DO? MD? EKG? WTF? BBQ?
Just thought I'd slip another update in here, between philosophy and stories...
The EMT course fell flat. The professor was, to say the least, a pompous windbag. He spent about an hour of the first lecture ranting about college students. You see, he previously had never taught college students this course, just firefighters looking to upgrade. Since they already have practical knowledge, he had a perfect passage rate on the national exam. His first semester at Owens, he had half his students fail, a trend that has continued every semester since.
Doesn't sound bad, until you realize...
40 started.
20 had an 80% in the class by the midterm, which is enough to start field work and take the exam.
10 made it through fieldwork and passed the exam.
So 25% of those starting, passed. Ow.
After three hours of insults, conferring with other students (13 of the 18 had taken the course before and failed), and thinking about it, I dropped it. $800 is too much to gamble for a 25% shot at passing.
So, I'm back at UT. Two courses, one in Community Health, one in Childhood Disease. Great classes, and worth the money.
Now, what of the initials above? This.
An MD is the standard medical degree, offered by over 100 schools nationwide. It's what MUO and Wright offer, and is the normal route. DO is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, which takes a wider view of the body. A patient is seen not just as a bad neck or back, but also in how those nest together with everything else.
Why do I say this? Of the seven schools in the US offering only DO degrees, one is in Ohio- the Ohio University School of Osetopathic Medicine. I've applied, and feel quite good.
Now to wait and hope. I don't know where I'll be next year, nor what initials will follow my name someday, but I have a feeling this will work.
The EMT course fell flat. The professor was, to say the least, a pompous windbag. He spent about an hour of the first lecture ranting about college students. You see, he previously had never taught college students this course, just firefighters looking to upgrade. Since they already have practical knowledge, he had a perfect passage rate on the national exam. His first semester at Owens, he had half his students fail, a trend that has continued every semester since.
Doesn't sound bad, until you realize...
40 started.
20 had an 80% in the class by the midterm, which is enough to start field work and take the exam.
10 made it through fieldwork and passed the exam.
So 25% of those starting, passed. Ow.
After three hours of insults, conferring with other students (13 of the 18 had taken the course before and failed), and thinking about it, I dropped it. $800 is too much to gamble for a 25% shot at passing.
So, I'm back at UT. Two courses, one in Community Health, one in Childhood Disease. Great classes, and worth the money.
Now, what of the initials above? This.
An MD is the standard medical degree, offered by over 100 schools nationwide. It's what MUO and Wright offer, and is the normal route. DO is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, which takes a wider view of the body. A patient is seen not just as a bad neck or back, but also in how those nest together with everything else.
Why do I say this? Of the seven schools in the US offering only DO degrees, one is in Ohio- the Ohio University School of Osetopathic Medicine. I've applied, and feel quite good.
Now to wait and hope. I don't know where I'll be next year, nor what initials will follow my name someday, but I have a feeling this will work.
posted by Tirithien at 10:14 PM
5 Comments:
I love that you are cool with the fact that life is unpredictable and thus we need to be somewhat flexible with our goals and paths. That alone will serve you so well. :) The will of God will lead you where the grace of God will keep you.
Cheers ~
Hmmm... my error. I thought it was 7, but maybe that's old data I'm working from. No matter- OU is the only Ohio school, and I need the in-state tuition.
I wish you much success.....there is going to be a doctor shortage in MIchigan very soon.....how long before you're finihed? Hurry please! My sister is the head of the Incoming Intern Program in Denver so when you're ready to do that maybe you can apply there for your internship!
I think I'm more frazzled about the uncertainty than you are! Don't these med schools realize how impatient I am? ;-)
Well, I'm probably not really more frazzled about it than you are. But you never know. ;-)
...What Clew said. Really! I couldn't say it any better.
You will be fine, whether you're an MD or a DO; as you said, you are a healer. Listen to your patients with an open mind. That's the most important thing.
Good luck, Sweetie!
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