So, I probably shouldn't apply to DO schools if I don't belive in OMM...

[Lacipart]

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I really want to get into medicine, I mean, I can't imagine any other career really. I did well on my MCAT (a 31) but I wasn't that motivated to do well in classes until junior year (3.38 overall GPA)

I applies to 4 MD schools last year and got denied across the board, only got one interview and that was in March for a waiting list spot. I am applying more broadly this year, and have a year of research under my belt... but I don't know if thats enough for an MD school. To make matters worse my MCAT if from 2007 so this is the last year most schools will accept it (and I doubt I can get a 31 if I take it again)

I was wondering if I should apply to DO schools as a backup, but I really don't believe in OMM, I shadowed two DO's for a little bit and was interested in all the allopathic medicine they got involved in, but whenever they started talking about the OMM aspects and what they did in that regard I really lost interest. I'd would only want to become a DO so I could practice "like an MD" would.

I take it this is frowned upon.

 

[DannMann99]

Don't you dare take a seat from a student who may even be only slightly interested in manipulative medicine.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I really want to get into medicine, I mean, I can't imagine any other career really. I did well on my MCAT (a 31) but I wasn't that motivated to do well in classes until junior year (3.38 overall GPA)

I applies to 4 MD schools last year and got denied across the board, only got one interview and that was in March for a waiting list spot. I am applying more broadly this year, and have a year of research under my belt... but I don't know if thats enough for an MD school. To make matters worse my MCAT if from 2007 so this is the last year most schools will accept it (and I doubt I can get a 31 if I take it again)

I was wondering if I should apply to DO schools as a backup, but I really don't believe in OMM, I shadowed two DO's for a little bit and was interested in all the allopathic medicine they got involved in, but whenever they started talking about the OMM aspects and what they did in that regard I really lost interest. I'd would only want to become a DO so I could practice "like an MD" would.

I take it this is frowned upon.

1. You're 3.3/31 really isn't competitive with MD average at 3.6/31 - be careful with attitude, this can kill you in an interview just as easily as low numbers can pre-secondary/interview

2. Yes, you can absolutely be a DO practicing just like any other MD without believing in OMM a lick. DO schools train fully licensed physicians to practice Western medicine. This is what you want, and a DO school will grant you this opportunity. However, keep in mind that you will have to take OMM courses and it will be on COMLEX.

3. I wouldn't completely dismiss OMM without any real exposure to it. You could end up really liking it, but you don't necessarily have to.

Be careful applying to DO if you really want to be an MD though. If you want to be a physician ... then apply no problem. If you really just want to be an MD ... then you might not be happy as a DO. You can always retake the MCAT if you really need to. Good luck.

 

[FutureInternist]

Go for it......the worst that can happen is that you end up like so many other DO students that sleep walk through OMM, study it a bit for COMLEX & then never have anything to do with it again.

 

[slick27]

Don't you dare take a seat from a student who may even be only slightly interested in manipulative medicine.

This is funny. We would have to strip most current DO's of their degree if this were true. Since you're gpa is low, and you don't want to retake the mcat apply to DO school this current year.

 

[AdemTD]

I applies to 4 MD schools last year and got denied across the board, only got one interview and that was in March for a waiting list spot.

What is your state of residence and to which schools did you apply?

 

[TexasTriathlete]

I really want to get into medicine, I mean, I can't imagine any other career really. I did well on my MCAT (a 31) but I wasn't that motivated to do well in classes until junior year (3.38 overall GPA)

I applies to 4 MD schools last year and got denied across the board, only got one interview and that was in March for a waiting list spot. I am applying more broadly this year, and have a year of research under my belt... but I don't know if thats enough for an MD school. To make matters worse my MCAT if from 2007 so this is the last year most schools will accept it (and I doubt I can get a 31 if I take it again)

I was wondering if I should apply to DO schools as a backup, but I really don't believe in OMM, I shadowed two DO's for a little bit and was interested in all the allopathic medicine they got involved in, but whenever they started talking about the OMM aspects and what they did in that regard I really lost interest. I'd would only want to become a DO so I could practice "like an MD" would.

I take it this is frowned upon.

You don't believe in OMM? Like you don't think it actually exists? Or you don't think it actually works?

If it is one of those two, are you sure you know what you're talking about? I mean really know?

