What is the Difference between an MD and a DO?
As a pre-med student, there are many important decisions to consider about the path ahead of you. One of the most crucial first steps to becoming a doctor is deciding which kind of medical degree, and subsequently, which kind of medical school you want to pursue.
In this video, Dr. Sam Slade, DO, a rural Emergency Medicine physician, and Dr. Samuel Jang, MD, a radiologist associated at Mayo Clinic, discuss the definition of osteopathic vs allopatholic medicine, the pros and cons of DO vs MD, and the difference between an MD degree and a DO degree. Keep reading to discover their insight as to why someone may choose one over the other and learn how to decide which is better for you to pursue.
UNDERSTAND: What is a DO?
ANALYZE: Are MDs and DOs trained differently?
DECIDE: Which is right for you?
Understand: What is a DO?
A DO is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. But, what does osteopathic mean? Osteopathic medicine is the practice of medical training that emphasizes the interrelated unity of all systems in the body, each working with the other to heal in times of illness. To become a DO, one must attend a DO medical school and complete training in OMT, Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment.
In Dr. Jang’s side of the presentation, he explains that 11% of doctors in the US today are DOs, and with 25% of medical students graduating with a DO degree, this number will only increase with time!
MDs vs. DOs in practice.
When comparing MDs vs DOs in practice, there is no difference between an MD and a DO. Both are skilled, licensed doctors that are able to provide quality care and treatment. An MD and a DO doctor in the same residency will be treated the same and proceed to have the same training. There is no difference between MD and DO salary. Basically, if you can get into the residency, it is the same. The only difference is the practice of OMT by the osteopathic doctor in the treatment of patients.
Analyze: Are MDs and DOs trained differently?
Is it harder to become an MD than a DO?
In theory, it is “easier” to get into a DO medical school than MD medical schools. This is because the GPA and MCAT scores of accepted DO medical students are lower, on average, than the GPA and MCAT scores of accepted MD students.
Aside from this statistic, however, there is no difference in the admissions requirements between MD and DO schools. Pre-MD and pre-DO students take the same undergraduate prerequisite classes and should both focus on obtaining clinical experience in medicine before applying to graduate school. And, once you have been accepted and begin medical school, neither one is “easier” than the other. MD students and DO students largely have the same curriculum, aside from OMT, and therefore the difficulty level between MD school and DO school is essentially equivalent. It is an extremely rigorous journey, either way.
What are the main differences between MD vs DO medical schools?
During medical school, DO students complete special training regarding the musculoskeletal system, the body’s interconnected system of nerves, muscles, and bones. 10% of the time in DO school is spent on OMT training. MD students, on the other hand, do not train in OMT and lack knowledge on these in-depth musculoskeletal manipulation tactics.
Another significant difference between the two types of schools is the cost. Many MD schools are state-sponsored and offer in-state tuition for many students. On the flip side, there are very few state-sponsored DO schools. DO school is therefore much more expensive, on average, than MD school. However, this also means that the cost of going out of state to attend an MD school is approximately equal to the cost of a DO school.
Finally, DO students and MD students take different board exams. MD students take the USMLE (US Medical Licensing Examination), which some argue is “harder” than the COMLEX (Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensure Examination), the exam taken by DO students. The two tests are not easy to compare as they are definitely different, but the USMLE is favored by residency directors for more competitive specialities. So, taking the USMLE is essential for matching into any competitive specialty, even though it is not required for DO schools. This is a major roadblock for DO students, as they have to take an “extra” test compared to MD students, which costs them more money, time, and studying. This results in DO students having lower USMLE Step scores than MD students on average, likely due to having another test to prepare for.
What is the difference between MD vs DO residency?
Can a DO be a surgeon? The answer is YES! Any and all US residencies are open to both MD and DO students. Both types of schools go through the same match process at the end of the four years. However, DO schools have many more graduates match into primary care and rural residencies than MD schools. As a DO graduate, it is extremely difficult to match into competitive residency programs, like dermatology, plastics, neurosurgery, ENT, etc. These specialties are matched to MD students at a much higher rate than DO students. So, though it is not impossible for DO students to specialize, it is a long uphill battle. Therefore, if you are certain you would like to match into a specialty residency program (not family medicine, internal medicine, or pediatrics), it is recommended to attend an MD medical school.
Decide: Which is right for you?
Why might someone choose DO over MD, and vice versa?
There are a variety of reasons why DO may be more appealing than an MD degree. If you are certain that you want to go into primary care (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics) and are passionate about OMT, that is the first indication that DO could be a better option. Many patients specifically seek out and request OMT when they are searching for a doctor. Patients are usually opposed to taking more medication if they do not have to. OMT helps a lot of people, and the human touch connects the physician to the patient. Also, practicing OMT can pay well, as it can be billed as a procedure.
Additionally, if you do not mind traveling for clinical rotations and desire to work in rural, underserved areas to practice medicine, there will be an abundance of opportunities in the DO field for you. Finally, if you are running out of time and resources to keep applying to medical school and have been rejected from MD schools, you should choose DO. To hear a current physician’s personal story for why he chose DO, check out the webinar.
On the flip side, if you are certain you want to pursue a highly competitive specialty, then it would be ideal to pursue an MD degree. MD students also largely have more access to different research opportunities and resources, like the NIH R01 grants, which are almost exclusively given to MDs. Moreover, MD medical schools are also more often affiliated with nearby teaching hospitals, and so all of the clinical rotations can be located close to a student’s life outside of their medical school. This is a huge perk for those with outside obligations, like a sports team, a church community, or a family.
Which is better, MD or DO?
While this is a very popular question among pre-med students, the reality is not that simple. The decision to pursue DO school or MD school is a very nuanced and personal one. It is best to evaluate the pros and cons of both MD and DO, and decide where your specific skills and talents would thrive.
If you are passionate about OMT, primary care, and/or providing medical care to rural communities, DO is the way to go. Additionally, if you haven’t had luck with MD school admissions, DO school should definitely be considered as a great alternative. On the other hand, if you want to pursue a competitive specialty, are passionate about research, want more residency opportunities, or do not like the idea of traveling a lot, MD is the degree for you.
The bottom line is: your degree does not define you. Your degree will not decide if you are a great doctor or not. What makes a good doctor is medical knowledge, empathy towards patients, evidence-based decisions, and considering a patient as a whole person rather than a specific disease. You will not regret your decision to become an MD or a DO in the end!
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