Osteopathic transfer to SGU??

[Regretfully, DO]

Is it possible to transfer to Ross after 2nd year at a DO school? I want to do my rotations in US - but not move to Caribs before 2nd year - therefore I want to finish my education at my DO school. Is that possible to transfer advanced standing 3rd year?

[Regretfully, DO]

Is it possible to transfer to SABA after 2nd year at a DO school? I want to do my rotations in US - but not move to Caribs before 2nd year - therefore I want to finish my education at my DO school. Is that possible to transfer advanced standing 3rd year?

[Regretfully, DO]

I am an osteopathic student who is going to stop post-grad training after internship (as a general practioner) so residency program acceptance is not a big deal. I have realized i'd like the letters MD for advertising> I can't use the UHSA program because they're not approved in CA. Or else I'd pay and get the degree as advanced standing. So I'd like to transfer to a carib school once 2nd year is over and do my clinicals. Is this possible at SGU, Ross, AUC or SABA? Thanks@ :)

[OLDPRO]

WOW! Contact the schools on that one.

[AUCMD2006]

make sure you go to a cali approved school after that acceptance is based on their policies. i know auc has taken students into 5th semester from US med schools don't know about direct transfer into clinicals and i know ross used to require 1 semester on island so you may have to spend 4 months on site.

hopefully you aren;t one of those who is gonna just use the MD title to peddle vitamins....sad day it was when i saw a MD endorsing the rotisserie from ronco. isn;t it against ethics for an MD to endorse things?

[swimguy23]

make sure you go to a cali approved school after that acceptance is based on their policies. i know auc has taken students into 5th semester from US med schools don't know about direct transfer into clinicals and i know ross used to require 1 semester on island so you may have to spend 4 months on site.

hopefully you aren;t one of those who is gonna just use the MD title to peddle vitamins....sad day it was when i saw a MD endorsing the rotisserie from ronco. isn;t it against ethics for an MD to endorse things?

dude Dr. Scholl's are a lifesaver.....also to OP why would you transfer from DO? I rotate with DO students and find them equivalent or superb in every aspect.....the only thing i think they lag behind in is the base tan but i think its worth it

[Shah_Patel_PT]

Is it possible to transfer to Ross after 2nd year at a DO school? I want to do my rotations in US - but not move to Caribs before 2nd year - therefore I want to finish my education at my DO school. Is that possible to transfer advanced standing 3rd year?

I dont know any DOs that have transferred so far. Contact the NJ office.

[Floater]

To apply for advanced standing you'll have to talk to the director of the Advacned Introduction to Clinical Medicine (AICM) in Miami. Cal the Miami office to investigate this - you can find their contact info on the Ross website. I just interviewed with them last week for advanced standing.

As to whether you will be able to transfer directly into clinicals, NO ONE on this or any other forum is likely to have anything but opinion and hearsay to offer on this, so you really need to talk directly to Ross.

[scoobz1981]

Why not just get your DO degree and move on?

Val

[Regretfully, DO]

Why not just get your DO degree and move on?

Val

I want to put M.D. by my name (seriously)

[Regretfully, DO]

Is it possible to transfer to SGU after 2nd year at a DO school? I want to do my rotations in US - but not move to Caribs before 2nd year - therefore I want to finish my education at my DO school. Is that possible to transfer advanced standing 3rd year? (this is purely for the letters M.D.)

[jaywalk81]

as far as i know, sgu doesnt take any transfer, but your best bet is to call bayshore and find out from them. good luck

[SARGOD]

I want to put M.D. by my name (seriously)

I think you're making a big mistake, but the only way to get a for sure answer is to call the school admin and find out if they take 3rd year transfers from DO schools. I'm pretty sure they will if you've got good grades or Step 1. But the only way to know for sure is to call or e-mail them directly! I've heard RUMOR (only) that there are some crappy DO schools (like one or two), but you are only going to increase your uphill battle by switching to a Caribbean school...we've got a much larger stigma to overcome then any DO school in the U.S....good luck

[stephew]

Is it possible to transfer to SGU after 2nd year at a DO school? I want to do my rotations in US - but not move to Caribs before 2nd year - therefore I want to finish my education at my DO school. Is that possible to transfer advanced standing 3rd year? (this is purely for the letters M.D.)no. sgu will not take people into the 3rd year. and if you did transfer into the 3rd year you'd still get the md degree. if you are pleased with your education, i recommend you stick out the DO training.