Or does it just not interest you? Personally, I get a hell of a lot more out of our OMM classes than just the techniques, which I suck badly at.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

I really want to get into medicine, I mean, I can't imagine any other career really. I did well on my MCAT (a 31) but I wasn't that motivated to do well in classes until junior year (3.38 overall GPA)

I applies to 4 MD schools last year and got denied across the board, only got one interview and that was in March for a waiting list spot. I am applying more broadly this year, and have a year of research under my belt... but I don't know if thats enough for an MD school. To make matters worse my MCAT if from 2007 so this is the last year most schools will accept it (and I doubt I can get a 31 if I take it again)

I was wondering if I should apply to DO schools as a backup, but I really don't believe in OMM, I shadowed two DO's for a little bit and was interested in all the allopathic medicine they got involved in, but whenever they started talking about the OMM aspects and what they did in that regard I really lost interest. I'd would only want to become a DO so I could practice "like an MD" would.

I take it this is frowned upon.

It's ok, I think most DO grads will just follow the allopathic, western way of medicine anyway. When you graduate, you can choose what you want to practice and how.

 

[NontradICUdoc]

Just FYI, DO schools have their "I will apply to DO as a backup" detector very finely tuned.

Other than that, you are an adult make your own decision.

 

[Lacipart]

What is your state of residence and to which schools did you apply?

Wisconsin. Applied to the 2 school in state, then Drexel and Iowa.

As for the question on what do I mean by not believing in DO, without trying to offend people here, I think its kind of hogwosh. I get the same feeling when a chiropractor tells me they can cure lung cancer by fixing my spine, or when a shaman in South America claims he can cure AIDS by smearing a berry across your forehead. I grew with, and believe in, the hard sciences. Biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and scientific (western) medicine. That's what I'm interested in

 

[Tuckermans]

I really want to get into medicine, I mean, I can't imagine any other career really. I did well on my MCAT (a 31) but I wasn't that motivated to do well in classes until junior year (3.38 overall GPA)

I applies to 4 MD schools last year and got denied across the board, only got one interview and that was in March for a waiting list spot. I am applying more broadly this year, and have a year of research under my belt... but I don't know if thats enough for an MD school. To make matters worse my MCAT if from 2007 so this is the last year most schools will accept it (and I doubt I can get a 31 if I take it again)

I was wondering if I should apply to DO schools as a backup, but I really don't believe in OMM, I shadowed two DO's for a little bit and was interested in all the allopathic medicine they got involved in, but whenever they started talking about the OMM aspects and what they did in that regard I really lost interest. I'd would only want to become a DO so I could practice "like an MD" would.

I take it this is frowned upon.

Im not entirely sure how I feel about OMM either and I will be going to a DO school. Look on it as an opportunity to learn something that you did not know before. If you decide it is total BS after having taken the class, then so be it (and from other posts in these forums you will not be alone) but at least at that point you will have made an informed decision. Apply to the DO school and if you go then allow yourself to keep your ears open in OMM, you never know what you might find really interesting. 🙂

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Wisconsin. Applied to the 2 school in state, then Drexel and Iowa.

As for the question on what do I mean by not believing in DO, without trying to offend people here, I think its kind of hogwosh. I get the same feeling when a chiropractor tells me they can cure lung cancer by fixing my spine, or when a shaman in South America claims he can cure AIDS by smearing a berry across your forehead. I grew with, and believe in, the hard sciences. Biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and scientific (western) medicine. That's what I'm interested in

So you should have just said that you don't know what you're talking about.

Nobody is claiming that OMM can cure any serious diseases, but it is hardly hogwash. A lot of it is stuff that I've seen before, in athletic training and strength & conditioning, except with a somewhat different aim. There are questions about the efficacy of certain techniques, but as a whole, I think OMM has a useful place in medicine.

I will freely admit that I don't feel that comfortable with it, and that I probably won't use it much if I go into emergency medicine, but I am getting a lot out of the class that I can apply to anything. We learn about a lot of musculoskeletal disease and trauma, and we get a lot of extra instruction in imaging, and things along those lines.

 

[PunkmedGirl]

Wisconsin. Applied to the 2 school in state, then Drexel and Iowa.

