Why MD and not DA?

[mechanictodr]

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So I've been reading this forum for a few months now and I finally decided to join. I've looked at both MD and DO schools and just can't figure out why allopathic physicians have the "MD" after their name and not "DA" if the osteopathic physicians have to wear a "DO" on their badge.

I understand the reason for making the distinction between osteo and allo but I don't understand the reason for giving one group a title that most see as "better" when the only real difference in training is OMT. Even the foreign physicians rock the MD on their coats... I've never seen any physicians from overseas or South America with a MBBS or FMG badge after their name. Why is it only DO's get stuck with explaining themselves? The only heart surgeon where I work went to school in South America... certainly it was not as competitive as going to school anywhere in the US, but his jacket proudly presents the MD and no patient would ever think to question his education because of it.

 

[JaggerPlate]

MD is the degree someone chose way down the line to represent doctors in America. DOs came along officially in 1892 in Kirksville as 'Diplomats of Osteopathy,' or DO. Back then, MDs were medical docs, DOs were trained in manipulation and known, pretty much, as bone setters. In fact, there is a funny business card of AT Still at KCOM that lists his specialty as 'lightning Bone Setter.' From a big evolution involving Flexner reports, AMA acceptance, etc, DOs have become fully licensed physicians but kept the title. So everyone chose their own title, and changing MD when they are by far the majority/better known is silly.

 

[bth7]

Why do birds suddenly appear,





everytime,






you are near?





😍

 

[JaggerPlate]

You guys should just do one of those DO to MD programs. Seems like you'd be happier.

 

[bth7]

You guys should just do one of those DO to MD programs. Seems like you'd be happier.

I think you misinterpreted me.

I was suggesting (albeit cryptically) that asking "Why MD and not MA?" is the equivalent of asking "Why do bluebirds sing?" or "Why do birds appear?" or any other question that really has no answer.

I wasn't making a comment on the value of either degree.

bth

 

[JaggerPlate]

I think you misinterpreted me.

I was suggesting (albeit cryptically) that asking "Why MD and not MA?" is the equivalent of asking "Why do bluebirds sing?" or "Why do birds appear?" or any other question that really has no answer.

I wasn't making a comment on the value of either degree.

bth

Haha, I mistook it as a love song, ie: you loved what the OP was saying. I actually re-read what the OP said though, and I guess there are some interesting points with regards to using the 'MD' title. It makes me wonder if an AOA takeover by a generation that wants the MD, DO or MDO will ever occur, or if someone will start an MD, DO program like they tried to at TCOM or if someone will eventually file some lawsuit against a state to use the MD. I dunno. I usually don't even comment with any thread involving degree stuff, but interesting I guess.

 

[J-Rad]

So I've been reading this forum for a few months now and I finally decided to join. I've looked at both MD and DO schools and just can't figure out why allopathic physicians have the "MD" after their name and not "DA" if the osteopathic physicians have to wear a "DO" on their badge.

... Even the foreign physicians rock the MD on their coats... I've never seen any physicians from overseas or South America with a MBBS or FMG badge after their name. Why is it only DO's get stuck with explaining themselves? ...

😴😴
Funny, I see a lot of MBBS, MBBCh, MD, and DO at my hospital (moderate to large allopathic quarternary care center). The DO on my badge (and no, the font sizes are not small) hasn't given too many a pause. I've gotten one elevator question, two inquisitive (not-I-doubt-your-credentials-) parent questions (basically: "I've seen that before on other doctors, I was curious what it meant...") and one "I really like DOs". Seriously, this "having to explain myself"-issue is more the stuff of legend than reality.

 

[J-Rad]

Damn you BTH, now you got that song stuck in my head. Oh, well, at least Karen Carpenter had a silky-smoov voice...

 

[p30doc]

DAs have to worry about mobsters trying to kill them, MDs wanted to avoid mistaken identity.

 

[rddoms]

If I'm not mistaken, 'allopathic' was coined after 'osteopathy' came around. Therefore, MD = Doctor of Medicine, and DO = Doctor of Osteopathy (which was changed years ago to Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine).

 

[Superman DO]

Also, the MD degree is a Latin abbreviation for Medicinae Doctor, hence why the M comes before the D.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

I know lots of D.A.'s. 😉

 

[SolanoDoc]

So I've been reading this forum for a few months now and I finally decided to join. I've looked at both MD and DO schools and just can't figure out why allopathic physicians have the "MD" after their name and not "DA" if the osteopathic physicians have to wear a "DO" on their badge.

