

 

[DeLaughterDO]

I was not trying to be a flame-warrior or troller. I had heard many folk say AMA residencys are better. Read it somewhere too. Sorry for any confusions. Makes me happy if AOA residencys are as good since I am future DO at T-COM

Usually, AOA accredited residencies are of smaller size, in smaller towns, and at smaller hospitals then their respective ACGME counterparts. There are also relatively fewer of them (although, the ratio of spots to prospective applicants I don't know).

Given that medicine is very much an experiential field, it GENERALLY holds that the more you see and are exposed to, the better off you will be in the end. THIS IS NOT A HARD AND FAST RULE and noone, no matter where they train will see every disease - not even every manifestation of the common diseases - in their time in residency.

That said, many people feel that training in larger centers is superior to training in smaller hospital programs, so many (including myself) choose to eschew AOA accredited programs in favor of their ACGME accredited counterparts. The ACGME programs may or not be better, however they do have the perception of being superior.

This has become the bane of the recent AOA HODs, and they have been pushing harder and harder for Osteopathic graduates to fill their AOA accredited programs, which I would have no problem with, if the programs were affiliated with large tertiary care centers where appropriate numbers of patients could be guaranteed. Frequently, it is said the programs make up for the lack of numbers by taking fewer residents (which in addition to bolstering the gross number of patients/resident, also means more frequent call - unless they've found other ways around this)

I'm sure I will be flamed for this post, but I think everyone can agree the AOA absolutely MUST do something about the state of our postgraduate training opportunities to bring them more in line with their ACGME counterparts. Else, all but the most competitive AOA programs (derm, ortho, ENT, etc) will lose funding and will go away and (as sad as it is) all DOs will be trained by ACGME residencies (much to the chagrin of US allopathic and foreign medical graduates, and our own governing bodies).

I'd like to see, personally, all residencies be dually accredited by the AOA/ACGME; then every Osteopathic graduate has the opportunity to train in large urban centers with abundant pathology and access to great academic resources, the AOA gets to ensure all Osteopathic grads maintain their ties to the AOA, and maybe - just MAYBE - we DOs and MDs can learn a few things from each other and not be so adversarial.

Maybe we could even teach you all to palpate some sacrums...

 

[DJmunster]

Usually, AOA accredited residencies are of smaller size, in smaller towns, and at smaller hospitals then their respective ACGME counterparts. There are also relatively fewer of them (although, the ratio of spots to prospective applicants I don't know).

Given that medicine is very much an experiential field, it GENERALLY holds that the more you see and are exposed to, the better off you will be in the end. THIS IS NOT A HARD AND FAST RULE and noone, no matter where they train will see every disease - not even every manifestation of the common diseases - in their time in residency.

That said, many people feel that training in larger centers is superior to training in smaller hospital programs, so many (including myself) choose to eschew AOA accredited programs in favor of their ACGME accredited counterparts. The ACGME programs may or not be better, however they do have the perception of being superior.

This has become the bane of the recent AOA HODs, and they have been pushing harder and harder for Osteopathic graduates to fill their AOA accredited programs, which I would have no problem with, if the programs were affiliated with large tertiary care centers where appropriate numbers of patients could be guaranteed. Frequently, it is said the programs make up for the lack of numbers by taking fewer residents (which in addition to bolstering the gross number of patients/resident, also means more frequent call - unless they've found other ways around this)

I'm sure I will be flamed for this post, but I think everyone can agree the AOA absolutely MUST do something about the state of our postgraduate training opportunities to bring them more in line with their ACGME counterparts. Else, all but the most competitive AOA programs (derm, ortho, ENT, etc) will lose funding and will go away and (as sad as it is) all DOs will be trained by ACGME residencies (much to the chagrin of US allopathic and foreign medical graduates, and our own governing bodies).

I'd like to see, personally, all residencies be dually accredited by the AOA/ACGME; then every Osteopathic graduate has the opportunity to train in large urban centers with abundant pathology and access to great academic resources, the AOA gets to ensure all Osteopathic grads maintain their ties to the AOA, and maybe - just MAYBE - we DOs and MDs can learn a few things from each other and not be so adversarial.

Maybe we could even teach you all to palpate some sacrums...

thanks for the detailed infomration. If DO does AOA residencys can they work for any hospital or do most hospittal require ACGME residencys done? I.E.I guess my questiion is asking if doing AOA residency stops a DO from practice in some places or does it not matter if residency was AOA or ACGME?

 

[bigdog8829]

I don't even waste my time reading this stuff anymore.
DO is better, MD is better. Whatever.
The stats are obvious, that MD schools have higher mcat/gpa. We know that. Sweet. Congratulations allopathic schools.

I am going to DO school bc i want to be a doctor and think it would be a waste of my time to wait a year and reapply.

 

[MaximusD]

I don't even waste my time reading this stuff anymore.
DO is better, MD is better. Whatever.
The stats are obvious, that MD schools have higher mcat/gpa. We know that. Sweet. Congratulations allopathic schools.

I am going to DO school bc i want to be a doctor and think it would be a waste of my time to wait a year and reapply.

Much appreciated. 👍

And always keep in mind that input does not necessarily equal output, meaning that just bc you have high entrance stats does not mean that you will do well in med school and land a top-notch residency..

