<p>I've read on this forum several times that by the time you go into a residency program, the 2 letters after your name do not matter. However, I do notice at least in my town and surrounding towns that most practices have all MD's, and I've only seen one D.O. in the ED at my hospital (I'm an EMT and am frequently there). I can't help but be skeptical. I only have a 3.4 GPA as a rising Junior, so there's a decent possibility that I must look into DO schools as well. Is this going to honestly be a problem by the time I want to join a practice or even get accepted into a residency program?</p>
<p>One reason for the small DO:MD ratio is that there are about 5 times as many MD schools in the US than DO schools, not to mention the FMGs and IMGs that come in with MDs. Additionally, a larger proportion of DOs go into primary care than their MD counterparts.</p>
<p>DOs have their own residency spots, but can also apply for MD residencies; the reverse option is not available to MDs.</p>
<p>That's about the extent of my knowledge in regard to this, maybe someone more qualified can provide more answers.</p>
<p>I work for a medical practice with two DOs. I don't know a heck of a lot about the two designations, but if you have specific questions I'd be happy to ask one of them. As far as employability, the last Dr we hired was a DO.</p>
<p>Absolutely NOT. I've shadowed D.O.s and I've shadowed M.D.s. The BIG secret, honey, is that, in the long run, going osteopathic over allopathic (or vice versa) doesn't really matter. Your patients will still call you Doctor and the money that you'll be making will still be green. Right?</p>
<p>Speaking of money, I have heard that DO's on average take on more debt than MD's in medical school</p>
<p>i think it is because all of the DO school are private medical schools, so i would assume that is why there is more debt on avg.</p>
<p>That is one issue. However, a quick peak at Michigan State also reveals something.</p>
<p>I wouldn't quite say it "doesn't matter." I would say it "barely matters." But everybody else's responses are right on the money: there are fewer DO's employed because there are fewer DO's total, not because it's harder for them to find jobs. People doing the same job will make the same amount of money. Patients have the same relationship with them.</p>
<p>there is nothing wrong with being a DO, but i just find OMM really weird after shadowing couple DO's. Also, you will have to explain what DO is often times to some curious patients of yours. And sadly the media has so popularized that MD = the only type of doctor, so you will probably have to do a lot of explaining to family, friends, and such. But the money you make depends on your specialty.</p>
<p>madamebovary (love the name) has stated, at least for me, the major concern with becoming a DO as opposed to an MD: the fact that MD has become synonymous with doctor in American culture and DO is less well known. I've witnessed somewhat extreme instances of this, even among nurses.</p>
<p>A lot of D.O.s I know never used OMM once they left medical school. It was just something they were required to learn in school. One of the best doctors I know is a D.O. Internist. He was waitlisted at the allopathic school he applied to (back in the days when you only applied to a couple of schools instead of 20!), yet another student in town at the time got in despite lower MCAT, lower undergrad gpa, etc. - his father was a doctor!?!
He used to wear a Marcus Welby, D.O. t-shirt when he was younger - made us all laugh!</p>
<p>Much as legacy at a specific school counts for undergrad, legacy in medicine of any kind was once a fairly major factor in medical school admissions. A book I read chronicling the experiences of students at Penn Med in the 70's (I have not been able to find it since) explained that at the time, students with a legacy in medicine had much lower dropout rates and much more sensible expectations about the field.</p>
<p>Explicitly, this is no longer a consideration. It is certainly no longer a major one. But I can't help but think it still matters a little. Old habits die hard, after all.</p>