As for the question on what do I mean by not believing in DO, without trying to offend people here, I think its kind of hogwosh. I get the same feeling when a chiropractor tells me they can cure lung cancer by fixing my spine, or when a shaman in South America claims he can cure AIDS by smearing a berry across your forehead. I grew with, and believe in, the hard sciences. Biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and scientific (western) medicine. That's what I'm interested in

WOW I didn't know that OMM was VOODOO magic!!😱 As TT has stated, you OBVIOUSLY don't know what your talking about. Personally, if you think that's something you are not into then don't apply, because I would hate for you to get to a DO school and feel uncomfortable in your element. If your applying this cycle then you definitely need to apply to more than a handful of schools if you want to get an acceptance somewhere.

 

[Krisss17]

Wisconsin. Applied to the 2 school in state, then Drexel and Iowa.

As for the question on what do I mean by not believing in DO, without trying to offend people here, I think its kind of hogwosh. I get the same feeling when a chiropractor tells me they can cure lung cancer by fixing my spine, or when a shaman in South America claims he can cure AIDS by smearing a berry across your forehead. I grew with, and believe in, the hard sciences. Biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and scientific (western) medicine. That's what I'm interested in

Wow! I really implore you not to apply to osteopathic schools. It's okay if it is not your thing, but to have such an attitude towards a big component of osteopathic education, almost seems toxic. I would implore you to rather up your MCAT and perhaps go to a allopathic SMP to get into a MD program, leave the DO spot to someone more open-minded about a different technique.

 

[PunkmedGirl]

Wow! I really implore you not to apply to osteopathic schools. It's okay if it is not your thing, but to have such an attitude towards a big component of osteopathic education, almost seems toxic. I would implore you to rather up your MCAT and perhaps go to a allopathic SMP to get into a MD program, leave the DO spot to someone more open-minded about a different technique.

👍👍

 

[swamprat]

Wow! I really implore you not to apply to osteopathic schools. It's okay if it is not your thing, but to have such an attitude towards a big component of osteopathic education, almost seems toxic. I would implore you to rather up your MCAT and perhaps go to a allopathic SMP to get into a MD program, leave the DO spot to someone more open-minded about a different technique.

nicely said

 

[NontradICUdoc]

Don't apply to DO. Stick with MD. The adcoms will see right through you and will know you are not serious about being a DO. Save your money.

 

[antapolar]

Wow! I really implore you not to apply to osteopathic schools. It's okay if it is not your thing, but to have such an attitude towards a big component of osteopathic education, almost seems toxic. I would implore you to rather up your MCAT and perhaps go to a allopathic SMP to get into a MD program, leave the DO spot to someone more open-minded about a different technique.

I completely agree, this statement is not being mean, but being realistic. If you truly has that much against OMM then don't go for it. Why suffer through your med education anyway.

Your mcat score and gpa is a perfect applicants for any SMP programs MDs. Go for that, (although most deadline are past this year), but the fact that you hadn't found out or mentioned about that also says somethign about your understanding of MDs application. Don't be scare to re-take MCAT, like you said, if this is the only career for you, then you'll just have to suck it up and do anything to help yourself get in.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

I wouldn't be too hard on this guy. He just doesn't know what he's talking about. There are some people at my school who didn't really want to go to a DO school and weren't interested in OMM, but have started to warm to it. Along with people like me, who were really excited about it at first, and have become increasingly frustrated by how much we suck at it.

This guy just needs to stop making ignorant statements that make him sound like a *****. Saying that you "don't believe in OMM" is like the people who won't vaccinate their kids.

Also, if you do primary care and/or sports med, it is another thing you can bill for on a regular basis. So there's that.

 

[Rollo]

Yeah, I think this guy is just not informed enough about OMM & the DO profession.

We're supposed to educate people like him about the profession, not kick him to the curb. 🙄

Anyway, Lacipart, I suggest you do a little research on OMM/DO.

This is a good place to start:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteopathic_manipulative_medicine

If you want to truly find out if OMM is hogwash, then go here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
And type in "osteopathic manipulative medicine" in the search bar.

You don't have to be a groupie of OMM to get accepted to DO school. You just have to recognize OMM for what it is: another tool in your bag of tricks as a physician in United States. And as far as licensure requirements and compensation goes, there are no restrictions on DO.

I think you are misinformed about OMM and the profession. Hence why lot of people here are taking offense to your post. You probably don't mean to offend anyone.

Anyway, spend some time researching OMM/the profession. Then realize that since OMM is a tool, you will have a choice whether or not to use it once you start practicing medicine.

