OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS USE ACCEPTED METHODS OF DIAGNOSING AND TREATING INJURIES AND DISEASES.  ALTHOUGH THEY PRACTICE IN ALL BRANCHES OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY. OSTEOPATHS USE A HANDS-ON APPROACH TO MEDICINE AND FREQUENTLY MANIPULATE OR PALPATE AS PART OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT.  THEY WORK PRIMARILY IN OSTEOPATHIC HOSPITALS OR PRIVATE PRACTICE, HOWEVER MANY ALLOPATHIC HOSPITALS NOW ACCEPT OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS AS STAFF MEMBERS.

AVERAGE SALARY: $110,000

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

STUDENTS SHOULD TAKE THE MOST CHALLENGING HIGH SCHOOL COURSES AVAILABLE IN SCIENCE, MATH, AND ENGLISH. SOME MEDICAL SCHOOLS ALSO REQUIRE COURSE WORK IN CALCULUS, ENGLISH, THE HUMANITIES, OR SOCIAL SCIENCE.  MEDICAL SCHOOL USUALLY INCLUDES TWO YEARS OF ADDITIONAL STUDY IN BOTH BASIC AND CLINICAL SCIENCES AND IS FOLLOWED BY A YEAR-LONG HOSPITAL INTERNSHIP. 

REFLECTION: NO I DON’T THINK I WOULD WANT TO BE ONE BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO.