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.
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
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.
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.
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?
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
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.
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.
Here you go, USNews: Which schools turn out most and least Primary Care. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/webextras/brief/sb_med_primarycare_brief.php
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.
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.
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
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