this is reaaaaalllllly funny (note sarcasm)

[catwoman]

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🙄

Hey all-
So, just wanted to share something amusing that just happened to me-
So, I was telling a PI (principal investigator-- I work as a tech in a lab) about my happy news that I got into med school, and he asked me which one, and I told him PCOM, and he said, "what do you call the last student in the worst osteopathic school in the country?", and I of course answered, "a doctor," challenging him to say otherwise, and he said, "why yes!" Now, perhaps I am too sensitive, but I just felt like I was verbally slapped, only because I chose to only apply to osteopathic schools-- I believe in the philosophy (no flame wars allowed to start from this comment!!), and I had no desire to go to an allopathic school, and his stupid comment made me a bit mad... That is to say, I do not feel any differently, but I'm wondering how you all deal with peoples' ignorant comments...

Just wanted to share-

catty
PCOM class of '04

 

[kimiwadare]

Q: What do you call a principal investigator who is an idiot?

A: An idiot.

 

[drusso]

You should have asked him what all the basic scientists at Walter Reed Medical Center called the last DO US Army Surgeon General?

A: Boss.

--or--

What did all the neuroscientists at NIH's National Institute of Stroke and Neurologic Diseases call the DO Institute Director in late 70's and early 80's?

A: Same as above...

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

big deal...🙄

 

[Herpeto]

He was commenting you on your accomplishment. He was saying that it doesn't matter if you attend an Osteopathic or Allopathic school, or if you go to the elite or lower tier school. Just the fact that you are going to medical school means you will receive a good education in medicine which shall transform you into a physician. Don't take it the wrong way.


Herp

 

[kaplanm79]

Hey catty,

Your lucky you don?t work in my lab. Like you I?m a research tech and recently got accepted to PCOM. I applied to both allopathic and osteopathic schools and every time I would tell my PI that I had an interview he would ask me if it was allopathic and if I heard from any of the allopathic schools. Although these comments can be annoying sometimes since I?m really excited about being accepted to PCOM there not that bad. The bad comments I get are from another PhD I work with, they?re kind of my supervisor but really have no authority over what projects I do and they can?t fire me, however I?m suppose to let them know every time I need off. So every time I had an interview I had to let them know. They asked me what schools my interviews were at and if I had any interviews at real medical schools (my interviews were all osteopathic). I explained to them that osteopathic medical schools were real medical schools, but they just said, ?oh, I don?t consider them real medical schools?. A few weeks later they asked me again if I had been interviewed at any medical schools yet, I don?t even feel like arguing with them. I just ignore the ignorant comments and remember in 7 months or so I won?t have to work with this person anymore.

 

[MaineDocToBe]

Real Medical schools? What the heck is that about? As a DO you'll have to be board certified, you'll be eligible to practice in any state. I don't get why someone would say something so stupid.

 

[kaplanm79]

most of us at my work refer to this persons personality as abrasive, they have gotten on my nerves since they started at my work this past April. I've learned to build up a tolerance for them.

 

[alexPDX]

If these people would need hospital care, I would send them to a "real hopital" where there are no DO's practicing. I bet they would have a hard time finding one.

 

[catwoman]

hee hee-- as always, you guys are great!


catty-
PCOM class of '08

-hey Kaplanm79-- are you going to attend PCOM? what university do you currently work at? I'm at Northwestern...
Anyway, feel free to pm me, and let me know if you are attending! I'd love to see you next august!

catty

 

[Auricae]

Although I will be attending an allopathic school, I have to say that some of the most amazing physicians I have met have been DO's. My advice is to just ignore what these ignorant people say and remember that you will be doing what you love and helping a lot of people, regardless of whether an MD or a DO is tagged onto your name.

 

[Goofyone]

Catwoman:

Although it sounds like the PI meant no harm, the comment (to me anyway), obviously implies that he thinks DO schools are somehow "lesser" than MD schools. Otherwise, he wouldn't have even said something like that. I mean, COME ON, if you had gotten in to Hopkins or the like, you think he would have said that? Gimme a break.

Don't worry guys. These people sound like they are the ones who have inferiority complexes. Just remember, it's not YOUR problem, it's THEIRS.

You know, the process of becoming a DO (I'm currently a year 2 student) has given me a "TINY" bit of insight on what it's like to be black person living in a white society.

[PLEASE, don't take that the wrong way, because in NO WAY do I mean to downplay the kind of struggle African-Americans have had to go through in the American culture--I know that the 'discrimination' a 'poor DO physician' goes through is laughable by comparison.]

You will constantly be questioned, challenged, and be made to feel that you have to 'prove yourself' before being considered an equal. It's made me become more appreciative and open minded to people who may be different than me--in whatever way. Made me realize that the preconceived notions I have about some people are probably dead wrong.

So my advice to all you guys is that you just have to grow a thick skin, and be tolerant. I feel that most people are simply ignorant on the issue, and that's when the 'discrimination' happens. The best thing we can do is to not get offended and do our part to educate people on who we are and what we do. This is definately a case where, if we're not part of the solution, we're part of the problem.

If you approach it with a positive attitude, you will begin to see that you have actually built some character by going through the whole process.

Those are my thoughts.

Good luck to everybody on trying to get in and/or starting school in August!

 

[gibna]

You should feel more confident about what you are getting yourself into. I have alot of medical school student friends that say that same thing your PI said. DOs and MDs. Its a joke, nothing more nothing less. Its an excuse to become a slacker once you start medical school.
Now an offensive joke will be something like this, what do you call a person who flunks out of medical school? a dentist. which is by the way from a classic sienfeld eposode.
Well that being said, I agree with your PI, there are alot of doctors out there who were in the bottom 10% of their class. "I think its about 10% of all the doctors out there" and we the general public don't know who they are. God help us!

 

[Chronotropic]

Originally posted by kaplanm79
Hey catty,

Your lucky you don?t work in my lab. Like you I?m a research tech and recently got accepted to PCOM. I applied to both allopathic and osteopathic schools and every time I would tell my PI that I had an interview he would ask me if it was allopathic and if I heard from any of the allopathic schools. Although these comments can be annoying sometimes since I?m really excited about being accepted to PCOM there not that bad. The bad comments I get are from another PhD I work with, they?re kind of my supervisor but really have no authority over what projects I do and they can?t fire me, however I?m suppose to let them know every time I need off. So every time I had an interview I had to let them know. They asked me what schools my interviews were at and if I had any interviews at real medical schools (my interviews were all osteopathic). I explained to them that osteopathic medical schools were real medical schools, but they just said, ?oh, I don?t consider them real medical schools?. A few weeks later they asked me again if I had been interviewed at any medical schools yet, I don?t even feel like arguing with them. I just ignore the ignorant comments and remember in 7 months or so I won?t have to work with this person anymore.

🙄 It seems some of them our stuck in their little academic bubble and can't fathom the idea of not using your science background anywhere that doesn't focus mainly on research.

 

[robinhudster]

Actually, I would take his comment as a compliment and I'm kind of surprised that you were offended. He was saying that you will be a doctor regardless if you're an MD or DO and regardless if you're at the top of your class or at the bottom.