1. New SDN Article! Experience Matters: Clinical Requirements in Dental School
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Download free Tapatalk for iPhone or Tapatalk for Android for your phone and follow the SDN forums with push notifications.
    Dismiss Notice
Article: Requirements Tapatalk
Dismiss Notice
Visit Interview Feedback to view and submit interview information.

Specialties

Discussion in 'Pre-Medical - DO' started by weasel, Nov 21, 1998.

Previous Thread Next Thread
Loading...
  1. weasel

    weasel Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 1998
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    What would be the best DO school if you are interested in specialties? I am aware that osteopathic schools emphasize primary care, which I think is good. I want to be a physician that understands all of the different types of problems with the body before I'd want to specialize. But I'm afraid I wouldn't be taken as seriously because I am interested in specializing in neurology rather than just primary care. OMT in particular is a tool in that interests me. I think the reductionistic allopathic schools are too quick to hand out medicine like candy or slice patients open without investigating all of the options. I would love to have some non-invasive techniques and non-chemical techniques, but I'm not sure I want to be a chiropractor either. I think a DO neurologist would have the best of both worlds. What should I do and would any of the DO schools consider me? I still have a couple of years to think about it, but I'd like any info I can get.
     
    #1 weasel, Nov 21, 1998
    2. Note: SDN Members do not see this ad.

  2. edgar

    edgar Senior Member
    10+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 1998
    Messages:
    237
    Likes Received:
    0
    Weasel,

    If you get an interview, I'd suggest that you emphasize your interest in primary care even though you'd like to be a specialist. Primary care is the bread and butter of the DO profession and you may blackball yourself if you come right out and say you want to specialize. MD schools also are weary of people who say right out that they want to be a specialist. Get in first, then you can do whatever you want.

    EDGAR
     
    #2 edgar, Nov 21, 1998
  3. weasel

    weasel Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 1998
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    I kind of had a feeling that's what I'd have to do. I hate to get into med school by lying or deceiving the admissions committee, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do sometimes.
    I don't think all allopathic schools discourage specialization. The medical school in my state (Indiana University SOM; there's only 1 here in IN) advertises it's students intentions of specialization on their med school web page. From the large amount of reading and studying I've done lately about DO v. MD, as well as personal experiences with my grandfather and allopathic specialists, I think I like the osteopathic approach better and believe that a DO school offers more of the type of training I am interested in. I guess I could "gradually develop an interest" in neurology after I am admitted.

    I've got another question for you. I've read numerous times that it's tougher for osteopaths to get a residency in a specialization. If all goes well with admissions, I plan to enter a DO/PhD program, with the PhD in neuroscience or neurobiology. How much do you think having an advanced degree in neuroscience would help me with getting a residency in neurology?

    Thanks for all your imput.
     
    #3 weasel, Nov 22, 1998
  4. 2003

    2003 Senior Member
    10+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 1998
    Messages:
    111
    Likes Received:
    0
    The advanced degree will help you a great deal. However, neurology is not that competitive of a specialty so unless your dream is being both a researcher and a clinician I would say the advanced degree is unnecessary.
     
    #4 2003, Nov 22, 1998
  5. weasel

    weasel Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 1998
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    I'm definitely interested in both research and neuroscience. I'm majoring in neuroscience now as an undergrad. Before this year, I was planning on pursuing just a PhD. Due to several experiences within the past year, as well as greater exposure of medicine, medical school, and what it entails, I became very interested in the clinical side of science. I just wanted to see if the extra PhD in neuroscience I want to do anyway might give me an extra boost later in life.

    Any idea what DO schools have the best placement in residencies in things like neurology and neurological surgery?
     
    #5 weasel, Nov 22, 1998
  6. edgar

    edgar Senior Member
    10+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 1998
    Messages:
    237
    Likes Received:
    0
    Weasel,

    It appears that PCOM sends quite a few of their graduates into specialities and allopathic residencies. As far as a I know, the "big wig" DOs usually graduate from PCOM (i.e. the Surgeon General if the US Army is a DO grad from PCOM). PCOM differs from most DO schools in that they mainly teach "regular medicine", and I have heard that their OMT training isn't quite as extensive as other osteopathic schools. I chose COMP because people there do well in specialties also and get a very strong background in OMT. CCOM/UHSCOM/MSUCOM/UOMHS also send many people into high-prestige specialties such as neurosurgery. About the PhD, if you plan to be an academic (professor, medical researcher) go for it, but if you want to do clinical medicine (and do clinical research) a D.O. will be fine. Make sure to investigate research by doing some right now in undergrad, most DO/PhD programs require extensive research experience. I am finishing a M.S. in Cancer Biology and though I enjoy research, I don't love it. Don't struggle through 7 years of school and realize you would have been happy with just a medical degree.

