To change or not to change?

[polo8250]

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With all this name change controversy going on why not take a poll?

 

[Aaron Earles]

Interesting poll. I think we should just leave it the way it is. Just my humble opinion though.

 

[calcrew14]

Only 23 votes after all these talks?

Let me see........
Assuming that this is just another MD vs DO legend and those 9 wierdos would be kicked out....I mean........replaced by some authentic DOs, that would trigger a shortage of approximately 8.18 MD schools in the USA right now.


20 x 10/(10+13) = 8.695652

The shortage for a better than ever DO schools would be 11.81 schools.
20 x 13/(10+13) = 11.304346

Feel free to pitch in your version, anyone?

 

[F/A-18]

Bump

 

[Doctor Peloncito]

Cmon people, this is silly. Our profession has a rich history, and we should maintain that history. If you are tired of explaining to people what a DO is, then you should quit and apply to an allopathic school. Let's quit this ridiculous squabbling and get on with our lives.

 

[hossofadoc]

I 100% agree with the previous post....You knew what you were getting into when you decided to go to an osteopathic school.

A.T. Still wanted his students to be called a D.O. (which actually stood for Diplomats of Osteopathy). Why can't we just stand up and be proud to be a DO?

 

[tkim]

I couldn't give a fig about the letters after my name, but I want to fire the current AOA staff and beef up PR and residencies. That's my concern.

 

[DORoe]

Originally posted by tkim6599
I couldn't give a fig about the letters after my name, but I want to fire the current AOA staff and beef up PR and residencies. That's my concern.

I agree with this. From the information I am getting from this site I am a bit worried about my residency options when that time comes. I think the recognition would come if we had better PR and residencies.

 

[calcrew14]

Originally posted by WannabeDO
If you are tired of explaining to people what a DO is, then you should quit and apply to an allopathic school.

Quite a popular advice

I myself believe that most applicants have already done that. It is possible that a lot of them may not know what they are missing. What if they'd realize that every osteopathic school has the lost treasure that they are willing to die for?

I would prefer to see a lopsided result one way or another. I am glad that this is not something real.

 

[OMMFellow06]

I think that there are just too many people that are in osteopathic schools that seem to be a little miffed about becoming DOs. Why else would you want to change your title? People that want to change their titles aren't happy about becoming DOs so they stir up other people and controversy erupts. We are a separate branch of doctors and thus we have a separate title. Be happy about becoming a DO or just go apply MD and leave the rest of us to be proud of our DO title!

 

[Aaron Earles]

It seems that many of the people that want the name change are hoping that it will bring more recognition to their profession. While I can understand their concern, I feel that changing the name will not help this problem. I have shadowed several DO physicians in the past 4 years, one in particular told me that part of being an Osteopathic physician is "giving back" or "teaching" the community, along with medical students. What he said makes very good sense to me.

I told one of my patients 4 months ago that I had been accepted to medical school. She quickly asked me where did I get accepted. When I told her it was an osteopathic school and explained what the philosophy of DOs was, she looked at me and said my opinion of DOs just got better. I didnt take offense to what she said, I think that she misunderstood what osteopathic medicine is. I guess my point is that if you are a good physician, it does not matter what letters follow your name. If you accomplish great things and treat individuals the best way you know how, they will love you and return for future service.

Just my $0.02

Aaron

 

[calcrew14]

Originally posted by Aaron Earles
It seems that many of the people that want the name change are hoping that it will bring more recognition to their profession.

Aaron

When it comes down to public relation, name could be the most important thing to consider? In case we are going to do it, hope that we are able to give our best shot at it. We had lost quite a head start already forfeiting a valuable "trade mark" aka M.D. What would happen if MDs would have to, for whatever reason it might be, change their degree to Doctor of Allopathic Medicine or AD? I bet that every DO probably knows the answer from the first handed experience that he/she is having now.

As a rookie here, most of the introduction to Osteopathic Medicine that I encounter, always emphasize "Osteopaths do this, allopaths do that..." Even though I don't really understand the explanation that well, I just do what Romans do in Rome by calling you all DOs. But I have always insisted in my posts that you all and MDs surely look alike, just like an identical twin. Is it possible that the statement may have irritated a lot of high-spirited minds here? The only difference that I have noticed is that MDs rarely mention allopathic philosophy of their profession much.

It is true that name is not that important in a legitimate medical practice. Competency and self confidence will be the things that I will rely on. When the time comes for me to be a DO, I may not even bother to try to explain my professional background in medicine at all. If it is irrelevant now, why not let it be then. The way it goes, no DO has ever had any problem with name yet...... until somebody starts to talk about public relation.........So why would I bother....?

I don't intend to campaign for anything here. I admit though that I have a habit of rooting for any underdog team too much. Vote any way you want, please. Too bad that there was no choice for an abstain. It would tell us more.

Best of luck to you all.