Nowadays, you can't even tell if your doctor is an MD or a DO without looking at the letters after his name.

Good luck, anyway! 👍

 

[Freezer]

i was initially put off by OMM when i first began reading up on it... when i heard that DOs had much higher success at treating spanish flu during the early 1900s compared to MDs... i chocked it up to a time when the DO profession was on the political chopping block and if they had reported anything less than perfection, they would have been toast... i started dismissing everything positive i heard about OMM... i dismissed the idea that inflammations of specific ligaments during labor could potentialy be a cause of postpartum... their argument seemed speculative and flawed to me... but then i started reading the peer reviewed journals... some even in the NJM and JAMA... i saw the physiological benefits to OMM... the improved lymphatic functions... the improved cardiovascular functions... both of which can improve immune response and potentially decrease the risk of stroke or heart disease(with continued omm therapy)... further, these articles had great stats and fantastic research practices to back it up...

i guess what i am saying is that... you take what you want from it... even as an MD you will be shown a new drug to replace an old one... and you might still use the old one because you dont trust the new one... or vice versa... OMM is no different... you take from it what you feel works for you and your patients... hell, i still see MDs today recommending Chondroitin Sulfate tablets for rheumatoid arthritis when a majority of the statistical evidence suggests it has no benefit... but with that said, you still see people swearing by the stuff... i see DOs treating migraines by treating pulled muscles in the neck... why? because it works for the patient... and at the end of the day, what kind of doctor do you want to be... one that continues to find safer and effective therapies for patients.. or one that strives to find therapies that are within guidelines from some arbitrary social doctrine...(sure you may say, scientific fact is not arbitrary... well, true "laws" do not exist in medicine and OMM does have a lot of modern and respected research to support it...)

the major selling point that grabbed my interest in DO was in the arena of pharmaceuticals... many DOs have been pioneering minimal effective dosages for pharmaceuticals... in a market in which pharmaceutical companies have to treat doctors as glorified salesman, it is comforting to see physicians studying pharmaceuticals independantly of the drug companies who manufacture them and independantly of the poorly funded FDA, and find safest uses for these drugs... because in the end it is and should always be about the patient... MD or DO, i doubt any of us could ever dismiss any new treatment if it has been shown to be safe and effective... just my 2 cents...

 

[JaggerPlate]

Wisconsin. Applied to the 2 school in state, then Drexel and Iowa.

As for the question on what do I mean by not believing in DO, without trying to offend people here, I think its kind of hogwosh. I get the same feeling when a chiropractor tells me they can cure lung cancer by fixing my spine, or when a shaman in South America claims he can cure AIDS by smearing a berry across your forehead. I grew with, and believe in, the hard sciences. Biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and scientific (western) medicine. That's what I'm interested in

Don't apply ... this attitude isn't going to fool anybody interviewing you. Like Tex said ... you don't sound like you understand it, nor seem to want to figure out via research, so don't bother.

 

[mkhuc]

It's ok, I think most DO grads will just follow the allopathic, western way of medicine anyway. When you graduate, you can choose what you want to practice and how.

Western way? Last time I checked, Osteopathy was developed in the west also. There has been other references and inferences of allopathic medicine = western medicine, and osteopathic medicine = eastern medicine.

If you want eastern medicine, think acupuncture.

To OP:
You can try, but like other people said, be careful on your interview. You better have some good B.S. skills.

 

[slick27]

I had this same attitude at first. Then, I spent time shadowing some DO's and realized that its just another path to get to the same ending. You're asking yourself the wrong question. Do you want to be a doctor? yes or no?

 

[facetguy]

Why do we continue this charade that many DO applicants are truly interested in osteopathic principles, particularly OMM? The OP is no different, even given the goofy "I don't believe in OMM" line. He/she will bullsh*t his/her way through the application process, surely at some point using the phrase "treat the whole person", will mock the OMM classes, and upon entering practice eventually will never think about OMM again. I doubt osteopathic adcoms can sniff someone like this out, unless he/she is a major idiot. It's my personal feeling that the OP would be much happier going MD, but DO will do just fine.

 

[binko]

You might find you like OMM once you get to know more about it. I'm still pretty skeptical about most cranial but OMM as both a treatment and diagnostic technique has directly affected my health and my husband's health. It definitely needs more research, maybe your skeptical attitude would be useful for designing studies of it if you do become a DO.