[canman]

you should call the bayshore office, and they will let you know!!

[grace]

no. sgu will not take people into the 3rd year. and if you did transfer into the 3rd year you'd still get the md degree. if you are pleased with your education, i recommend you stick out the DO training.

Maybe he/she doesn't want the DO label? Who knows, but if this is the case, yes graduating from a Caribbean school would give you the MD label, but you'd be a foreign graduate instead of a U.S. gradutate.

[anencephalic]

dude Dr. Scholl's are a lifesaver.....also to OP why would you transfer from DO? I rotate with DO students and find them equivalent or superb in every aspect.....the only thing i think they lag behind in is the base tan but i think its worth it

Agreed. The DO students I've dealt with are very professional and knowledgable.

Why transfer to Carib schools? The DO's I've spoken with who have taken both COMLEX and USMLE say that the COMLEX was alot easier (albeit longer).

Add to that the fact that you won't have AOA residencies to apply to and you've effectively narrowed your residency potential...

Good luck,

Aloha,

[grace]

dude Dr. Scholl's are a lifesaver.....also to OP why would you transfer from DO? I rotate with DO students and find them equivalent or superb in every aspect.....the only thing i think they lag behind in is the base tan but i think its worth it

What base tan? I got pretty tan while in St. Maarten, however I quickly lost it. No one would ever guess that I lived in the Caribbean if they saw me now.

[stephew]

please continue here:
http://www.valuemd.com/the-relaxing-lounge/49956-osteopathic-transfer-big-3-caribs.html

[stephew]

please continue here:
http://www.valuemd.com/the-relaxing-lounge/49956-osteopathic-transfer-big-3-caribs.html

[islandhopper]

The shot answer to ur question -- yes, it is possible to transfer to Ross, AUC and Saba, but not to Sgu. I am not sure about the specific requirements though, sorry.

[The Republic]

Is it possible to transfer to Ross after 2nd year at a DO school? I want to do my rotations in US - but not move to Caribs before 2nd year - therefore I want to finish my education at my DO school. Is that possible to transfer advanced standing 3rd year?
I am sure any of the Caribbean programs would be happy to have you as a transfer student. That being said, I do not see why transferring from a DO school to a Caribbean school would be helpful. Having a DO allows you to compete not only for all the IMG spots at ACGME residencies, but also for the many AOA residencies in many highly lucrative fields, and these residencies are reserved for DO graduates only. You are much more likely to obtain a residency in the field of your choice if you remain a DO student.

[McGillGrad]

I am sure any of the Caribbean programs would be happy to have you as a transfer student. That being said, I do not see why transferring from a DO school to a Caribbean school would be helpful. Having a DO allows you to compete not only for all the IMG spots at ACGME residencies, but also for the many AOA residencies in many highly lucrative fields, and these residencies are reserved for DO graduates only. You are much more likely to obtain a residency in the field of your choice if you remain a DO student.

Maybe the MD means more than the DO to this person.

[Regretfully, DO]

First off, thank you all for your insightful responses. It is appreciated.

I am happy with the education I am getting at the DO school and agree full with the advantage of residency slots being availalbe in the future. However, I am going into Family Practice so it shouldn't be a problem regardless of where I graduate from. I was hoping to get the MD degree afterwards from University of Health Science, Antigua but California does not recognize that school - therefore, it would be illegal to advertise as an MD. To answer your questions, I did not realize that it would such a huge disadvantage to not have MD after your name. People just don't know what a DO is. So my options to leave it blank (i.e. Dr. Joe Smith - Family Practice) which looks fishy as well. And if you put D.O., some people just say "that's not a real doctor" and move on to the next.

I think from a business standpoint, it will serve me well to have an M.D. - I will definately talk to some of the schools when the time comes.

Again, thank you all for your kind and respectful responses.

[Scott1981]

not 100% sure, but i do believe DOs in practicing in NY can advertise as MDs due to a court ruling there.

[butters]

SGU does accept a few transfers but u would have to repeat ure 2nd year.

Ross and AUC (from what I've heard), are better about accepting students into their programs with advanced standing.

Good luck

[USIMG2008]

In all honesty if you are already in a US program it would be foolish to go to an offshore school. I applied to several DO programs and did not get admission so I am on my way to Australia. I heard in California DOs can undergo continuing education to transfer their DO into an MD.