    Good luck,

    EDGAR
     
    #6 edgar, Nov 22, 1998
  7. sanford_w/o_son

    sanford_w/o_son locl jnky-gota thred man?
    5+ Year Member

    Joined:
    May 6, 2004
    Messages:
    494
    Likes Received:
    1
    bVmp!

    l3T chA05 Re1gN!
     
    #7 sanford_w/o_son, Apr 11, 2006
  8. OSUdoc08

    OSUdoc08 Membership Revoked
    Removed

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2003
    Messages:
    7,698
    Likes Received:
    6
    Status:
    Medical Student
    You're going to get the same education at any school, however, I would recommend attending a school that is affiliated with the residency/fellowship that you are interested in. The reason for this is because you will be given preference for these program.

    You will be prepared to enter any specialty by attending any school, however.
     
    #8 OSUdoc08, Apr 11, 2006
  9. Taus

    Taus .
    Moderator 10+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2005
    Messages:
    3,841
    Likes Received:
    421
    Status:
    Attending Physician
    I think PCOM may have what you are looking for as far as dual degree programs, research, many specialized residencies of their own and one of the lowest percentage of primary care graduates in the country (DO and MD). I would also like to add that their can be as much OMT as you'd like or just the bare minimum to get by. Lecture is usually 1 hour per week for it and lab is 1.5 hours per week. For those wishing to get more training/practice, there are many out of class opportunties such as tutoring/practice sessions w/ fellows, UAAO club meetings and workshops on several weekends.
     
    #9 Taus, Apr 11, 2006
  10. misparas

    misparas Senior Member
    10+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2005
    Messages:
    571
    Likes Received:
    0
    #10 misparas, Apr 11, 2006
  11. Claymore

    Claymore Yankees Suck
    10+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2000
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    0
    Status:
    Resident [Any Field]
    Neurology is pretty much wide open to DO's, trust me...you can match into neuro from any school.

    Think hard about whether or not a PhD is necessary for your career goals. Neuro is already a very academic field and just having your DO can allow you to get involved with a lot of research. The opportunity cost of getting a PhD and sacrificing a few years' salary as an attending can be substantial.
     
    #11 Claymore, Apr 11, 2006
  12. medhacker

    medhacker We can end world poverty!
    7+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2005
    Messages:
    2,516
    Likes Received:
    4

    It varies per year, it seems like PCOM is the only osteopathic medical school this year in the "top" 20 that graduate the least physicians going into primary care. Last year it was in the first 10 (both MD/DO) to graduate the least going into primary care.
     
    #12 medhacker, Apr 11, 2006
  13. snobored18

    snobored18 Senior Member
    7+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2005
    Messages:
    510
    Likes Received:
    7
    Status:
    Medical Student
    I completely agree you will have no problem doing Neurology from any DO program...however if you are thinking of doing neurosurgery you really may need to reconsider the allopathic route...greater than 90% of those who match into neurosurgery are US allopaths, also if your goal is to do research in an academic setting I think the PhD will be a big help, the DO is a great training to being a physician, but unfortunately in the world of academic medicine and big budget research its more about connections and the name on your diploma, and if thats really what you want to do you will want to look into a program that will help you build the kind of connections necessary...then again you can always just do research as a component of you residency in a solid neuro residency program after you get your degree, which would accomplish the building a network thing.

    But the main reason I responded is that claymore apparently has a westie and westies rock...I'm taking care of a 9 week old one right now...they are hilarous
     
    #13 snobored18, Apr 11, 2006
  14. cyclohexanol

    cyclohexanol No, no. Doggie afuera.
    Physician 10+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2005
    Messages:
    852
    Likes Received:
    6
    Status:
    Attending Physician
    Nothing like a nice [almost] 8 year old thread to stir things up. sanford ftw

    :cool:
     
    #14 cyclohexanol, Apr 11, 2006
  15. beastmaster

    beastmaster Senior Member
    10+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2003
    Messages:
    945
    Likes Received:
    2
    Status:
    Attending Physician
    whoa!
     
    #15 beastmaster, Apr 11, 2006
  16. BMW19

    BMW19 Senior Member
    7+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2002
    Messages:
    794
    Likes Received:
    1
    Status:
    Resident [Any Field]
    This guy is prob finishing up his Neuro residency and everyone is replying to him!! LOL

    B-


     
    #16 BMW19, Apr 12, 2006
Previous Thread Next Thread
Loading...
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page