 

[Playmakur42]

I really want to get into medicine, I mean, I can't imagine any other career really. I was wondering if I should apply to DO schools as a backup, but I really don't believe in OMM.

Hi Lacipart,
I'll give you a slightly different perspective than what you've been getting on this thread. I was in a similiar boat as you with a strong mcat, relatively low gpa, and not really "sold" on OMM. Location was also a factor for me. I decided only to apply to DO schools b/c my stats were competitive and shoot to get into what I felt was a top notch DO school.

I'm almost done with 1st year, and I've found some OMM to be of use in certain situations, some OMM to be similiar to stretching techniques I'd learned through sports participation, and some OMM to be of limited utility. I haven't tried to learn the science involved in HVLA (back cracking), b/c it works & that's enough for me. It makes my back feel good, and it will make patients feel good. If it's a totally subjective treatment, so be it. No harm done. If there's an objecive reason it works, great.

Even if you do not plan to use OMM in practice, which I don't, OMM class still offers some academic benefits. It's a great constant review of anatomy & dermatomes, provides in-depth info on vertebral structures, lectures on scoliosis, etc.

I do recommend keeping an open mind, and not bad mouthing OMM as some students who attend DO schools specifically to learn OMM might take offense. Just keep an open mind, look at OMM objectively, and decide for yourself what techniques, if any, you can see being beneficial for a patient.

Good Luck.

 

[rugger14]

Wisconsin. Applied to the 2 school in state, then Drexel and Iowa.

As for the question on what do I mean by not believing in DO, without trying to offend people here, I think its kind of hogwosh. I get the same feeling when a chiropractor tells me they can cure lung cancer by fixing my spine, or when a shaman in South America claims he can cure AIDS by smearing a berry across your forehead. I grew with, and believe in, the hard sciences. Biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and scientific (western) medicine. That's what I'm interested in

ugh to that

and I completely agree with PLaymakur. I don't know what you know and don't know about D.O's, but OMM can be helpful in many situations, but also there are many D.O.'s who haven't used OMM at all b/c it isn't very common in their specialty (ex/ have shadowed a D.O. who does heart caths all day with obviously no OMM involved) it's there if you want it. Have you really had a chiropractor tell you they can cure lung cancer or are you implying that the chiropractors in general are practicing something entirely absurd? Having shadowed a shaman in South America I can tell you that a lot of their stuff actually works. Surprise surprise they actually know something about the chemicals (hard science *cough cough)in plants

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Yeah, I think this guy is just not informed enough about OMM & the DO profession.

We're supposed to educate people like him about the profession, not kick him to the curb. 🙄

Anyway, Lacipart, I suggest you do a little research on OMM/DO.

This is a good place to start:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteopathic_manipulative_medicine

If you want to truly find out if OMM is hogwash, then go here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
And type in "osteopathic manipulative medicine" in the search bar.

You don't have to be a groupie of OMM to get accepted to DO school. You just have to recognize OMM for what it is: another tool in your bag of tricks as a physician in United States. And as far as licensure requirements and compensation goes, there are no restrictions on DO.

I think you are misinformed about OMM and the profession. Hence why lot of people here are taking offense to your post. You probably don't mean to offend anyone.

Anyway, spend some time researching OMM/the profession. Then realize that since OMM is a tool, you will have a choice whether or not to use it once you start practicing medicine.

Nowadays, you can't even tell if your doctor is an MD or a DO without looking at the letters after his name.

Good luck, anyway! 👍

This. 👍👍👍👍

 

[redcar1]

Did you know that the famous cancer fighting drug "taxol" was found because of these so-called "voodoo" men? Many other prospective drugs are currently being tested that come out of the rain forest from these voodoo men so obviously youre lost there... As for OMM, I would look at this more as a procedure that may have some merit phsyically, but more so if you can help a patient mentally, meaning that if they "feel" better then that could relieve stress and cause less health problems (many types of this medicine already in use in hospitals). Personally, I just think you're scared to take your shirt off

Funny thing is I"m starting med school this year and this is my first post after looking at sdn for 3 years

 

[facetguy]

... I haven't tried to learn the science involved in HVLA (back cracking),

Are you saying that you don't HAVE to learn the related science? That's a bit shocking. So you only learn the hands-on technique aspects to HVLA and other techniques?

...b/c it works & that's enough for me. It makes my back feel good, and it will make patients feel good.