[ed gee]

You heard wrong.

[stephew]

SGU does accept a few transfers but u would have to repeat ure 2nd year.

Ross and AUC (from what I've heard), are better about accepting students into their programs with advanced standing.

Good lucknot necessarily from DO programs. I dont honestly know if they do or dont accept do credits. sgu tends to make these decisions based on teh general state licensing rules. I dont know if a US med school would take a DO transfer. the curriculum may be sufficiently different.

[Picard]

You cannot convert a DO to MD in California. This myth came from when UC Irvine absorbed the then "California College of Osteopathic Medicine" into their University and turned it into an allopathic school "California Colleg of Medicine," basically the medical school for UC Irvine nowadays. When that happened, they allowed all the DO alumni to convert their degree to MD, for a small fee. This happened in the late 70's, I believe.

I don't know if this is still done in NY, but up until recently, DO's in NY can take additional courses and have their degree converted to an MD, awarded by CUNY. Don't know if this is still the case, and don't know if other states treat this conversion.

P

[IMG X-Files]

If your scope of practice is the same as MDs, why even bother with the title ??? in all seriousness, I doubt it you are a real DO.....Many DOs do train along side of most MDs in US Residency, and have no problems with it....you are a physician !! DO/MD......accepted in all 50 states......

[rokshana]

well, my question is why aren't you trying to transfer into a US allo med school?

[Locuscoeruleus22]

I have friends in DO schools, NYCOM, West Virginia and Lake Erie to be exact. They all like the school they are attending and I don't think they'd go to any offshore school if given a choice. It is a fact that there are way more MDs (including IMGs) than DOs in the states I want to practice in. Once I start practicing no one will care where I went to school, but my title will be MD. For me, MD is my choice, but for others DO my be a better choice. Personally, I'm looking forward to the adventure. I have spoken with many grads from Ross who are now in private practice and fellowship and they all say the same thing, that are happy with their choice.

[wisdom76]

I want to put M.D. by my name (seriously)

\

Interesting!!!!! I have not really thought of this before. from DO to MD well, there is always the first time to every thing. I am sure there is away about it. My suggestion?.....call all the big 4 to speak with program directors not the clarks that answer phone calls cos they are only good at that. Good luck

[grace]

Wow, this thread was started in November 2005 and you're still giving this person advice :lol:

[OlderStudent]

Is there any truth to this?

You cannot convert a DO to MD in California. This myth came from when UC Irvine absorbed the then "California College of Osteopathic Medicine" into their University and turned it into an allopathic school "California Colleg of Medicine," basically the medical school for UC Irvine nowadays. When that happened, they allowed all the DO alumni to convert their degree to MD, for a small fee. This happened in the late 70's, I believe.

I don't know if this is still done in NY, but up until recently, DO's in NY can take additional courses and have their degree converted to an MD, awarded by CUNY. Don't know if this is still the case, and don't know if other states treat this conversion.

P

[Taus61]

Is there any truth to this?
in CA...yes...that did happen

in NY...no

[soxfank]

Interesting I happened across this. I started at PCOM in 1986, took a (now defunct) exam called the Medical Science Knowledge Profile during my third year. I did fairly well in the exam and was accepted as a transfer student to Albany Medical College, had to redo my third year and got my MD degree. Best thing I ever did!! Never have to explain the "DO difference" to anyone, opened professional doors that would otherwise have been closed. Transferring wasn't a well known practice then, I stunned some of my fellow DO students at the time ("You can DO that?!"), I would think in the age of the internet that this practice is better known, am I wrong?

[ed gee]

There are a small number of DO students that transfer to LCME schools each year. The following schools consider them, though I am aware of schools not listed that have accepted DO transfers. Search By Policy | Transfer Policies Reports (http://services.aamc.org/tsp_reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.search_policy)

[sylvian291]

I did fairly well in the exam and was accepted as a transfer student to Albany Medical College, had to redo my third year and got my MD degree. Best thing I ever did!! Never have to explain the "DO difference" to anyone, opened professional doors that would otherwise have been closed.

