I am a 42 yr. old Chiropractor, married and I have a 7 year old child. Looking to change careers to either DO/Carribean MD or DPT. Does anybody have any insight on either career. What are the pro's and cons of being an Osteopathic Physician/MD or Doctor of Physical Therapy. Any feedback on salary, hours, schooling schedule, benefits, etc... would be greatly appreciated to narrowing down the field. Any schools anybody would reccommend to attend?

Basically, only you can answer this question, b/c only you know your situation best. First you've got to be clear if you want to be a physician with the full scope of practice in medicine....then D.O route it is, or a Caribbean M.D. However, with so many schools oppening in U.S, and existing schools increasing their enrollment, it would be really foolish not to try U.S (M.D or D.O) route first. If you want to be a P.T with the Doctorate in that field then do DPT. But do not kid yourself, you won't be practicing medicine. Most PTs who I know (as an RN myself I know quite a few ppl in many allied health specialties) tell me that DPT is a fluff built on the regular Bach in PT degree. But since it's pretty much an entry level reqs for the newbies now, it's just another way for PT schools to make a buck. I know plenty of D.Cs who were my classmates at ROSS, so were many PTs. I know a couple of D.Cs in D.O schools, as well as one guy finishing his DPT. So, as you can see ppl take different routes for different reason. One thing is for sure DPT should be a lot more doable if you plan to work during school. It's also a lot shorter. For what it's worth....there you have it.

Good Luck.

__________________
No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.

George S. Patton