Practicing DO's: Easy to get a job?

[drdempsey]

My question is for DO's. I am looking to go back to school to become a DO. Currently a Chiropractor, but don't want to make another "chiro" mistake. How easy is it to get a job after graduating from a DO school? Do you get recognized as a "real" doctor? Anybody willing to share would be greatly appreciated.

[wcb22]

D.O. degrees are basically equivalent to M.D.s. Just land your residency position, and you're good to go. You won't struggle to find a job.

[butterflymd]

You definitely will not struggle to find a job. I have 2 friends that are DO's in NY and they do fairly well. Sometimes patients don't recognize the letters and have to be told that yes they are doctors but that is about it. Also they are working in trying to get another letter added to the degree so that they are recognized by patients as being physicians and not chiropracters. https://www.do-online.org/pdf/pub_do0208dodegree.pdf

[chartero]

If I am not mistaken, you will be expected to have shadowed a D.O. for a short time to apply for osteopathic school. D.O.s individually, or through state or local osteopathic associations in your area, or the area in which you'd like to study or work, should be open to your contacting them directly. In some areas, especially around osteopathic schools of very long standing, the D.O. is entirely familiar to anyone as equivalent to the M.D. The only real issue is that in some areas the D.O. is less familiar to the general public. D.O.s may be second in line for some M.D.-oriented residencies, but all else being equal it's a pretty quick second, and there are D.O.-only residencies also available. If you want to work outside the U.S., laws and prevailing practices in some other countries may not be familiar with the D.O.

[Scott1981]

that is correct. you need a LOR from a DO for AACOMAS.

[Runzhouse]

that is correct. you need a LOR from a DO for AACOMAS.

This is NOT TRUE...it depends on the school...some schools require a DO letter, some schools will accept an MD letter, other schools will accept a letter from any healthcare representative (volunteer coordinator, nurse...etc)

To the OP...you will NOT have a problem finding a job...A DO is a PHYSICIAN...your DO NOT find physicians bumming around worrying if they will get a job. A cardiologist will be a cardiologist, a surgeon will be a surgeon, a internist, a family physician...that is your title...it's not based on the degree.

[Scott1981]

This is NOT TRUE...it depends on the school...some schools require a DO letter, some schools will accept an MD letter, other schools will accept a letter from any healthcare representative (volunteer coordinator, nurse...etc)

To the OP...you will NOT have a problem finding a job...A DO is a PHYSICIAN...your DO NOT find physicians bumming around worrying if they will get a job. A cardiologist will be a cardiologist, a surgeon will be a surgeon, a internist, a family physician...that is your title...it's not based on the degree.

i stand corrected some schools dont "require" it, but it is HIGHLY recommended by aacom to shadow a DO physician before applying. you dont want to be in a position during an interview where they ask, "why did you not shadow a DO instead of an MD?" or "why osteopathic medicine if you have had no exposure to DO's?" all fair game during the interview.

to the OP: once you complete residency, you should not have any problems getting a job or starting your own practice whether you go the MD route or the DO route. dont let any worries about finding a job after residency guide if you go MD or DO. if you are looking for any further information about MDs vs DOs, you can do a search here at VMD or at SDN. there are more than enough threads on that topic to keep you busy for quite a long time.

http://www.aacom.org/resources/bookstore/cib/Documents/cib2009/2009_CIB_web.pdf page 11

Shadowing a DO and Learning about the practice of Osteopathic Medicine
Colleges of osteopathic medicine encourage applicants to learn more about the profession by identifying an osteopathic physician to shadow. Many of the colleges require applicants to get to know a DO and request a letter of recommendation as part of the application process. Applicants should meet and spend time shadowing the physician. This provides the applicant with exposure to the osteopathic profession and enhances awareness of osteopathic medical philosophy. Working with a physician will prepare the applicant for the application interview. Completing this crucial step also demonstrates the applicant’s commitment to the osteopathic profession. Students should contact an osteopathic physician before applying for admission, beginning as early as possible while in undergraduate education. The best ways for finding osteopathic physicians include:
• Osteopathic college admission and alumni offices. Admission and alumni officials at school have many contacts in the osteopathic profession. Contact them, and let them know that you are looking to shadow and learn more about becoming an osteopathic physician.
• The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) membership office. The AOA maintains an online national directory of practicing DOs. A locality search will give you contact information, and in many cases will link you to the website of your state’s osteopathic association.
• Contacting state osteopathic associations. Many of the state associations compile lists of their members who have indicated an interest in having prospective osteopathic medical students shadow them.
• Your college’s pre-health advisor. Once you have found a doctor near you, call or send the doctor a letter. (Remember most doctors are very busy, so please be respectful if you cannot speak directly to the DO.) If you explain your interest and share your enthusiasm for the profession, many DOs’ offices will be delighted to host you for a day or two. They will be able to show you what they do so that you can decide if you want to study osteopathic medicine. Current osteopathic medical students are another good source of information about osteopathic medical education. The colleges have student ambassador programs, alumni, student government leaders and members of the Student Osteopathic Medicine Association, all of whom are eager to talk about their schools with prospective medical students. For further information, contact the admissions office at the schools in which you are interested.

[GeorgeMD2B]

Not all DO schools require a letter but some will recommend it, almost all DO schools will want their applicants to have a solid understanding of Osteopathic principles.

[Runzhouse]

Not all DO schools require a letter but some will recommend it, almost all DO schools will want their applicants to have a solid understanding of Osteopathic principles.

Yes...something that can be done with a quick wikipedia search the night before an interview....;)