I chose osteopathy because i loved the idea of pursuing medicine, but none of the MD's i shadowed actually liked what they did- they all told me "medicine isn't good right now- you should go into business" or something to that effect. often frustrated with insurance, often frustrated with patients that wouldnt get better or wouldnt take their meds. Then i worked with a DO-osteopath who did a pediatric OMM practice. She loved her work, saw significant clinical improvement in her patients, and healthily got them off their meds rather than put them on new ones. Each patient was a puzzle to be figured out- anatomically, socially and spiritually- and once figured out, health was the natural response. This isnt to say you ignore diet, exercise, medications or surgery as treatment options in the least- but recognize when only symptoms are being treated... and dont settle for it while causes may yet be treated.
Of course, while she did all this, she made about three times the money that the MDs were making doing peds since she was running a cash practice (letting patients then get reimbured by their insurance companies whatever they could get- or offering a sliding scale for patients without insurance and little income). also, instead of runny noses, she was seeing the most complicated patients in the city (a big one)- many of whom had been to 5-10 other physicians of various specialties first without success. She had a 3 month waiting list for new patients.
I was sold. It was only during the application process that i figured out not all DO's practiced the way she did, and in fact most are identical to MD's (and get no more patients and no more money than their allopathic bretherin)- perhaps with more people skills in some cases, and the tendency to touch patients which is nice, but really very little distinction.
When I read AT Stills work, it reinforced all i learned during my shadowing. Most of my learning, however, was not in class, but rather by apprenticeship and what my patients taught me. There just not enough hours in OMM lab (only 200 the first year) and many of those hours are watered down teaching to people who dont put in the time out of class, and the education often isn't integrated tightly with functional anatomy, physiology, or clinical pathophysiology- links you will have to make on your own... but the building blocks are all there- its just up to you to put them together.
Even with the challenges inherent in the education at all osteopathic schools, I am very happy i chose the DO path- however it isnt for everyone. If you wish to go MD, picking DO as a backup without embracing the philosophy and mechanical principles gives some people an inferiority complex (like the DO degree is a constant reminder they couldnt cut it as an MD- so they hide thier degree or get defensive about it). I suggest if this is the case- you might consider doing something to build up your application during the year (and have some fun) and reapplying to MD schools the following year. You will be happier in the long run. If you think you like the philosophy- read AT stills work "philosophy and mechanical principles of osteopathy" on
http://www.interlinea.org/atstill.html - once you do you'll know for sure one way or the other if osteopathy is for you.
You need not enter an OMM residency. They are all well and good, but if you learn enough your first two years (and/or do a fellowship in anatomy/OMM)- bring the philosophy and mechanical skill with you to whatever specialty you embrace- be it pain management, physiatry, neurology, orthopedic sugery, peds, OB, FP, or whatever. It makes a -huge- difference in how you practice. Few DO's do this, but those who do are in so much demand that they call all the shots in their practice, and make as much money as they want (dont do it just for the money though or you wont love your work and you'll never get good enough to charge the big bucks). it really is a great field to be in. it takes a LOT of work to get there though.
hope that helps,
michael
