way to go D.O's

[FutureM.D.]

I'd just like to say way to go D.O's. We have a bunch of ignorant CHILDREN in the pre allopathic forum, who are just plain IGNORANT about osteopathy. I don't know what their problem is. Anyways, I'm just curious. To all the Med students out htere: what made you choose osteopathy? Why not allopathic? I'm a pre-med student and I'm just exploring all my options. I'm looking at allopathic and osteopathic medicine and any comments would be appreciated

 

[FutureM.D.]

Oh and are there any osteopathic students here that I could pm to ask some specific questions about med school? And yet another question, anyone here from Nova ?

 

[DrQuinn]

You can go ahead and PM me. Or we could have a conversation on this forums. Whatever.
Q

 

[FutureM.D.]

Your probably right moly. So when all you guys become certified D.O's, advertise! Tell the world what a D.O does!! Ya'll could be practicing overseas someday if you push hard enough! Go for it!!

 

[Slingblade the Surgeon]

We do practice overseas all the time. US military goes everywhere

 

[FutureM.D.]

i mean if your not with the military. I thought D.O's were not licensed to practice overseas........someone help me here.

 

[npdoc28]

This needs to be updated, but here it is. DO's can practice overseas in a lot of places, even if not in the military. I'm sure they have even more practice rights now.
DO International Practice Rights:

Go here ------> http://www.studentdo.com/first.htm

Click on PROGRAMS on left.

Then click on INTERNATIONAL HEALTH.

Then click on INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE RIGHTS.

If you can find out where to go from that page, no one can help you

 

[FutureM.D.]

Thank you soooo much npdoc! I'll check it out.

 

[Dr JPH]

npdoc28

Hmmmm...that post seems VERY familiar...almost like you cut and paste it from someone elses post....hmmmm....

I should start charging for usage rights on the stuff I post!

 

[npdoc28]

Yeah man, you caught me! Just let me know the charge, and I'll cut you a check. Thanks for doing the legwork man, I hope to continue to mooch of your posts in the future.

 

[Dr JPH]

I'm just flattered that SOMETHING I say in at least ONE of my posts is worth copying over.

 

[DrQuinn]

I'm just flattered that SOMETHING I say in at least ONE of my posts is worth copying over.






__________________
PCOM Class of 2006

"I see no reason or need for my doctor to love me - nor would I expect him to suffer with me. I wouldn't demand a lot of my doctor's time: I just wish he would brood on my situation for perhaps five minutes, that he would give me his whole mind just once, be bonded with me for a brief space, survey my soul as well as my flesh, to get at my illness, for each man is ill in his own way."
- Anatole Broyard, Intoxicated by My Illness

 

[npdoc28]

good one Quinn

 

[kristing]

Hey there future docs. I am a 2nd year DO student, and I chose the DO path for this reason: It is much more accepting of alternative/complementary practices, as a profession. Some allopathic (MD) schools are accepting, some are not. But as a whole, DOs see the alternative medicine field as one to work with, not against. I also liked the "whole" person approach to osteopathic medicine that the profession has embraced for its ENTIRE history, vs. allopaths, who just seem to be NOW catching on to this idea.

 

[FutureM.D.]

Thanks for the post kristing! I like that whole body approach too!

 

[muonwhiz]

I chose osteopathic over allopathic (yep, was accepted to allopathic) for several reasons. I had been treated previously by DO's and had experienced OMM as well as the more traditional treatments from them. So that was a good experience. Also I liked the experience of interviewing more at the osteopathic schools. Lastly, I was very interested in learning OMM, and now many of my allopathic physician friends want me to show them some stuff. I have an MD friend in NY that is taking OMM classes at NYCOM and also I have seen OMM seminars advertised in continuing medical education seminars in the Family Physician journal. I think that applicants would be well served to apply to both programs, interview at both programs with an open mind and then choose the one that fits best for you.

 

[mr-hyde]

I am a 3rd year at UHS-COM. When I found out about DO's there was no other profession I would rather be in. I deicied to go this route for many reasons, including the whole person approach to patient care. I like the fact that some problems can be easily treated without invasive, costly, or time consuming procedures. OMM is a very powerful tool we are taught. I feel sorry for those DO students who do not realize the importance of the knowledge they are getting (and blowing off in some cases.) I am referring to the many MD wannabe's that each class has. I have had many experiences working with MD's where I could have easily treated the patients with some OMM, but they treated them with pain meds, muscle relaxing meds, and even Lidacaine injections to tender points. They then treated the associated side effects with other meds.

 

[Resident Alien]

I think some of the posters have a very "broken glass" view of allopathic medicine. This "whole body approach" you talk of is really integral to MEDICINE, not the forms you keep empahsizing as distinctive.

 

[oceandocDO]

I think some of the posters have a very "broken glass" view of allopathic medicine. This "whole body approach" you talk of is really integral to MEDICINE, not the forms you keep empahsizing as distinctive.

Yes, I agree, to some extent. Often allopathic medicine is taught from a whole body approach, but without a doubt that ideaology has been diluted over the past few decades by the super-sub-specialization of traditional allopathic medicine. The DO curriculum, on paper, is more well rounded. OMM, whether you beileve in it or not, does add significant class time solely in musculoskeletal function, kinesiology, and anatomy. This extra academic medicine cant hurt, regardless of whether you use OMM in the future. Also, the rotating osteopathic internship, the PGY-1 year for most DOs in which they spend time in several distinct disciplines, was actually the brainchild of MDs decades ago, but MDs gave it up because they were impatient (also b/c of hospital monetary restraints) and hence went directly into their specialty. They are slowly starting to regress on that topic. A 2002 NYCOM grad who's going to Harvard for anesthiology is doing a rotating intership in NY this year and prolonging Harvard a year for the mere experience the rotating internship can offer. Harvard actually encouraged him to do it.

Also, DOs are certainly not considered alternative as they were 75 years ago, yet as a whole, DOs are more willing to at least hear out ideas on complementary medicine. More patients went to providers of complementary care last year than to primary care doctors. It's a multi-billion dollar a year industry and cannot be ignored or written off as quickly as the majority of MDs are taught to do. Do these therapies work? Some do, some dont, but the American public is sick of being drugged and these therapies have gained a foothold, regardless of their proven efficacy.

 

[Resident Alien]

I can only speak from my limited perspective (i.e. my school). As of yet, I havent noticed anything other than open-mindedness in the curriculum as well as faculty attitude.

I guess principles dilute when an institution (not the whole "allopathic" body) doesnt commit itself to enriching future physicians the way it should. If not OMM, we have plenty of "extra" stuff that is floated around -- various "areas of concentration" as it is termed. But it is presented in a way that you can use according to your liking. Isnt that the way it should be done?