I understand the reason for making the distinction between osteo and allo but I don't understand the reason for giving one group a title that most see as "better" when the only real difference in training is OMT. Even the foreign physicians rock the MD on their coats... I've never seen any physicians from overseas or South America with a MBBS or FMG badge after their name. Why is it only DO's get stuck with explaining themselves? The only heart surgeon where I work went to school in South America... certainly it was not as competitive as going to school anywhere in the US, but his jacket proudly presents the MD and no patient would ever think to question his education because of it.

Well its history because DOs have had equal practice rights with MDs for nearly three decades.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Damn you BTH, now you got that song stuck in my head. Oh, well, at least Karen Carpenter had a silky-smoov voice...

I was literally walking around my house last night whistling this song loudly, post reading this thread, until I was asked, harshly, to STOP!! So +1 on the THANKS BTH. Hahaha


Great post too J-Rad.

 

[iatros]

You guys should just do one of those DO to MD programs. Seems like you'd be happier.

lol

 

[bth7]

Damn you BTH, now you got that song stuck in my head. Oh, well, at least Karen Carpenter had a silky-smoov voice...

Silky silky smooth, and oh so soft and lovely.

bth

 

[jumpingjax]

So I've been reading this forum for a few months now and I finally decided to join. I've looked at both MD and DO schools and just can't figure out why allopathic physicians have the "MD" after their name and not "DA" if the osteopathic physicians have to wear a "DO" on their badge.

I understand the reason for making the distinction between osteo and allo but I don't understand the reason for giving one group a title that most see as "better" when the only real difference in training is OMT. Even the foreign physicians rock the MD on their coats... I've never seen any physicians from overseas or South America with a MBBS or FMG badge after their name. Why is it only DO's get stuck with explaining themselves? The only heart surgeon where I work went to school in South America... certainly it was not as competitive as going to school anywhere in the US, but his jacket proudly presents the MD and no patient would ever think to question his education because of it.

Yeah, the only difference being the OMT, that and the extra 10-12 points on the MCAT. Score.

If you're so concerned about your DO status, why don't you study harder and get into an allopathic program genius?

Your hipocrisy astounds me. It's a sin for anyone to say MD>DO, but you say DO>FMG without skipping a beat. Although I'm a US allo grad, I worked closely with both during my intern year and would have to side with FMG on this one.

Here's a suggestion, when you get your DO, please add a UCHE to the end so we all know who you are.

 

[TopQuark]

Yeah, the only difference being the OMT, that and the extra 10-12 points on the MCAT. Score.

If you're so concerned about your DO status, why don't you study harder and get into an allopathic program genius?

I didn't know that many people got 44-46's. People go DO for many reasons.

 

[Biology101]

DA>? What is that?

 

[JaggerPlate]

Yeah, the only difference being the OMT, that and the extra 10-12 points on the MCAT. Score.

If you're so concerned about your DO status, why don't you study harder and get into an allopathic program genius?

Your hipocrisy astounds me. It's a sin for anyone to say MD>DO, but you say DO>FMG without skipping a beat. Although I'm a US allo grad, I worked closely with both during my intern year and would have to side with FMG on this one.

Here's a suggestion, when you get your DO, please add a UCHE to the end so we all know who you are.

Wow ....

 

[123165]

The real concerning points for me when it comes to foreign schools, is the high attrition rate, the loan issues, and the whole matching business.

 

[beachblonde]

DA>? What is that?

District Attorney. Hence the batman jokes (at least, I interpreted it to be batman...just saw Dark Knight the other day though, that might be it!)

And can I make a motion that before anybody posts stuff like the OP on this forum, they have to actually know something about the history of medicine? Just a smidge?

 

[123165]

District Attorney. Hence the batman jokes (at least, I interpreted it to be batman...just saw Dark Knight the other day though, that might be it!)

And can I make a motion that before anybody posts stuff like the OP on this forum, they have to actually know something about the history of medicine? Just a smidge?

Or carpentry

 

[trep14]

Yeah, the only difference being the OMT, that and the extra 10-12 points on the MCAT. Score.

If you're so concerned about your DO status, why don't you study harder and get into an allopathic program genius?

