Why can't i get over the MD/DO thing?

[Perseverant 1]

Hi guys,
I have been working on getting into med school for quite a few years (doing a Masters to compensate for my undergrad GPA) Anyway, after bombing the MCAT a few times, i think my only option is a DO school. I have YEARS worth of volunteer work, clinical and basic research experience....not to mention 4 family members with severe neurological disorders (which is relavant b/c i want to do neurology). So, you see it is the MCAT that is keeping me down!
i am really reluctant to do DO because i am really interested in basic research......and to be perfectly honest i think i would have alot of trouble convincing an interviewer that i was really into the DO theory.
What in the world am i gonna do?

 

[sweetthang]

if you aren't interested in osteopathic schools then don't apply to them. it will show at an interview. if going to an allopathic school is what you want then continue striving for it. you'll get there. don't give up..

 

[tkim]

Originally posted by Perseverant 1
Hi guys,
I have been working on getting into med school for quite a few years (doing a Masters to compensate for my undergrad GPA) Anyway, after bombing the MCAT a few times, i think my only option is a DO school. I have YEARS worth of volunteer work, clinical and basic research experience....not to mention 4 family members with severe neurological disorders (which is relavant b/c i want to do neurology). So, you see it is the MCAT that is keeping me down!
i am really reluctant to do DO because i am really interested in basic research......and to be perfectly honest i think i would have alot of trouble convincing an interviewer that i was really into the DO theory.
What in the world am i gonna do?

What I'm reading is that you prefer the allopathic over the osteopathic route because you're interested in 1) basic research, and 2) neurological disorders.

I'm not intimately familiar with the curriculum differences between the two paths, but I do remember during one of my interview tours, someone mentioning that there is a great deal of emphasis on the nervous system in the osteopathic curriculum. Perhaps this additional training on the nervous system might appeal to you for your particular interest?

Irvin Korr, Ph.D., is recognized as am important figure in osteopathic research. He was nominated for a Nobel prize for being the first person to demonstrate axonal transport of proteins from the central nervous system to the muscles helping to explain why muscle strophy occurs when nerves are cut or damaged.

I think that perhaps there are parallels in your interests and the differences in an osteopathic education that put you closer together than you think.

Ostepathy in particular, and medicine in general, could certainly use another researcher interested in the nervous system.

Now I have a feeling that your interest in neurology probably has to do more with the central than the peripheral nervous system. But again, I think you might find your interests more intertwined than you think.

But, if you can't get over the feeling that you need an MD in order to do the research you're interested in, then keep plugging away to attain that goal.

- Tae

 

[mistirvr]

perseverant 1,

It's frustrating to want something so badly and to not *quite* achieve it. But, I definitely feel that your lack of interest in the osteopathic philosophy and obvious uncertainty towards the DO degree allowing you to pursue your interests should discourage you from applying to a DO program.

Four years is a long time when you aren't happy with what you're doing. And, I can say that in... wow, how long....3 months (is that it?), we have focused a lot on the osteopathic history and principle. Research is available, but it is limited.

I feel like you have three general options:
1. keep working toward your MD acceptance
2. pursue research through a different avenue
3. consider going oversees to obtain your MD

Of course, the decision is up to you. Just remember that there is always an option, you just need to find it!

Missy
NSUCOM Class of 2006

 

[maysqrd]

I think that you will find that MD and DO training and research opportunities have more in common than you think. With a little more research into osteopathy, you may find that this area of medicine will hold all of the interests that you mentioned. However, do not apply to a DO school as your "last" resort. If you don't believe that you will benefit from a DO degree, then you probably won't.

 

[oceandocDO]

, after bombing the MCAT a few times, i think my only option is a DO school

Honestly, with this idea in your head, please dont apply to DO schools. There are many of the lower-tier MD schools you can get into with lower average MCAT scores than most of the DO schools depending on your geographic location or ethnicity. Also, if you're so into research and neurology, do a little homework and I guarantee you'll find plenty of DOs who are neurologists. The head of NYCOM's neurology dept (a D.O.), is Michael J. Fox's neurologist and claims to see more Parkinsons patients than anyone in the world. I think he heads up NYUs parkinson's research also. The Parkinson's clinic at NYCOM is very well established and sees tons of patients.

Out of curiosity, why arent you "into" the D.O. philosophy? Is there something about looking at a patient as a whole and not the sum of a bunch of parts that turns you off? Honestly I think you havent looked into D.O.s enough. Dont rely on these message boards or some 60 year old premed advisor telling you the story. PM me if you want more info.

