So how do you guys explain what osteopathic medicine is?

[Express231]

Lol I am not sure whether this topic was discussed already. I will be attending a DO school this year and cannot wait to start. However, I get many confused looks whenever people ask me what osteopathic medicine is or how my friends say slowly (I mean really slowly) “o-o-steo-pa-th-th- thic school?”. It’s funny I get comments like “oh so you are going to be a bone doctor?” or “do you work with people with osteoporosis or something?” I usually just tell them that we do the same thing as medical doctors but receive extra training in osteopathic manipulating techniques (OMT). Which then leads to the next question “What is OMT?” Lol my girlfriend usually laughs because I have to explain it so many times that I sound like a broken record. So just curious for those of you who are in DO schools how do you explain what osteopathic medicine is to other people who do not know anything about it? I think it’s great that I have a chance to educate people about it but many people seemed more confused after my explanation lol.

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[se20001984]

go with it...say ur a specialist in osteoporosis!

 

[munchymanRX]

Lol I am not sure whether this topic was discussed already. I will be attending a DO school this year and cannot wait to start. However, I get many confused looks whenever people ask me what osteopathic medicine is or how my friends say slowly (I mean really slowly) “o-o-steo-pa-th-th- thic school?”. It’s funny I get comments like “oh so you are going to be a bone doctor?” or “do you work with people with osteoporosis or something?” I usually just tell them that we do the same thing as medical doctors but receive extra training in osteopathic manipulating techniques (OMT). Which then leads to the next question “What is OMT?” Lol my girlfriend usually laughs because I have to explain it so many times that I sound like a broken record. So just curious for those of you who are in DO schools how do you explain what osteopathic medicine is to other people who do not know anything about it? I think it’s great that I have a chance to educate people about it but many people seemed more confused after my explanation lol.

Just say you're going to medical school. Most people don't inquire beyond that. Most of the people asking the questions don't really care what you're doing anyway and are just exchanging pleasantries.

 

[facetguy]

Just tell them it's the same as medical school except you got drunk the night before your MCAT.

 

[costales]

Just say you're going to medical school. Most people don't inquire beyond that. Most of the people asking the questions don't really care what you're doing anyway and are just exchanging pleasantries.

Yep, keep it real simple. Otherwise they'll think you're going to the nursing school that PAs and anesthesiologists go to, you know, the one that teaches radiologists to be certified X-ray technicians.

 

[Charlie Hustle]

If the conversation ever goes past "I'm in medical school" (and it rarely does), I usually tell people that osteopathic medicine is just modern medicine with an additional emphasis on the musculoskeletal system. You might want to go into a deeper explanation if it's someone with a science background asking, but if you're just shooting the breeze with one of grandma's bridge buddies it's probably best to keep things as uncomplicated as possible.

 

[DrMaximus]

This is the good thing about a lot of my family being in the medical profession. However, I actually have a little brochure thing that comes out if too many questions get asked by the family who aren't familiar with it...

 

[dntke1518]

Just tell them it's the same as medical school except you got drunk the night before your MCAT.

I had a few beers... What are you getting at?

 

[cabinbuilder]

I tell people I'm a DO which means I'm a super doctor because I can prescribe meds, do surgery, and fix your back too. That usually answers everything.

 

[toxicwombat]

Just say you're going to medical school. Most people don't inquire beyond that. Most of the people asking the questions don't really care what you're doing anyway and are just exchanging pleasantries.

This.

 

[LSU Alex]

I walk around the hospital with a "D.O." on my coat and badge. No one asks. No one cares. They just want you to fix their diabeetus... and find a way to prevent their smoking habit from increasing their likelihood of CVA, MI, or cancer...

 

[GOMERE]

If they ask further, tell them it's a historical difference from MD to DO similar to the DDS or DDM for dentistry. This is true for 90% of DO who never practice OMM.

 

[BuckRx]

Just tell them it's the same as medical school except you got drunk the night before your MCAT.

This option was not exclusive to D.O.

 

[Dharma]

I walk around the hospital with a "D.O." on my coat and badge. No one asks. No one cares. They just want you to fix their diabeetus... and find a way to prevent their smoking habit from increasing their likelihood of CVA, MI, or cancer...

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hNu1I9r_1A[/YOUTUBE]

 

[musclemilk619]

Pull a Bryce Harper: " thats a clown question bro"

 

[docnotsopc]

I just say "there is two pathways in the US to becoming a doctor. The only difference is the initials you get. One pathway, DO, is just much less common"

 

[Kevin Baker]

If it goes past me simply stating I'm in medical school, I say physicians have two licensing organizations. We compete for the same jobs, have equivalent training, train alongside each other, etc.

Most people don't like to talk about bureaucratic licensing barriers so the conversations almost always ends there.

If they inquire further, or ask about the differences b/w MD and DO, I bring up OMM, the history of MDs/DOs, etc.

 

[netrunner]

I agree with the others--don't drag it out. That just makes you sound defensive. Think DDS vs. DMD or MB ChB or MBBS. It's just a historical thing--means very little these days.

BTW, I hope I don't draw too much flak for saying this, but...the sooner the AOA starts allowing AMA CME credits to be fully counted, the sooner people will stop treating osteopathic physicians as something different. It's so hard for DO's to do their CMEs without dropping a ton of cash or paying the AOA a huge bribe. I saw a private practice DO complain about this on the web and the AOA reply was something like (paraphrase): "If you feel there are not enough AOA Class I offerings out there, then why don't you get off your a__ and contribute by developing a course?" Totally unfair, of course. Why are they so tough?

 

[thepoopologist]

Pharmacy:

Osteopathic Medicine:

Allopathic Medicine:

Dentistry:

 

[sparsel]

Pharmacy:

Osteopathic Medicine:

Allopathic Medicine:

Dentistry:

Is this what it looks like paying back your loans? Haha

 

[SO2B]

Just say you are in the medical school. The MD-program students don't say that they are an allopathic student! Why do you have to say yours!