Your hipocrisy astounds me. It's a sin for anyone to say MD>DO, but you say DO>FMG without skipping a beat. Although I'm a US allo grad, I worked closely with both during my intern year and would have to side with FMG on this one.

Here's a suggestion, when you get your DO, please add a UCHE to the end so we all know who you are.

Uh-oh...things could get interesting

 

[JaggerPlate]

Uh-oh...things could get interesting

Nah, too obvious. Everyone should report the post though.

 

[trep14]

Nah, too obvious. Everyone should report the post though.

I agree.

 

[redrok]

Yeah, the only difference being the OMT, that and the extra 10-12 points on the MCAT. Score.

If you're so concerned about your DO status, why don't you study harder and get into an allopathic program genius?

Your hipocrisy astounds me. It's a sin for anyone to say MD>DO, but you say DO>FMG without skipping a beat. Although I'm a US allo grad, I worked closely with both during my intern year and would have to side with FMG on this one.

Here's a suggestion, when you get your DO, please add a UCHE to the end so we all know who you are.

Fail !

 

[JaggerPlate]

Fail !

Don't even humor with a response.

 

[bioman2006]

.

 

[mechanictodr]

Well... I knew I'd get a response like this if I asked this question, but this got seriously rude.

People go DO for many reasons like was said above and for me, it was because I knew an orthopod growing up who had the DO after his name and I wanted to know what education he had to go through to do what he did. He told me he went to an osteopathic medical school and that is why he had the DO. We never really talked about MD, and my guess is that he figured I already knew about that, but since no one in my family had ever been to college I was never really exposed to what it took to be a physician. So... from day one I was interested in becoming a DO so that I could be an orthopod like him. It's that simple. Now I'm being exposed to the match lists and all the MD/DO debates. I see that many DO's match ortho and I know it's hard for either to get such a great residency so I know I have my work cut out for me, but I will always remember how humble the orthopod toward me and others and I would rather be a DO like him. I met a lot of MD's growing up as well (in order to meet the nice orthopod...) and none of them were ever nice except my pediatrician who was really cool. I am almost ready to apply next year and I am on the edge with my MCAT (just one point below national average), but I will only be applying DO since I like they way they treat people better and there is a local school.

No reason to get so testy over a little question, and I hope that I never do anything towards anyone that would ever be deserving of adding a UCHE after my title.

Sorry for the bad question.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Well... I knew I'd get a response like this if I asked this question, but this got seriously rude.

People go DO for many reasons like was said above and for me, it was because I knew an orthopod growing up who had the DO after his name and I wanted to know what education he had to go through to do what he did. He told me he went to an osteopathic medical school and that is why he had the DO. We never really talked about MD, and my guess is that he figured I already knew about that, but since no one in my family had ever been to college I was never really exposed to what it took to be a physician. So... from day one I was interested in becoming a DO so that I could be an orthopod like him. It's that simple. Now I'm being exposed to the match lists and all the MD/DO debates. I see that many DO's match ortho and I know it's hard for either to get such a great residency so I know I have my work cut out for me, but I will always remember how humble the orthopod toward me and others and I would rather be a DO like him. I met a lot of MD's growing up as well (in order to meet the nice orthopod...) and none of them were ever nice except my pediatrician who was really cool. I am almost ready to apply next year and I am on the edge with my MCAT (just one point below national average), but I will only be applying DO since I like they way they treat people better and there is a local school.

No reason to get so testy over a little question, and I hope that I never do anything towards anyone that would ever be deserving of adding a UCHE after my title.

Sorry for the bad question.

Seriously ignore that guy. Report his post.

 

[CaliforniaKid]

Yeah, the only difference being the OMT, that and the extra 10-12 points on the MCAT. Score.

If you're so concerned about your DO status, why don't you study harder and get into an allopathic program genius?

Your hipocrisy astounds me. It's a sin for anyone to say MD>DO, but you say DO>FMG without skipping a beat. Although I'm a US allo grad, I worked closely with both during my intern year and would have to side with FMG on this one.

Here's a suggestion, when you get your DO, please add a UCHE to the end so we all know who you are.

lol

 

[Quantum Mecha]

DA = already taken = Doctor of Arts (yes there is such a degree)

 

[J-Rad]

Well... I knew I'd get a response like this if I asked this question, but this got seriously rude...

Don't worry about the response from Jax. The second half is a bizarre tangent slamming you for making a statement or asking a question that you didn't make or ask. It was a from-left-field non sequiter.