Heaven forbid medical practice evolve! Yes, things have changed since A.T. Still’s day and thank heavens! Moreover thank goodness Allopathic medicine changed too (bleeding patients and use of heavy metals… not so good). Yes, DOs and MDs practice very similarly because experience and research has shown what works best.

DOs that argue that there is no difference forgot what they learned, or chose to ignore what they learned. Majority of DOs don’t practice their OMT skills, but those that use them will testify of the benefit that it can provide.

My only issue with the using the different acronym of “DO” is that it can confuse people, but that really isn’t much of an issue.

So, perhaps the solutions is that given the similarity in training between DO and MD, that perhaps an “MDO” degree would be better, if osteopathic physicians still believe that OMM is a major difference (most DOs that I know no longer do OMM, unless they do physiatry or rehabilitative medicine). Using MDO instead of just DO would probably result in greater acceptance for practice rights internationally.

One of the author’s points is that osteopathic physicians was founded on a different approach (which became OMM) but since that time, osteopathic education and practice has converged or become much more like allopathic and osteopathic doctors both insist and advertise that they are no different or not much different than MDs and can do the same thing as MDs. If this is the case, then why the different appellation (“DO”)? Also, of osteopathic doctors are the same as MDs, then are they really more holistic than MDs?

For me, I’m a DO all the way and therefore I’m just worrying about the COMLEX.

So i am going to start at RVUCOM this fall and I’m a little confused about residency options given DOs can apply to MD residencies, DO ones or a mix of the two. I am pretty sure I am going to take the USMLE to keep my options as open as possible but I am looking at the list of osteopathic residencies (http://opportunities.osteopathic.org/search/search.cfm) and I see no difference in the list of allopathic ones. So my question to you is why would a DO want to pursue an allopathic residency and compete against US MD’s when there’s a significant portion available to them? Does it have to do with location, money, etc? Any clarification in the matter would be greatly appreciated!

-Haris

You can get gifts yet not love. You are able to pretend smile although not happiness. You may misinform others but not to yourself. You could have another friend but not as cute like me!…