What's the difference between MD and DO and which should you choose if you want to be a doctor. This is a deep dive into the benefits and disadvantages of each.
I don't know, I see an increasing number of DOs in surgery etc. I've seen them in ERs and my obgyn who delivered my kids was a DO. I think now that the residencies are merged, the lack of options is going to be a thing of the past. There was a time when DOs did mostly primary care, that's no longer the case. I also think that medicine in the US is slowly shifting towards holistic and preventative methods that a lot of Med Schools are not as open to, the best Dr. i've had who helped me with my ADD was a DO. The MDs I went to just wanted to put me on meds. There is a significant difference in approach btw md vs do when it comes to patient care in my humble opinion.
I did DO as a second career, after the military. Wasn’t ready for more school when I got out of HS. I did go into GP but did my EM residency with all MD in my year. Also, did an Ultrasound fellowship. I have never been treated differently by colleagues. I do use OMT though where applicable. Was also accepted to an allopathic school. Osteopathic seemed to work with having a family better as well. Definitely, do not regret it. I don’t know how much volunteering matters, I had none in undergrad basically. Had spent 6 years in the Marines prior and didn’t really have time as I did have a family at that point. As far as choice, 50 countries is enough options for me. Could sea fare as well. I mean we should also consider your stated. I chose EM and stuck with it. Probably based on military experience. I think it is what you make it though. If determined enough you can make it. My dumb ass did. While my residency wasn’t too hard to match, it’s a miracle I made it to begin with.
But people will get online and say that there’s no difference between MDs and DO yet this algorithm that was man-made is saying otherwise UNCH is prejudice towards doctors of osteopathic medicine
Agree with most of what you said, but your interpretation of match data is incorrect. The data you cite states the % of spots that are filled by DO seniors, but you interpreted it as a match rate/ a DO’s chance of matching in a given specialty. This is not accurate because very few DOs apply to the specialties you mentioned. This year for thoracic surgery, 5 applied and 1 matched. In plastics, 16 applied and 3 matched, in NS 15 applied and 3 matched. Some of this, is likely due to students being scared off by realizing they aren’t competitive for these fields, but it is also due to a lack of interest. For example, in my 1st month of med school we filled out a survey of what we are interested in. Not a single person listed thoracic surgery or plastics, I think 1 or 2 put neurosurgery. Probably 60% of the class listed FM/ IM / PEDS/ EM. And this is consistent wit how our school, and many other DO schools match. There is definitely a bias against DOs in the match, but your numbers paint an inaccurate story. It’s ok, I know they don’t teach much data analysis at MD schools ;) (I’m only kidding, MDs are wonderful)
I don't know, I see an increasing number of DOs in surgery etc. I've seen them in ERs and my obgyn who delivered my kids was a DO. I think now that the residencies are merged, the lack of options is going to be a thing of the past. There was a time when DOs did mostly primary care, that's no longer the case. I also think that medicine in the US is slowly shifting towards holistic and preventative methods that a lot of Med Schools are not as open to, the best Dr. i've had who helped me with my ADD was a DO. The MDs I went to just wanted to put me on meds. There is a significant difference in approach btw md vs do when it comes to patient care in my humble opinion.
Thx for your comments!
I did DO as a second career, after the military. Wasn’t ready for more school when I got out of HS. I did go into GP but did my EM residency with all MD in my year. Also, did an Ultrasound fellowship. I have never been treated differently by colleagues. I do use OMT though where applicable. Was also accepted to an allopathic school. Osteopathic seemed to work with having a family better as well. Definitely, do not regret it. I don’t know how much volunteering matters, I had none in undergrad basically. Had spent 6 years in the Marines prior and didn’t really have time as I did have a family at that point. As far as choice, 50 countries is enough options for me. Could sea fare as well. I mean we should also consider your stated. I chose EM and stuck with it. Probably based on military experience. I think it is what you make it though. If determined enough you can make it. My dumb ass did. While my residency wasn’t too hard to match, it’s a miracle I made it to begin with.
Thank you for your comments
But people will get online and say that there’s no difference between MDs and DO yet this algorithm that was man-made is saying otherwise
UNCH is prejudice towards doctors of osteopathic medicine
Agree with most of what you said, but your interpretation of match data is incorrect. The data you cite states the % of spots that are filled by DO seniors, but you interpreted it as a match rate/ a DO’s chance of matching in a given specialty. This is not accurate because very few DOs apply to the specialties you mentioned. This year for thoracic surgery, 5 applied and 1 matched. In plastics, 16 applied and 3 matched, in NS 15 applied and 3 matched.
Some of this, is likely due to students being scared off by realizing they aren’t competitive for these fields, but it is also due to a lack of interest. For example, in my 1st month of med school we filled out a survey of what we are interested in. Not a single person listed thoracic surgery or plastics, I think 1 or 2 put neurosurgery. Probably 60% of the class listed FM/ IM / PEDS/ EM. And this is consistent wit how our school, and many other DO schools match.
There is definitely a bias against DOs in the match, but your numbers paint an inaccurate story. It’s ok, I know they don’t teach much data analysis at MD schools ;) (I’m only kidding, MDs are wonderful)
Awesome video. Lot of nuance in there that most people aren’t aware of!
Glad it was helpful!