The Debate over the DO degree Title: A call for osteopathic education reform

The debate over the letter perfect was covered by the DO magazine in 2008.

DO to OMD: is it right? by  Anthony Silvagni, DO, PharmD

The following is a call for reform of osteopathic education

Thanks to the efforts of osteopathic forefathers to gain equality with allopathic medicine at every level, osteopathic medicine has enjoyed its greatest growth over the past few decades. Unfortunately, the call for changing the DO degree title has become louder and louder; www.osteoreform.com has launched a grassroots campaign for change to MD, DO degree. Even though people entering this profession are well aware of its minority position in the medical field, they still choose it because they want to become a different and better kind of physician with a holistic approach to patient care. It is true that there is lack of public recognition of the DO degree, but the underlying lack of pride in the profession is the main reason because the profession has failed to train them to become a different kind of physician. It should be reminded that 15% of 2000 DOs in California refused to trade in their degree during the DO and MD merger in 1962 because they were proud of their professional skills despite blatant discrimination and limited access to care for their patients at that time.¹ Nowadays, graduating and practicing DOs see more similarities than differences with allopathic medicine, the perception that OMM is the only distinction separating the profession from allopathic medicine and the use of OMM has been in decline.² Sadly, extra 200 hours of OMM instruction to our students failed them miserably according to the examination of basic competence levels in Musculoskeletal Medicine by orthopedic standards designed by Freedman and Bernstein⁵; 70.4% of osteopathic students and 82% of allopathic failed the test.⁶

The comments posted regarding the survey in Sermo

The following are 21 comments generated by the survey:

Med/Peds

Not a DO. However, if the students want this change, why not change the osteopathic schools to allopathic schools and merge the governing bodies?

Pediatrics

Interesting concept. DO's are qualified to sit for both MD and DO board exams yet an MD can only sit for the MD boards as they lack OMT training. Many DO's chose osteopathic training for personal reasons and may not want the MD designation however.

Family Medicine

A while back, California (IIRC) offered to convert its licensed DO's into MD's. Many refused the offer. BTW, I'm an MD myself. Also, in Texas, three board members are supposed to be DO's, who have a lot of political power in the state.

Family Medicine

In a strange turn of events, the local Osteopathic medical school in Fort Worth, TX will soon be adding a MD degree to their program:

http://untsystem.unt.edu/news/09-November/09-11...

Survey Results of the Resolution calling for change to MD,DO

I posted the resolution put forth by Jacqui O'Kane calling for Degree Designation Change of DO to MD, DO. To many non-medical professional, this seems to be a trivial point. But to some of us doctors, out title is part of our identity. This question had been put out as a survey question in Sermo, a network of practicing MDs and DOs. Only 76 doctors responded in 48 hours.

Pre-determined outcome at the UNT Board of Regents Meeting

The following summary of the meeting in November 2009 by George Cole, DO, former TOMA president.

This has been a truly momentous week for TOMA and for the osteopathic profession. On Friday morning, your humble servant was joined by AOA executive director John Crosby, AOA president Larry Wickless, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Dean Bill Strampel, David Garza, Robert DeLuca, Jim Froelich, Scott Stoll and Joanna Gibbons in our effort to educate the UNT Board of Trustees regarding the risks of the allopathic degree proposal. The Academic Affairs committee of the board was chaired by Dr. Charles Mitchell, an orthopedic surgeon from Mesquite, who looked out upon a packed room of interested persons. Your representatives presented comprehensive information that included the historic relationship of TOMA and TCOM, the growth of the osteopathic profession in the U.S. and in Texas, the exorbitant costs of creating and maintaining an allopathic degree program, and the unintended consequences that could ensue from the massive commitment of UNT in underwriting this proposal. The Price-Waterhouse-Coopers report was summarized by their representative, and TCOM Provost Tom Yorio and president Scott Ransom delivered strong personal endorsements for the proposed degree.

After three hours of presentation of facts and opinions from both sides, the board took about 3 minutes to vote unanimously to continue planning for this venture.