Israeli (Technion) M.D. versus American D.O.??

[dsl]

I have been accepted into an American osteopathic medical school (D.O.) as well as the Technion TEAMS M.D. program. All other things being equal, which do you think would be regarded more favorably by American residency programs? I know this is a difficult question, but I would greatly appreciate some honest opinions and any insight you think would be helpful. Thank you in advance.

[FUTR_DR]

It is my belief that you always stay in the States if you can. Go to the D.O. school


Rob

[UAGrocks!]

It is my belief that you always stay in the States if you can. Go to the D.O. school

I disagree about this. The fact that you got your MD from a foreign country will no longer matter at some point. After you've done your residency, have some experience under your belt, and maybe have a few gray hairs on your head, people will stop asking where you went to medical school. You'll have "MD" behind your name just like any other MD.

On the other hand, a DO will constantly have to explain to people that his degree is equivalent to an MD. And your colleagues will always assume that the DO next to your name means that you couldn't get into an MD program but still wanted to be a doctor, so you went to a DO school.

As a patient, I wouldn't go to a DO. I would, however, go to a doctor who got his MD from Israel. The three medical schools in Israel are totally legit. They have Nobel Prize winners and everything. Plus, you'll come out of Israel with a cool story to tell about your experience living abroad for a few years. The whole foreign medical school experience is a pretty good package.

[isramed]

UAG is right on track with his comments. Israel MD over American DO. Average test scores at the Israeli schools are significantly higher than American DO, and you will have access, albeit limited, into very competitive residencies.

[guyim88]

Israel medical schools are considered one of the best medical schools in the world - the education you get there will probably be one of the highest you can get, as regard to passing the USMLE exams - most Israeli doctors I know (ages 40-50) work in the U.S. and Canada, and get the top jobs in the market, and of course will pass with a high score the USMLE easily.

[WannaBdoc25]

I am still confused about the DO profession in general. I would like to hear honest opinions about it but feel some people who do not feel Do is equal to MD will say so just to not start a debate or get reprimanded on the forum.

I do not know enough about it in either direction, I would like to get honest opinions thou.

[isramed]

DO is a fantastic route for some, and unnecessary for others. I do not know the retention rate for DO schools. DO is certainly difficult, but easier than MD. DO students generally are less talented academically, and must work harder than MD students to excel. Someone that is less gifted intellectually may think they are in a tougher program compared to someone who can grasp medical concepts faster. Who would you rather have treating you? A doctor that needs to read medical journals four (4) hours a day to keep up pace with a doctor that only needs to read medical journals for two (2) hours per day? This question is not so easily answered.

Most, certainly not all, and I apologize to the outstanding DO applicants/students/doctors, fall somewhere in between the following two categories when applying to allopathic schools:

1) ...will experience serious problems in medical school and should perhaps make a different career choice.

2) ...will need to work hard but will make it in medical school and should have no problems as a physician.