 

[jhug]

Dr. J. Edward Hill, chairman of the American Medical Association: "The position of the American Medical Association is that M.D.s and D.O.s are perfectly comparable. There are no significant differences between the two. We are very supportive of each other, and it's been a good arrangement."

this is a copy from a link posted by frenzz (? on the spelling) I would highly suggest you read it. Everyone has a point to the not applying if you don't like the DO idea but i think, just as calculus can be learned, you will learn/realize MD's/DO's aren't that much different afterall.

 

[Dr JPH]

DO's are not held back from doing research in any way, shape, or form.

If you're self conscious about it, then don't apply to DO schools.

Your potential seat is more valuable to the osteopathic profession if it is filled with someone who wants to be a DO, rather than someone who simply views osteopathic medical school as a means to and end.

Good luck.

Also...

tkim6599: Very good post
mistirvr: Not sure what they're doing down at Nova, but it doesn't sound anything like PCOM. There are opportunities for research here. Hell, look at NYCOM, they have TONS of stuff going on.
maysqrd: Well said.

 

[Fenrezz]

Originally posted by Perseverant 1
......and to be perfectly honest i think i would have alot of trouble convincing an interviewer that i was really into the DO theory.

Oh, its actually very easy to scam an interviewer and make him/her think you believe in it.

Umm....I mean, so I've heard....umm...a friend of mine...uhh..told me....that it was easy..........not that I would know

(ahem)

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Originally posted by Perseverant 1
Hi guys,
I have been working on getting into med school for quite a few years (doing a Masters to compensate for my undergrad GPA) Anyway, after bombing the MCAT a few times, i think my only option is a DO school. I have YEARS worth of volunteer work, clinical and basic research experience....not to mention 4 family members with severe neurological disorders (which is relavant b/c i want to do neurology). So, you see it is the MCAT that is keeping me down!
i am really reluctant to do DO because i am really interested in basic research......and to be perfectly honest i think i would have alot of trouble convincing an interviewer that i was really into the DO theory.
What in the world am i gonna do?

Go DO and pursue your dream. DO and MD are equal accordingly to the majority on this board, so going DO would be just as good as applying to MD. Whatever you do, dont go to overseas MDs..go for onshore DOs.

Shadow a DO, and learn the philosophy. If you dont love the philosophy, go for the degree anyway. Most DO's I know do allopathic residencies as it is.

 

[DrMom]

Originally posted by Fenrezz
Oh, its actually very easy to scam an interviewer and make him/her think you believe in it.

Umm....I mean, so I've heard....umm...a friend of mine...uhh..told me....that it was easy..........not that I would know

(ahem)

Your secret is safe with me.

 

[DrMom]

Originally posted by Perseverant 1
i am really reluctant to do DO because i am really interested in basic research.

My school has a DO/PhD program, so research opportunites certainly are available.

 

[rpames]

I have not done any real research in it, but aren't all the DO/Ph.D programs PhD's in public health or something like that? I thought there were no PhD research joint DO programs.

If you are interested in research, I would contact DMU. They are really beefing-up their search. They have pumped alot of money into the research labs and are planning to do more. Eventually they are going to create a program where DO students from all DO schools can come and do a research internship for a year after they are done with school. They want to do this to help make DO's more competative in the allopathic res programs like cardio surgery and nero surgery.

I really think DMU will be a large force in the medical field soon.

 

[abw]

I really haven't done research into combined DO/PhD programs, cause it's not something i'm interested in, however, since i'm in the public health field, i doubt it's the case since a "doctor of public health" is a DPH, not a PhD

 

[Dr Sum Day]

Preserverant 1,

I'm in the same boat as far as mcat, but I love primary care and I'm applying to both programs. I must say, the DO's-2-b in this forum seem friendly and open-minded. If I get an interview, this will be one of the most important criteria in selecting a school. Of course, the quality of education is important too. Enough about me. I'd say, look into DO stuff, then decide for yourself. Good luck from this old premed...

Fenrezz, you have a cool sense of humor...how's Nova?

 

[Fenrezz]

Originally posted by dpw68
Fenrezz, you have a cool sense of humor...how's Nova?

I'll have to call someone who's going there to find out.

I'm a temporary okie.

You'll have to ignore the Ft Lauderdale in my location. It's where I'll be going for Christmas breaks and (hopefully ) summers but I actually go to OSU.

 

[DrMom]

Originally posted by rpames
I have not done any real research in it, but aren't all the DO/Ph.D programs PhD's in public health or something like that? I thought there were no PhD research joint DO programs.

OSU's DO/PhD program includes PhDs in physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, anatomy, and nutrition. No public health.