WHat's the process for getting an MD and DO?

[jayski2030]

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I got a flyer on the door of my apartment today advertising the services or two doctors, both with an MD and DO. How does one get both degrees? There must be a way besides completing two full programs because, from what i understand, much of the two curriculums cross over.

 

[fabiolablake]

This discussion has been presented before on SDN. Years ago, in California, the government allowed schools to offer both the DO and MD degrees conjunctively. I'm assuming this is how the doctor attained both degrees. Hope this helps.

Blake

 

[Idiopathic]

Doesnt happen. Was it the advertisement of an optometrist who went to med school? I know that optometrists are O.D.'s but...

Actually, we have an MD who trains and teaches with us now. She is still an MD, though. I will go out on a limb and say that there are no MD/DO's out there.

 

[Adapt]

Actually, someone posted something a while ago which advertised a school in the Carribean which offered DOs a way to obtain an MD by paying some cash and taking some classes. It could happen this way as well.

 

[DireWolf]

If the OP lives in California, there is a possibility that this physician was a MD/DO. In 1962 a California public referendum prohibited the granting of new licenses to DOs in the state. The College of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, Los Angeles, was converted to an allopathic medical college (UC Irvine). This institution, upon receipt of $65 per applicant, granted some 2,500 MD degrees to DOs in that state, with the concurrence of the California Medical Association and the California Osteopathic Association. A long court fight was begun, which was resolved in 1974 when the California State Supreme Court ruled that licensing of DOs in that state must be resumed.

 

[group_theory]

NYCOM has a program called APEP (Accelerated Program for Emigre Physicians)

The APEP program is a three year accelerated program leading to the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. The APEP program is open to residents of US with foreign, fully qualified medical degrees equivalent to a Doctor of Medicine Degree from an accredited educational institution in the United States.

http://iris.nyit.edu/nycom/future/fut_emigre.htm

http://www.md-do.org/

Most likely the doctor got his/her first medical degree from another country and came to the US. He/She then applied to NYCOM and got a DO degree.

Another possibility is paying (buying) a MD degree from the International University of Health Sciences in Antigua.

Or perhaps the good doctor got his/her DO degree first (US), went overseas and did extra research and obtained an MD (overseas, MDs are research degrees, with MBBS being the professional degree)

Lots of possibilities. Of course, if you are really curious, why not call the number and ask.

 

[Lions Pride]

Not to split hairs but NYCOM's APEP program is no longer accelerated. Its called EPP for Emigre Physician Program (I think). Now they have to do 4 years as well. Our webpage is old and outdated, supposedly we are currently in the process of creating a new one, thank god.