Imagine the flack a chiropractor would take if s/he said that!

 

[redcar1]

So help me out here facetguy, if my back is hurting and i go to a chiropractor and my back no longer hurts, hence it "feels" better, and a chiropractor were to advertise that you think they would catch flack?

I'm not saying i believe in chiropractic medicine personally i could care less, but if i were a chiropractor i would actually put on my advertisement "It makes my back feel good, and it will make patients feel good." I may even add "I'm not only the president, but i'm also a client". ya catch my drift.

hoorah

 

[TexasTriathlete]

pre-meds should not be allowed to have beliefs about anything related to medicine

 

[JaggerPlate]

pre-meds should not be allowed to have beliefs about anything related to medicine

I believe in TexasTriathlete ...

 

[facetguy]

So help me out here facetguy, if my back is hurting and i go to a chiropractor and my back no longer hurts, hence it "feels" better, and a chiropractor were to advertise that you think they would catch flack?

I'm not saying i believe in chiropractic medicine personally i could care less, but if i were a chiropractor i would actually put on my advertisement "It makes my back feel good, and it will make patients feel good." I may even add "I'm not only the president, but i'm also a client". ya catch my drift.

hoorah

We're not talking about advertising to patients. Patients just want to know they feel better, so yes I agree with you there. What surprised me was that an osteopathic student wouldn't be required to learn WHY (i.e., the science) the treatment rendered makes your back feel better. I doubt that is true across the board.

 

[Playmakur42]

Are you saying that you don't HAVE to learn the related science? That's a bit shocking. So you only learn the hands-on technique aspects to HVLA and other techniques? Imagine the flack a chiropractor would take if s/he said that!

Your inferences from my response are all incorrect. In time, your "shock" will dissipate and your panties will unbunch.

I never said we weren't required to learn the science involved with OMM. I said I haven't yet learned it.
As you're busy cluttering the thread with just how "shocked" you are and invoking comparisons to chiropractors, have you considered that:
1. I may have chosen not to learn it, and dealt with the repercussions or
2. We may have not been required to learn the material yet


If this topic is of great interest to you, I recommend this book when you recover from your "shock":
http://www.amazon.com/Foundations-Osteopathic-Medicine-Robert-Ward/dp/0683087924

 

[facetguy]

Your inferences from my response are all incorrect. In time, your "shock" will dissipate and your panties will unbunch.

I never said we weren't required to learn the science involved with OMM. I said I haven't yet learned it.
As you're busy cluttering the thread with just how "shocked" you are and invoking comparisons to chiropractors, have you considered that:
1. I may have chosen not to learn it, and dealt with the repercussions or
2. We may have not been required to learn the material yet


If this topic is of great interest to you, I recommend this book when you recover from your "shock":
http://www.amazon.com/Foundations-Osteopathic-Medicine-Robert-Ward/dp/0683087924

My friend, you are too tense.

Given your explanation #2 above, I am now aware that perhaps you simply haven't learned that material yet. I'm sure you are looking forward to that material, as you should be. If explanation #1 is the case, I hope the repercussions have not been overly severe.

A single sentence about chiropractors isn't exactly "cluttering this thread". The double standard was obvious, so I stated it succinctly. Thank you for reading along, and thanks for the Amazon link.

P.S. My panties are feeling better already.

 

[hermit]

Just FYI, DO schools have their "I will apply to DO as a backup" detector very finely tuned.

I beat the detector. And it wasn't hard.

 

[Krisss17]

Hi Lacipart,
I'll give you a slightly different perspective than what you've been getting on this thread. I was in a similiar boat as you with a strong mcat, relatively low gpa, and not really "sold" on OMM. Location was also a factor for me. I decided only to apply to DO schools b/c my stats were competitive and shoot to get into what I felt was a top notch DO school.

I'm almost done with 1st year, and I've found some OMM to be of use in certain situations, some OMM to be similiar to stretching techniques I'd learned through sports participation, and some OMM to be of limited utility. I haven't tried to learn the science involved in HVLA (back cracking), b/c it works & that's enough for me. It makes my back feel good, and it will make patients feel good. If it's a totally subjective treatment, so be it. No harm done. If there's an objecive reason it works, great.

Even if you do not plan to use OMM in practice, which I don't, OMM class still offers some academic benefits. It's a great constant review of anatomy & dermatomes, provides in-depth info on vertebral structures, lectures on scoliosis, etc.

