TRAITS
for Success |
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well-developed leadership
skills
care about people
manual dexterity
committed to life long
learning |
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| doctor of
osteopathic medicine (DO) performs medical examinations,
orders x-rays and |
| laboratory
studies, performs surgery and prescribes medications to
diagnose and treat |
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illnesses and injuries. Also known as osteopathic physicians,
they are licensed to practice |
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medicine in all 50 states. They emphasize the importance
of prevention, diet, exercise, and |
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environment in staying well, and the role that the
musculoskeletal system (nerves, joints, muscles, |
| and bones)
plays in disease, illness, and injury. Over half of all DOs
practice in primary care |
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areas, such as pediatrics, family medicine,
obstetrics/gynecology and internal medicine. |
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Physicians who have their own practices must oversee
personnel, payroll, billing, and other |
| business-related functions. DOs
represent 6 percent of the total U.S. physician population; |
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however, they comprise 15 percent of all doctors who serve
communities with populations of |
| fewer than
10,000 people. |
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Average Starting Salary
$110,660 - $167,700
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Areas of Specialization
Doctors of osteopathic medicine
may obtain a general certificate or
a subspecialty certificate from any
of the following approved specialty areas:
Anesthesiology
Dermatology
Emergency Medicine
Family Practice
Internal Medicine
Neurology and Psychiatry
Neuromusculoskeletal
Medicine
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedic Surgery
Otolaryngology
Pathology
Pediatrics
Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation
Preventive Medicine
Proctology
Radiology
Surgery
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Work
Environment
Community health centers
Educational institutions
Health maintenance organizations
HIV/AIDS clinics
Hospitals
Military
Private practices
Public health departments
Research facilities
Substance abuse treatment centers
Urgent care centers
Academic
Requirements
A college preparatory diploma
is recommended. A four-year undergraduate degree emphasizing the
sciences
and liberal arts is required to enter a school of osteopathic medicine.
Osteopathic students must also take the Medical College Admission
Test (MCAT) during college. Osteopathic medical schools require
four years
of study beyond a bachelor’s degree. DOs then complete a one-year
internship covering internal medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, family
practice, pediatrics,
and surgery. They may choose a specialty and serve in a residency program
from two to six years.
Licensure,
Certification and Registration
To practice medicine in
Georgia, DOs and residents must be licensed through the Georgia Composite
State Board of Medical Examiners. During residency training, DOs may
work toward obtaining certification from one of the approved medical
specialty boards.
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Professional
Organizations
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EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS
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Doctoral
Degree
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Georgia Campus
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