 

[DeLaughterDO]

thanks for the detailed infomration. If DO does AOA residencys can they work for any hospital or do most hospittal require ACGME residencys done? I.E.I guess my questiion is asking if doing AOA residency stops a DO from practice in some places or does it not matter if residency was AOA or ACGME?

no. you can land a job most anywhere with DO and AOA residency; given, of course, your own personal credentials.

jd

 

[DocBR]

That said, many people feel that training in larger centers is superior to training in smaller hospital programs, so many (including myself) choose to eschew AOA accredited programs in favor of their ACGME accredited counterparts. The ACGME programs may or not be better, however they do have the perception of being superior.

Do all DO applicants to ACGME need to take the USMLE step 1? I would imagine for some of the extremely coveted spots like plastics, derm, etc you would need to, but what about something like EM, or IM->GI?

 

[J1515]

Can I be a pediatric nephrocardiacphysiooncologist as a DO? I'm still a premed and haven't taken the MCAT yet and haven't shadowed any doctors but I've known I wanted to be a doctor my whole life because it's my calling.

 

[NickRiviera]

Can I be a pediatric nephrocardiacphysiooncologist as a DO? I'm still a premed and haven't taken the MCAT yet and haven't shadowed any doctors but I've known I wanted to be a doctor my whole life because it's my calling.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Can I be a pediatric nephrocardiacphysiooncologist as a DO? I'm still a premed and haven't taken the MCAT yet and haven't shadowed any doctors but I've known I wanted to be a doctor my whole life because it's my calling.

*Best post in this thread* 👍

 

[HarveyCushing]

Here's my problem with that arguement, Hypothetically if I have competitive grades but a weaker MCAT, and I either do an SMP or retake MCAT and do very well, both which requires waiting another year. Am I really a better student then I was before? On paper I might look better, but in reality I would say no, I have jsut tailored my stats for an entrance.

👍 I completely agree with you. I am just an average applicant and was waitlisted last year at two MD schools and ended up not getting in. I could have retaken the MCAT to make myself a "stronger" applicant and did the others things that MD schools wanted me to do inorder to jump through the hoop. But really in the end I was the same applicant and did not want to wait another year. From this application cycle to DO schools, it has shown me that I am a strong applicant and that I have what it takes to become a physician. Maybe it is the MD schools that look at the wrong things when accepting students? Or maybe they overemphasize a few specific requirements?

 

[DJmunster]

👍 I completely agree with you. I am just an average applicant and was waitlisted last year at two MD schools and ended up not getting in. I could have retaken the MCAT to make myself a "stronger" applicant and did the others things that MD schools wanted me to do inorder to jump through the hoop. But really in the end I was the same applicant and did not want to wait another year. From this application cycle to DO schools, it has shown me that I am a strong applicant and that I have what it takes to become a physician. Maybe it is the MD schools that look at the wrong things when accepting students? Or maybe they overemphasize a few specific requirements?

I was deep in dissapointments when rejected from MD school. Of courses its my #1 choice to still be MD but was unabel to wait for another year wait times. My friend gotten into meddical school at MD in one of 3 texas school but he say that MD = DO at all his rotashuns. I think DO is good the more I fiinding aboutit.

 

[aeroquick765]

Does anyone else think that DO is an appealing option because the student body and philosophy are well-rounded? Or, is it just an illusion that MD and DO philosophies and student bodies are different?

 

[toothless rufus]

I chose DO because it has a good beat and I can dance to it.

 

[lateapplicant]

Does anyone else think that DO is an appealing option because the student body and philosophy are well-rounded? Or, is it just an illusion that MD and DO philosophies and student bodies are different?

As far as your second question is concerned:

I would say that today their philosphies/student bodies are as distinct as the difference in their quality of education.

You're going to walk into a medical school (DO or MD) that is growing more similar to the other by the day. As you step out, you're still doing so as the individual who went in. In my opinion, the difference from our outside perspective is highly embellished.

In regards to your first question:

Yes. For me, the possibility that the DO philosophy is noticeably different outweighs my concern that the education will be visibly dissimilar. I believe in my own ability to become a competent physician given enough effort, so I am choosing to put more emphasis on tailoring my patient/treatment approach. From my experiences as a patient, the best physicians didn't simple have all the answers, they worked with me deciding what would be best for my health.

Others may have the complete opposite view. They may think that their patient/treatment approach is going to be good either way, so they may choose to put more emphasis on potential differences in MD school establishment or affiliations. I understand that. I commend that decision for those who feel that way.

It's a question of which difference you want to gamble on. Luckily, if both differences are exaggerated, either is a safe bet.

 

[aeroquick765]

My first question does seem the more interesting.

I am also confident that I will be able to become a competent physician regardless of the school that presents the information. From research I've had in medical areas I feel that it doesn't matter where it is you've received your education but what matters more importantly is if you have what it takes to be able to interpret the information. One simple example may be whether or not one would stereotype the abilities of medical professionals.

I view the patient doctor relationship more as a student teacher relationship where the doctor can inform the patient in the most sober of ways that certain actions taken by the patient result in certain illnesses. It seems to me that learning skills that improve the physicians ability to identify illness should be of greatest importance to a teaching facility. And that a physician's ability to identify what factors in a person's life lead to a certain illness should be one of their highest priorities.

On the other had it is a noble pursuit to research and test some of the most advanced treatments for the most difficult illnesses. Which as far as I know seems to be one of the pillars to the Allopathic philosophy.

I really wonder if the Osteopathic philosophy as conveyed by their teaching institutes truly emphasizes the holistic view intended.

Something that has really interested me in Osteopathic medicine are the stories shared by Eric Dolgin at http://www.osteohome.com/SubPages/HxEric.html