The osteopathic profession could always use a quality person who will be a quality physician, whether they use OMM or not.

I do recommend keeping an open mind, and not bad mouthing OMM as some students who attend DO schools specifically to learn OMM might take offense. Just keep an open mind, look at OMM objectively, and decide for yourself what techniques, if any, you can see being beneficial for a patient.

Good Luck.

Well said Playmakur 👍

 

[spicedmanna]

Are you saying that you don't HAVE to learn the related science? That's a bit shocking. So you only learn the hands-on technique aspects to HVLA and other techniques?

It's taught together and frequently integrated along with other aspects of medicine. You can't successfully learn one without the other. It's possible, but usually, results in failing or performing poorly in OMM lab/class. During practicals we are asked to diagnose (or explain the process) and treat a patient, demonstrating it to a physician-proctor, and we are also frequently asked to explain the theory (or aspects thereof) behind the process during that time. Also, a component of the practical involves a written exam with questions on technique and the theory behind it. Furthermore, our classroom exams and boards assess knowledge of osteopathic diagnosis, treatment, and theory.

During the end of our preclinical years (at least at my school), we have a cumulative OMT practical, which involves assessment on a complete focused osteopathic exam and corresponding indicated treatment. Accuracy of exam and effectiveness of the treatment is also assessed. During the cumulative exam, theory is also tested, as one would expect. If you don't understand what you are doing, then it would be difficult to pass.

If a student chooses not to learn at least the basic fundamental theories behind the techniques, they are going to be in a world of hurt. You may not like what you are learning or desire to use it in practice, but you do have to be at least proficient to move on.

 

[spicedmanna]

As for the question on what do I mean by not believing in DO, without trying to offend people here, I think its kind of hogwosh. I get the same feeling when a chiropractor tells me they can cure lung cancer by fixing my spine, or when a shaman in South America claims he can cure AIDS by smearing a berry across your forehead. I grew with, and believe in, the hard sciences. Biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and scientific (western) medicine. That's what I'm interested in

Your understanding of osteopathic medicine and medicine in general is clearly lacking, and it's not your fault, as you are simply regurgitating the common misconceptions that surround OMT and manipulative therapy in general. No licensed clinician in their right mind would claim that OMT, or manipulative treatment in general, cures lung cancer or any similar example. I think if you poll most osteopathic physicians, they will tell you that OMT, which is actually considered a part of mainstream Western medicine, is simply another modality in which they can use to address a particular condition, or set of conditions. It is not necessarily curative, but is often considered a good and effective adjuvant treatment for a given clinical presentation. It is used adjunctively as part of a complete overall treatment plan.

For example, let's say that a patient with a 70-pack-year history is admitted to the hospital for exacerbation of his COPD. No clinician is going to suggest OMT as a curative measure (or anything else for that matter). Actually, there is no curative measure anyway, for COPD. It's a progressive condition and the only thing you can do is to slow the progression and make the patient feel better. OMT, such as rib-raising, can be used to make the patient feel better and address some of his complaints, but it's certainly not curative and nobody thinks so. Another area that OMT has been shown to be effective is in the treatment of post-surgical ileus. There are, of course, areas where OMT can be used to directly address a complaint and be the definitive treatment, but it follows logically and often related to neuromusculoskeletal complaints. 🙄

My suggestion is that you shadow a physician who uses OMT regularly, so that you can see firsthand how it's used before rushing to make judgments about it. Decide for yourself if it is something that you are at least curious about and willing to learn. If you are still resistant to the idea, then it is still possible for you to attend an osteopathic medical school and even do well, but you will have to put up with learning OMT for two years or more years, and be ready to be assessed on it throughout your training. As long as you are okay with that, I don't think anyone is going to stop you, unless you are blatantly anti-OMT, especially during your interviews.

 

[Cp22kjer]

Are you saying that you don't HAVE to learn the related science? That's a bit shocking.

Blah thats incorrect.

