Comments on: DO’s: The "fake Rolex" of the medical profession?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:47:00 +0000

DOs are actually fully legitimate physicians in the US. Osteopaths in Europe and elsewhere are different from American DOs. I would not consider a DO to be a fake Rolex, they are essentially the same thing, its a lot more like comparing an Apple to a PC. They both have the same end mission, one has a slightly different philosophy. If you want a fake Rolex doctor, there are thousands of foreign trained doctors from third world countries that practice in the US. There is even a huge cottage industry of foreign medical schools in the Caribbean and Eastern Europe that cater to rejected US students that did not get into MD or DO programs.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:12:00 +0000

My father and grandfather are both M.D.’s and I am a D.O. I never realized that some of my father’s colleagues growing up were D.O.’s. I had a chip on my shoulder and told him that I would apply to M.D. schools only. He told me to apply to all the medical schools in Philadelphia. My education was top notch. I had many friends from college who were at neighboring medical schools and we were all learning the same material. After graduation we finally entered resideny together and eventually took the same Specialty Boards. It’s what you do with the education you are given in medical school that makes the difference. My roommate from med school is now the director of his department at Johns Hopkins and teaches M.D.’s. Here is a link also of a D.O. at Harvard Mass General Hospital.
http://www.insidermedicine.com/archives/In_the_Spotlight_Michael_Jaff_DO_Harvard_Medical_School_Massachusetts_General_Hospital_Discusses_Minimally_Invasive_Treatment_of_Blood_Vessel_Disorders_3074.aspx

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:02:00 +0000

Hello,
Since a an osteopath (D.O.) is the fake rolex of the medical profession compared to the real rolex of the medical profession,i.e., a medical doctor (M.D.), why haven’t D.O.s tried to do anything to become a rolex?

To become the rolex along with M.D.s in the profession, perhaps they can do what foreign medical graduates – M.B.B.S. – have done –> change their degree to M.D.! D(0)uh!!
The point is, D.O.s, to become the rolex along with M.D.s in the profession to seperate yourselves from DNPs (Doctors of Nursing Practice),NPs (Nurse Practioners),DScPAs (Doctors of Science of Physician’s Assistants), and PAs (Physicians Assistants), then it is recommended that DOs change their initials from “DO” to “MD,DO”. If the old timers in the AOA will not let you change your initials, then get your M.D. from http://www.DOTOMD.com.

That is what I recommend to you DOs.
From,
an M.D.(i.e.- a rolex)

For more respect from their patients to recognize that they are real doctors, are some osteopaths now applying for the http://www.DOTOMD.com program? If so, could the doctor then display : MD,DO initials?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 13 May 2008 02:16:00 +0000

I was offered a full scholarship to Harvard Medical School, but istead decided on going to my state Osteopathic school. I did it because I like where I live, I like the DO philosophy, it would be easier to pass and get through DO school, and who cares, in the end, my white coat is going to say Doctor Jay, not Jay, DO. I really dont care, as long as I get that cash then can compare me to a fake Movado…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:56:00 +0000

**(I apologize for the typos in the previous post)**

Hello,

Let me preface by saying this is only directed to those physicians (M.D. or D.O.) who have complexes about their worth.

I am a 3rd medical student. As a student who graduated with a 3.9 GPA and competitive MCAT score, I was accepted into 4 Allopathic programs (with 2 full-tuition offers) and 8 Osteopathic programs (1 full-tuition offer). I chose my Osteopathic institution because, as it has been previously mentioned, they truly had a desire to see if my heart was in this for what I could do for the people needing care versus some (not all) of the allopathic institutions who were more impressed by my accolades and potential future research initiatives. I, in no way think that one group is superior or inferior than the other (though there may still be individuals with the Kevin, M.D. mindset), however I along with many of my M.D. candidate friends have noticed that many of the D.O. programs place a greater emphasis on students having well-rounded patient care skills. It is unfortunate that there are physicians such as Dr. Kevin who have failed to realize that patients are the final judge and they judge you on your abilities, amicability, and availability. If certain social circles of physicians choose to still hang on to their self-synthesized superiority, then I'll gladly be the appreciated and appreciative "fake rolex" doctor that the common patient would choose to see as opposed to being the rolex with the price tag engraved in its frame in order to ensure that the general public always acknowledges its higher level "significance".