So you tacked on an extra $30,000+ in debt, your loans continued to accrue interest for another year, and you lost a year of your life where you would be making $100,000+. That's the best thing you ever did? :confused: It says "osteopathic medical student" on our students' coats and "osteopathic physician" on our physicians' coats. I have had exactly 1 patient ask me what osteopathic meant while I was checking pupillary reflexes during a physicial, to which I responded "many years ago there were differences in philosophies between osteopathic and allopathic, which is an MD, educations but today they practice the same type of medicine" to which her response was "oh ok." Sounds like a real nightmare having to explain the difference, eh? :rolleyes:

[sheikh1]

What ever makes you happy, go for it.

[muniraward]

First off, thank you all for your insightful responses. It is appreciated.

I am happy with the education I am getting at the DO school and agree full with the advantage of residency slots being availalbe in the future. However, I am going into Family Practice so it shouldn't be a problem regardless of where I graduate from. I was hoping to get the MD degree afterwards from University of Health Science, Antigua but California does not recognize that school - therefore, it would be illegal to advertise as an MD. To answer your questions, I did not realize that it would such a huge disadvantage to not have MD after your name. People just don't know what a DO is. So my options to leave it blank (i.e. Dr. Joe Smith - Family Practice) which looks fishy as well. And if you put D.O., some people just say "that's not a real doctor" and move on to the next.

I think from a business standpoint, it will serve me well to have an M.D. - I will definately talk to some of the schools when the time comes.

Again, thank you all for your kind and respectful responses.


I am so sorry to say this, but such sort of people are really out there who chant after the title???? I am an RN and work in one of the biggest hospitals in Nevada. I have seen D.O's who do their clinical rotations shadowing with the best groups of cardiovascular surgeons I also work with D.Os and didn't know that they weren't MDs for the LONGEST time. I also know of this one D.O who did her entire schooling/education in a D.O school, passed her USMLEs, but did her residency in Medicine. Also, some good friends of mine (MDs) told me that they went to the MD school because of the same reason as you but they didn't see any difference between what they both did. Also, one of them told me that he didn't get to pursue the speciality he really desired. so, there ! I have heard that D.O schools are slowly gaining lot of popularity and that in the near future, there will be a lot more D.O Schools, and those existing now are becomming more nd acompetitive. I would be happy to go to a U.S med school and then to a D.O school before applying to a carib school. Infact, that's the advice I have received from tons of caribbean students on ValueMD....

[mindstorm]

have a look: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) to Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Program Homepage (http://www.dotomd.com)
good luck!

[GeorgeMD2B]

have a look: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) to Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Program Homepage (http://www.dotomd.com)
good luck!

I would be really wary about programs like this.

[chartero]

What George said. Dentists and other non-physicians who have taken upgrade-to-"M.D." programs mostly-online from a few scattered providers have had serious problems.

The D.O.-to-"M.D." site referenced says:
From the Osteopathic medical students who have completed the required courses for the M.D. degree, who have provided the required paperwork as outlined in the "Requirements" section, and who have attended the two-week USMLE review course can receive their M.D. degree in as little as one month upon their completion of the program.

The difference is a paperwork, a two week USMLE review, then a one month wait?

Run, don't walk. (Away.)

I believe this page on this sort of program belongs to this board's own azskeptic: Internet Medical Schools (http://www.internetmedicalschool.homestead.com/)

ETA: George Gollin, Professor of Physics at UIUC and an activist against diploma mills, looks into dotomd's mysterious backstory in this degreediscussion.com thread. (http://www.degreediscussion.com/viewtopic.php?t=4122&highlight=)

[ULTRON]

Why not SGU?

ULTRON

The shot answer to ur question -- yes, it is possible to transfer to Ross, AUC and Saba, but not to Sgu. I am not sure about the specific requirements though, sorry.

[billydoc]

Why not SGU?

ULTRON

I don't know for sure but I've heard it's SGU's policy not to take any transfers, perhaps with rare exceptions of transfers from U.S schools.
But I don't think that transfer from any other Carib or foreign medical school to SGU is possible.

[stephew]

sgu will not take transfer from DO school or indeed most schools. Never into clinicals and rarely into basic sci years.

[GeorgeMD2B]

Stay in your DO program, you really do not want to go overseas for your medical education, especially in a third world country.

[devildoc8404]

FWIW, Saint Matthew's flat refused to accept any of my credits from a US osteopathic insitution. (Interesting, since they hire faculty from that same institution to teach at SMU... and they have students rotating at osteopathic hospitals.)

Whatever. I'll go elsewhere.