>>> Christopher A. Perez is the author of Getting into Medical School: A Comprehensive Guide for Non-Traditional Students.
Medical School Options
An excerpt from the book Getting into Medical School: A Comprehensive Guide for Non-Traditional Students.
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flickr/ Seattle Municipal Archives
here are two paths to a medical degree, each with their own distinct advantages. Pre-med students also have several options both domestically and abroad when applying to medical schools. Research prospective medical schools and apply to institutions that are best suited for you. If you are having trouble deciding, speak to a premedical advisor to discuss your options in further detail. ALLOPATHIC VS OSTEOPATHIC There are two types of physicians: Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). The traditional medical degree, the MD, practices allopathic medicine. Allopathic medicine is described as “a system of medical practice that aims to combat disease by use of remedies (as drugs or surgery) producing effects different from or incompatible with those produced by the disease being treated” (Allopathy). The newer
form of medicine is practiced by osteopathic physicians and it involves taking more of a holistic approach. Osteopathy avoids prescribing medications whenever possible and it is centered on treating the whole body and not just the patient’s symptoms or disease. Both medical degrees are equivalent as they receive similar medical training in their respective medical schools. Though they are alike, MD and DO medical degrees have their subtle differences. Distinct Beginnings As early as man had become injured or fallen ill, humans have begun practicing medicine to find cures. By the 18th century, new medical discoveries and technological advancements led to the formation of various medical societies around the world. Around the same time, the United States was placing a new emphasis on standardizing medical school curriculum. By the mid-1700s, the
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first American medical school was established that awarded graduates with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. Soon thereafter, other medical schools followed and the Doctor of Medicine became the universal degree for those who practiced medicine. As doctors learned more about the human body and its organ system, new types of treatments were created that focused precisely on patient’s symptoms. Approximately one hundred years later, a physician by the name of Andrew Taylor Still was growing displeased with the direction that the medical field was heading as he felt that doctors were narrowly focusing on treating the illness rather than the patient. “He recognized that the medical practices of the day often caused more harm than good. He focused on developing a system of medical care that would promote the body’s innate ability to heal itself and called this system of medicine osteopathy, now known as osteopathic medicine” (What). Osteopathic medicine was believed to be a pseudoscience and was not fully recognized by the rest of the medical community after its initial inception. As osteopathic medical schools began emulating curriculum from their allosteric counterparts, the perception of the osteopathic medicine began to shift. Gradually, it became accepted as an alternative to allopathic medicine. Today, the training that students receive at both types of medical schools is almost indistinguishable. Allopathic and osteopathic medical students can attain the same residency positions and practice in identical areas of medicine. Recently, several U.S. allopathic medical schools have taken an interest in osteopathic medicine as they now offer holistic courses that students can take. Medical School Admissions In the U.S., there are more than 140 allopathic medical schools compared to just over 30 osteopathic medical schools. One would think that it may be easier to get into a MDgranting medical school based on the overwhelming amount of schools but it’s not the case. Allopathic medical schools are more competitive than osteopathic schools as they focus mainly on the applicant’s GPA and MCAT scores.