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:46:00 +0000

Hello,

Let me preface by saying this is only directed to those physicians (M.D. or D.O.) who have complexes about their worth.

I am a 3rd medical student. As a student who graduated with a 3.9 GPA and competitive MCAT score, I was accepted into 4 Allopathic programs (with 2 full-tuition offers) and 8 Osteopathic programs (1 full-tuition offer). I chose my Osteopathic institution becasuse, as it has been previously mentioned, they truly had a desire to see if my heart was in this for what I could do for the people needing care versus some (not all) of the allopathic institutions who were more impressed by my accalaides and potential future research initiatives. I, in no way think that one group is superior or inferior than the other (though there may still be individuals with the Kevin, M.D. mindset), however I along with many of my M.D. candidate friends have noticed that many of the D.O. programs place a greater emphasis on students having well-rounded patient care skills. It is unfortunate that there are physicians such as Dr. Kevin who have failed to realize that patients are the final judge and they judge you on your abilities, amicability, and availabilty. If certain social circles of physicans choose to still hang on to their self-sythesized superiority, then I'll glady be the appreciated and appreciative "fake rolex" doctor that the common patient would choose to see as opposed to being the rolex with the price tag engraved in its frame in order to ensure that the general public always acknowledges its higher level "significance".

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 21:45:00 +0000

DO’s on here who are trying to prove their equality are inferior. MD’s on here who are trying to prove their superiority are also inferior. When individuals try to mask their own insecurities by claiming “descrimination” or “superiority” they are proving what shitty, self-absorbed physicians they are and how they really don’t care about patients.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 23:34:00 +0000

Here’s one link on international recognition of DO training:

http://www.oialliance.org/directories.htm

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 23:27:00 +0000

The WHO maintains a compendium of medical schools in all countries. Depending on the country, the school may not use the degree "MD", or for that matter, may not even use the Roman alphabet.

This can be helpful for one country recognizing another country's training when a physician tries to practice in another country.

Under "USA" the WHO recognizes that physicians are granted the degree "MD" or "DO", and there are two systems of training, that is, the allopathic and osteopathic systems.

By right, other countries should be recognizing American MD's and DO's equally, subject to the same rules. Same as we recognize their graduates when we take their docs.

Would that it would be such a perfect world. In fact, the USA is one of the most liberal countries when it comes to taking foreign medical graduates.

I have little patience for FMG's complaining about discrimination in the USA, when I know full well I would not be let in the door in their countries. Most of the time.

There are some countries that allow DO's full practice rights. I used to be able to find that in AOA publications but find it hard there days, I don't know why.

Don't know about Continental Europe, as alluded to in that news article. I recall Israel allows full practice rights. I did notice in Wikipedia, in 2005, the UK General Medical Council started recognizing DO's for full practice rights. Hopefully the British Commonwealth countries will follow suit, and maybe the EU as well.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 03:16:00 +0000

The thing about getting "MD" put after your name when you're really a "DO" is my pet peeve.

When it's a good article, the doctor did something good, or the doctor is providing expert commentary on a news show, it's always "Professor Jones, MD from Mega Medical School", when I know the doc personally and I know the doc is a D.O. As in, we trained together.

The most recent example is Rick Jadick, the Navy surgeon who was awarded the Bronze Star with “Combat V” for heroic valor in 2006. He was credited with saving the lives of 30 marines and sailors during the Second Battle of Fallujah.

No I didn't train with him. Don't know him. But I do know he's a DO. I doubt the soldiers he saved thought he was a fake Rolex.

But Google "Jadick" and "MD" and look at all the news articles calling him "MD", including the "Hero MD" cover of Newsweek.

But boyoboy, when a DO does badly it's "osteopath" this and that, splashed all over the headlines.

Although in the larger scheme of things, it's one of the smaller complaints I have about the press.