Osteopathic Medicine
Osteopathic Medical Schools prepare individuals to become osteopathic physicians (D.O’s) in a wide variety of fields. While osteopathic physicians practice medicine in the same medical disciplines as allopathic physicians (e.g., family medicine, general pediatrics, general internal medicine, general obstetrics and gynecology, neurosurgery, psychiatry and endocrinology, anesthesiology etc.), the vast majority of D.O.’s are in primary care disciplines (e.g., family medicine, general pediatrics, etc.). Osteopathic physicians differ from allopathic physicians in that that D.O.’s are also trained to use a procedure called osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).
Statistics
An approximate average GPA of 3.3-3.4, science GPA of 3.2 and an MCAT score of ~24.
Medical School Curriculum
Four year program The first phase of osteopathic medical education emphasizes learning the basic medical sciences. In many of the osteopathic medical colleges, students simultaneously have the opportunity to begin clinical experience with patients, gradually increasing their level of interaction through the first two years. By the third and fourth years, students gain extensive clinical experience through assignments in hospitals, physicians' offices, and ambulatory care centers. (Description taken from the AACOM web page - see below) Most students perform postgraduate medical school education (residencies); residency length can vary from ~ 3 years to >7 years, depending on which field you choose to specialize in. However, the majority of D.O.'s opt to train in family medicine, general pediatrics, general medicine and general obstetrics and gynecology (these residency programs usually last 3-4 years).
Important Web Links:
Helpful interview tips for medical colleges
www.studentdoctor.net
(click on browse to choose a specific medical school)
www.interviewfeedback.com
www.mdapplicants.com
MCAT preparation courses:
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