What motivates you to osteopathic medicine?

[Sum1xxSp3ciaL]

Hi all, I have a question that I hope you guys can help me out. I?m applying to a DO school this year and on their secondary application, there?s an essay question which asks:

?What experiences, and/or relationships have motivated you toward a career in osteopathic medicine? Please keep your response to approximately 200 words.?

Honestly, I don?t mind going to an allopathic or osteopathic school because I want to be an ob/gyn. I apply to both and wherever I get accepted is still all great. So for this, I really don?t have a specific motivation towards choosing DO. Do you have any suggestion of how I should approach this question?
Thank you all so very much if you could help.

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[Peace&Health]

These
are reasons people choose DO vs. MD...maybe one or two of them would apply to you

1. DO Role Model
2. Philosophy/Primary Care
3. OMM

Good-luck!

 

[box29]

Is that KCOM's secondary? That question looks familiar.

 

[Fin-Nor]

i like peace&health listing there. i'd say most ppl are either #1 -- shadowed a nice DO, or #2 -- liked what they read about it.

it may be best for you to try and shadow one for a bit and see how they handle things.

GL

 

[iliacus]

In my case I had a few very positive experiences with DO's and a whole bunch of negative experiences with MD's. Also, I was in graduate school studying micro/immunology at an MD school and as far as education/training goes (and this is just MY opinion) the education is the same. I used to socialize with lots-0-MD students and I've found DO students to be more laid back. Probably because most DO students are older than their MD counterparts. But in the end...The only reason in my opinion somebody would be hesitant to attend a DO school as opposed to an MD school is fear that they won't have the same "status." I've worked in emergency departments with MD's and DO's...It really doesn't matter. Docs are docs. When I was applying to DO school I heard a lot about finding a school that is the best "fit" for me...I didn't understand it at the time, but after interviewing I knew what they were talking about. Apply all over and find where you "fit" the best and go with it 🙂

 

[The Engineer]

In my case, I saw the difference in action. My wife was hit by a car and she went to a hospital affiliated with an MD school. The care was decent but I did not appriciate the doctors giving her some muscle relaxants and a foot in the rear out the door. The muscle relaxants wore off and I had to carry her down a flight of stairs and take her back to the ER where they gave more muscle relaxants and another foot out the door. Now don't get me wrong. There are alot of good MD's out there. My old family doc was an MD from that same school and he was the bomb. My wife then went to see some DO's in another city. She left not being able to stand up streight and hobbling. She came home standing streight and walking almost normally. That was the day I decieded to become a DO. Shadowing, I saw some DO's do some pretty impressive stuff.

It has been mentioned before and it is a good thing to keep in mind that once you are out in the "real world," no one is going to care about where you went to medical school. What they are going to care about is the quality of care you give to your patients. There are lots of good and bad in both diciplines.

Take it easy and best of luck to you all in getting into med school.

 

[Freakingzooming]

for me it was cuz i personally believe manipulation provides psychological and physical benefits, DO's are trained differently from MDs. We can argue how it's not true but what I know is that my friend who is at Western works her tail bone off. She goes to class from 9 to 5. She studies every day. While my friend at Vermont, complains there are not enough classes. it's too based on problem based learning.

I think for the bang for buck, DO's provide that. they work harder and I think they produce quality primary doctors.

 

[Sense]

She goes to class from 9 to 5. She studies every day. While my friend at Vermont, complains there are not enough classes. it's too based on problem based learning.

I am not looking forward to that but I do think it will only help me become a better doctor. 😀

Location of the school attracted me to osteopathic medicine. 😉

 

[crazy250]

low numbers attracted me.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

Location of the school attracted me to osteopathic medicine. 😉

 

[iliacus]

low numbers attracted me.

Sorry to hear about your low numbers. But you should go for what you want. Retake some classes and ace the MCAT. Whatever you need to do to get to exactly where you want to be. I've met many MD students who had some low numbers probably similar to yours.

 

[powerdog]

Low MCAT and would rather not leave the country. Plain and Simple!

 

[raspberry swirl]

i think the best approach for you to take (whether it be true or not) is the primary care angle. OBGYN is an important primary care specialty, and you feel the approach and training received at an osteopathic institution will leave you better prepared. you may have to read up on some stuff to get specifics, but the sole fact that most DO schools require way more primary care, including OBGYN, rotations, than MD schools, might be a point you could bring up. not to mention that there are a whole lot of manipulative techniques for the sacrum and hip bones that pregnant women will thank you for 😛

 

[subtle1epiphany]

I'm also completing a secondary application for an Osteopathic school, MSUCOM in case you're interested. The prompt is very similar:

"Describe a personal or ethical challenge you have faced that has influenced the development of your character. How has this experience prepared you to become an osteopathic physician?"

I recently had a relatively serious medical problem that's a little unusual for my age. The disk between my C5 and C6 vertebrae either slipped or bulged to the left causing incredible amounts of pain in my shoulder and numbness in the thumb of my left hand, I'm 22 years old. I went to an orthopaedic doctor (an MD), but what made the most difference was the physical therapy I underwent. I want to highlight this as that is what made me consider and explore osteopathic medicine. I'm quite concerned that this would not be looked upon as a legitimate or "preferred" topic. I've also shadowed a DO who was in family medicine, who was excellent with his patients and will be writing me a good letter.
What do you guys think? I'd really like some pointers, TIA!

 

[skypilot]

I agree with the OB GYN and primary care angle. If you are primarily interested in OB GYN that is the reason you are attracted to a career in osteopathic medicine. Osteopathic medicine's traditional emphasis on primary care and the extensive training in hands on clinical skills will serve you well in OB GYN.

 

[Ypo.]

Hey Brad,
I think that sounds great- the physical therapy leads into your interest in OM- definitely tie in your shadowing experience with a DO as having reinforced your desire.

 

[irishlaydi]

Hi, quick question: My most significant experience with a D.O., besides shadowing is as a patient myself...I have suffered from chronic illness and a chiropractor and D.O. were the only ones who could help reliev my pain at all. (YAY for DO's). ANyway, definately impacted my decision to pursue osteopathic medicine. Is it bad to writ about personal illness in my essay??? I don't want to seem self-centered or anything like that...it really ws my 1st glance at osteopathic med. 1st hand.
Thanks

 

[Ypo.]

Hi, quick question: My most significant experience with a D.O., besides shadowing is as a patient myself...I have suffered from chronic illness and a chiropractor and D.O. were the only ones who could help reliev my pain at all. (YAY for DO's). ANyway, definately impacted my decision to pursue osteopathic medicine. Is it bad to writ about personal illness in my essay??? I don't want to seem self-centered or anything like that...it really ws my 1st glance at osteopathic med. 1st hand.
Thanks

No, I don't think so- I think that it makes it meaningful- but you should write about your shadowing experiences, too- just to show that you have gotten more in depth to OM and that it only reinforced your desire.