Thread: New Guy

Hello to all,
I am a beginning Chiro student, and I wanted to share a little about myself. I am new to the forums, but have been reading for a while now. I didn't take my undergrad work seriously, but I have matured over the last 4 years. I took a break from school to let my wife finish her M.S.N., and she is a Neonatal NP now. So it is my turn to go back to school, I chose Chiro because I wanted freedom to have a life and work on the preventative side of health care. The last 5 years in a hospital in various roles has made me rather cynical. I have a strong science background and want to run an allopathic EB practice. I am excited about the new legislation regarding Rx formulary and the intergration of services. I am hoping it leads to a greater acceptance of DC's as PCP's (hospital privledges, etc.)

I applied to Cleveland KC and got in provisionally. ( I need a psych course.) But after reading alot of posts here and other places I am concerned that it is not that great of a school. I picked it because I liked the area, the advisor was very nice to me, and they teach ddx.

Is Cleveland a good chiro school? And I know that NUHS, western states and texas CC are all good. Life, Sherman, etc. are not so good. What do you guys think?

So you guys are saying that a US PA program is better than an IMG MD because you will have a job straight out of school. Why is it that many MD grads cant get matched? Don't people finish residency every year? Has the number of MD grads really increased that much over the last 5 years that IMG's can't get a spot?

Imo, a PA program is great if you want that, but if you are already an MD waiting on a match, then it might be a waste of time. Find something else to do to pay your loans part time. IDK. PA school would be easy for you yea, but it seems like you would be twiddling your thumbs. If I do go to an offshore MD school in a few years, it would be a carib school, I just don't want to be a PA.

USHADOC, in large part, I agree with you. Although exceptions exist, if a student is not competitive enough to attend med school in the US, they are swimming upstream thereafter in terms of practicing in the US. If someone is purely motivated to become a physician, attending a school outside the US and practicing in an underserved area (e.g., Samoa) can be very rewarding. I do not think that becoming a NP or PA by default is necessarily a rational approach. I, for one, would not want to be a NP or PA even though I respect what they do.

ChiroPhysician, if you have a burning desire to become a physician, no matter what the cause, I think you should pursue your dream. Settling for anything else may be a set-up for frustration. There are no short cuts in this profession. I spent more time than most in training (** x 2, MD/PhD, residency, fellowship), but I have no regrets.

Less PGE Spots, for IMGs, more LCME MD Programs opening up, and if you go to an iffy MD program, you will run into a risky business........PA or NP is a great alternative, and job market is very good....80-90K per year...

Originally Posted by CancerDoc

USHADOC, in large part, I agree with you. Although exceptions exist, if a student is not competitive enough to attend med school in the US, they are swimming upstream thereafter in terms of practicing in the US. If someone is purely motivated to become a physician, attending a school outside the US and practicing in an underserved area (e.g., Samoa) can be very rewarding. I do not think that becoming a NP or PA by default is necessarily a rational approach. I, for one, would not want to be a NP or PA even though I respect what they do.

CRNA is another option.

I am pretty well established and content on where I am living. With the recent purchase of a house last year and my wife having a state job, I am not really wanting to go to any schools outside the US much less my own state. I am still young and able to go to med school, but I am just ready to settle down and make a little bit of money to enjoy myself. The Chiro profession has not given me that ability. PA is the quick route and the stability I would be looking for without having to take another 4 years plus residency. The pay is decent and I would still be in the health care field helping people; which is what I am ultimately looking for. The status of being an MD or being called a doctor really doesn't impact me very much. I have gone to Chiro school, graduated and given that little piece of paper that says I am a chiropractic physician. So I am a doctor, just one with a minimal scope of practice.

DC-PA option vs DC-MD(IMG) option
That's is a smart move, and something most DCs should consider instead of jumping into an offshore MD(IMG) programs, that offer little support, 4 years of high tuition & did I mention RISKY !!! most end up without a license, & NO residency spot....

PA or NP are not that hard to get into, you can graduate in 2 years or less, get a Master degree at the end of it, and a GUARANTEED job, your scope is broad to surgery and Drugs, and you will be a member of a medical team.....We just hired 2 PAs in the past year, both are making 90K per year...Good ROI, if you ask me......

