All I Need to Know About Becoming an Orthopedic Surgeon
Doctors have the choice of being allopathic or osteopathic physicians. Allopathic doctors are "conventional" doctors who practice traditional medicine and usually get a Medical Doctor (MD) degree. Osteopathic doctors, by contrast, apply more holistic and preventative treatment methods. They emphasize the musculoskeletal system and usually get a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO or DOM) degree. A DO degree may be the right choice for those who don't entirely agree with traditional medicine but who still want to pursue surgery.
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Education
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To become an osteopathic surgeon, you must complete an undergraduate degree (preferably in pre-medicine). You then must go to medical school for an additional four years to get your DO degree. Usually, you take general coursework like anatomy and biology during the first two years in medical school. The last two years consist of lab work and clinical rotations where you learn and apply your knowledge in a hands-on environment. Following graduation, you need three to eight years of internship and residency training. It is during your internship and residency that you will focus on surgical skills and, if desired, pick a surgical specialty. You must work extremely hard to succeed in your education, because entrance into medical school is competitive. Training programs award internships and residencies only to top applicants.
Licensure and Certification
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As of 2011, in America, all medical doctors must be licensed in the state in which they practice. Some states recognize licenses from other states, but generally, you'll need to have a current license for every state in which you practice. Osteopathic doctors have to take and pass the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam (COMLEX) to get a license, and you cannot take the COMLEX unless you have graduated from medical school.
Certifications apply to areas of specialty--as of 2011, there are 18 specializations for osteopathic doctors. To get a certification, you generally need at least one or two years of residency training, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) oversees all certifications for osteopaths.
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Other Examination and Application Requirements
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To get into medical school, you must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Medical schools use your scores on this test to decide whether you can handle the curriculum. To apply for a medical school once you take the MCAT, you must put in an application through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS). This requires you to submit your transcripts, MCAT scores, a personal statement and a recommendation letter from a practicing DO. There is a fee for using this central application service.
Personal Traits
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To become an osteopathic surgeon, you should be able to handle the grueling schedule and emotional challenges associated with medicine. You should genuinely want to serve others and relieve suffering. You also should be organized and self-motivated, having good bedside manner with your patients.
Considerations
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As an osteopathic surgeon, you will be a medical minority. According to the "Princeton Review," only about 10 percent of doctors are osteopaths. However, employment for physicians and surgeons is projected to increase by 22 percent through 2018, says the BLS. Surgical specialties related to conditions common to the elderly are particularly good because people are living longer and need more care than in the past. You also may have better luck finding a job as an osetopath in a rural or low-income community, because these communities usually are under-served.
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References
- Photo Credit main surgeon image by Andrey Rakhmatullin from Fotolia.com