 

[spicedmanna]

As an addendum to my prior post, Lacipart, in case it wasn't abundantly clear, Osteopathic medical schools teach all the same basic science classes that is considered the standard medical school curriculum in the US. The major difference you will see when comparing allopathic and osteopathic medical schools is the addition of OMM/OMT lab and didactic training in the latter. Other than that, I am hard-pressed to note a difference in training. Both traditions, allopathic and osteopathic, produce fully-qualified physicians that practice to the same standard of patient care, meaning, in direct reference to your post, that neither type of clinician is trained to think that tree berries smeared on the forehead combined with dances by the fire in the honor of the storm diety is going to be curative for lung cancer. 🙄

 

[married n broke]

I was a recepient of OMM as a 17yr old HS football player. My fam doc was a DO, but never even mentioned it my entire life. When I had a football injury on my back, this is how he handled it:

X-ray - L5 3/8"-1/2" posterior dislodgement.
MRI - verified x-ray
Bone Scan - verifried previous reports, no fractures
consult with Neuro/Ortho surgeons - PT for 6 months, surgery too risky, neuro/ortho surgeons predict a life of partial disability.

At this point, My doctor had enough information and hx. He performed OMM and I kid you all not, he fixed my back. No chiropractor would have even touched me with a ten foot pole, the allopathic specialist neuro and ortho surgeons each condemned me to a life of suffering. It was a fam. practice DO who gave me my life back with OMM. I have the X-rays, & MRI reports to prove it. I was able to serve 6 years in the US Navy on submarines. Now, all I live with is a slight generalized bulging disk which is pretty common for many ppl with or without a hx of injury.

My rec. to anyone looking for a legitimate OMM story, look into it further and realize that with all medical techniques and procedures, there are examples of ineffectiveness, and effectiveness. Don't close yourself off to something bc of one narrow perspective. I wont do it here, but allopathic medicine can be criticised just as easily as osteopathic. I choose to be a fan (and believer) in the true and good aspects of both.

 

[facetguy]

It's taught together and frequently integrated along with other aspects of medicine. You can't successfully learn one without the other. It's possible, but usually, results in failing or performing poorly in OMM lab/class. During practicals we are asked to diagnose (or explain the process) and treat a patient, demonstrating it to a physician-proctor, and we are also frequently asked to explain the theory (or aspects thereof) behind the process during that time. Also, a component of the practical involves a written exam with questions on technique and the theory behind it. Furthermore, our classroom exams and boards assess knowledge of osteopathic diagnosis, treatment, and theory.

During the end of our preclinical years (at least at my school), we have a cumulative OMT practical, which involves assessment on a complete focused osteopathic exam and corresponding indicated treatment. Accuracy of exam and effectiveness of the treatment is also assessed. During the cumulative exam, theory is also tested, as one would expect. If you don't understand what you are doing, then it would be difficult to pass.

If a student chooses not to learn at least the basic fundamental theories behind the techniques, they are going to be in a world of hurt. You may not like what you are learning or desire to use it in practice, but you do have to be at least proficient to move on.

What you describe is what I would expect is the norm. It just threw me when playmakur described his experience as something different.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I beat the detector. And it wasn't hard.

Lolzz u da man dawggg!! I hopez I cun be as kewl as you sum day.

 

[Pigg-O-Stat]

If I were in your shoes, I would use Caribbean MD schools as a backup. Otherwise you will be spending many hours in OMM lectures, labs and practical exams; time you could spend studying something that truly interests you. Good luck!

 

[Doctor Bob]

If I were in your shoes, I would use Caribbean MD schools as a backup. Otherwise you will be spending many hours in OMM lectures, labs and practical exams; time you could spend studying something that truly interests you. Good luck!

Many hours?

I guess some people spent a lot of time studying it, but I certainly didn't. For me at least, most of the material is intuitive if you understand the anatomy and doesn't require a lot of in-depth review. And what time I did put into it was spent mainly on reinforcing the anatomy and physiology of the musculoskeletal and autonomic nervous sytems which was useful in other ways.

I went to medical school believing that most OMT was horse poop. I finished medical school with much the same opinion. But along the way I did find a few handy techniques that have limited application but are very useful when indicated. And that's what most of medical education is about anyways; learning what to use and when and why.

Believing OMT isn't legit is very different from believing that it's not useful everywhere. There are a handful of DOs that will tell you it can cure everything from muscle aches to brain tumors but that's the fringe (just as you'll find MDs who will tell you they have magic pills for everything).

The majority of the profession understands that OMT (like any other therapeutic modality in medicine be it pharmaceutical, radiologic, surgical, or otherwise) has it's limitations and it's indications. I say learn it. In medicine the more you know the better. At worst, you learn it and never use it again. At best, it becomes just another tool in your treatment arsenal.