Originally Posted by ChiroPhysician

I am pretty well established and content on where I am living. With the recent purchase of a house last year and my wife having a state job, I am not really wanting to go to any schools outside the US much less my own state. I am still young and able to go to med school, but I am just ready to settle down and make a little bit of money to enjoy myself. The Chiro profession has not given me that ability. PA is the quick route and the stability I would be looking for without having to take another 4 years plus residency. The pay is decent and I would still be in the health care field helping people; which is what I am ultimately looking for. The status of being an MD or being called a doctor really doesn't impact me very much. I have gone to Chiro school, graduated and given that little piece of paper that says I am a chiropractic physician. So I am a doctor, just one with a minimal scope of practice.

just how flexible are you? valuemd is full of people who have sold their house, furniture, cars, etc and given up jobs (student and spouse) to go off to MD school. there is a fellow who graduated a year behind me at TCC who did just that 5 yrs ago, and began his residency this yr. after doing 18 or so yrs in chiro. now that is sacrifice. he was really flexible.

everyone is different. your situation sounds a lot less flexible. nothing wrong with that. this guy UHSADOC keeps coming up with sound advice. he is right on with the info on PA school. univ of ala at birmingham (UAB) has a surgical PA program if you are into that.

don't know your age, but the older i get the more i am leaning toward the idea of a salary from someone, and of course most PA jobs fit that mold. i am getting ready to retire from practice, and begin another chapter of my life and i am very thankful for the chiro practice that i had. that was in another time; not with the economies of today, so i understand your desire to do something else. i like the idea of PA.

Originally Posted by ChiroPhysician

I am pretty well established and content on where I am living. With the recent purchase of a house last year and my wife having a state job, I am not really wanting to go to any schools outside the US much less my own state. I am still young and able to go to med school, but I am just ready to settle down and make a little bit of money to enjoy myself. The Chiro profession has not given me that ability. PA is the quick route and the stability I would be looking for without having to take another 4 years plus residency. The pay is decent and I would still be in the health care field helping people; which is what I am ultimately looking for. The status of being an MD or being called a doctor really doesn't impact me very much. I have gone to Chiro school, graduated and given that little piece of paper that says I am a chiropractic physician. So I am a doctor, just one with a minimal scope of practice.

DC-PA/NP Vs. DC-MD(IMG) Option

If time is an issue, as well as funding, then PA or NP should be a REALLY good choice for the DC, looking to expand scope, and get integrated into the MD/DO working force.
BTW: You can still work as a DC, in addition work inline with the hospital system or Medical Group, for a great salary....National PA/NP average is 75-100K per year.
Why waste 7-8 of ADDITIONAL Years, in NON-LCME accredited MD Program, and 200K for something that is NOT guaranteed (Limited Residency spots.)
PA or even NPs are also in demand, and you can get started in 2 years instead of 8

If I was a DC already I would highly consider that route....

Originally Posted by khiro

just how flexible are you? valuemd is full of people who have sold their house, furniture, cars, etc and given up jobs (student and spouse) to go off to MD school. there is a fellow who graduated a year behind me at TCC who did just that 5 yrs ago, and began his residency this yr. after doing 18 or so yrs in chiro. now that is sacrifice. he was really flexible.

everyone is different. your situation sounds a lot less flexible. nothing wrong with that. this guy UHSADOC keeps coming up with sound advice. he is right on with the info on PA school. univ of ala at birmingham (UAB) has a surgical PA program if you are into that.

don't know your age, but the older i get the more i am leaning toward the idea of a salary from someone, and of course most PA jobs fit that mold. i am getting ready to retire from practice, and begin another chapter of my life and i am very thankful for the chiro practice that i had. that was in another time; not with the economies of today, so i understand your desire to do something else. i like the idea of PA.

Originally Posted by UHSADOC

DC-PA/NP Vs. DC-MD(IMG) Option

If time is an issue, as well as funding, then PA or NP should be a REALLY good choice for the DC, looking to expand scope, and get integrated into the MD/DO working force.
BTW: You can still work as a DC, in addition work inline with the hospital system or Medical Group, for a great salary....National PA/NP average is 75-100K per year.
Why waste 7-8 of ADDITIONAL Years, in NON-LCME accredited MD Program, and 200K for something that is NOT guaranteed (Limited Residency spots.)
PA or even NPs are also in demand, and you can get started in 2 years instead of 8

If I was a DC already I would highly consider that route....

Go the MD route. leave the PA route for those that are satisfided making 90K a year and want to have an employer. If you've made it through the DC program, you will have no trouble with a carribean MD program and it will be far more rewarding in the end. By the way go work as a DC in Europe or Latin America if you don't want to go back to school, you can make alot more than what most GP.s make in the States and the respect level is much higher from medical colleagues and the general public