Unraveling the Inner D.O.

Going into college I have had one focus for my profession. I aspire to become a physician. Currently working on achieving my associates in science and will then move on from there. I have dreamed of working in the medical field for a while now. I remember for career day in grade school, I wore my mother’s white lab jacket, which encrypted the words “grey’s anatomy” on the front pocket. I was boss.

I once wrote a paper for an essay contest on why I want to be a physician in my county. The paper included how I wanted to make a difference in the community. I would like to better the health of individuals with my knowledge and expertise. The goal of any physician, hopefully. I specifically would like to become a D.O. (doctor of osteopathic medicine). My family has three generations of earning a degree in Osteopathic medicine. Osteopathic medicine involves a hands on approach of looking at the patient, not just observing a set of percentages or a pathology report. D.O.’s will talk one on one with a patient and will consider the structure of the body a major factor in what may be causing an injury or illness (hence “osteo” meaning for bone).

This small town called Kirksville is located in Missouri, where osteopathic medicine was founded in the late 1800’s. Kirksville is an extremely small town. My family used to travel to Kirksville to visit my nana. The only things that kept us kids intrigued were fishing, eating nana’s cookies, and well that’s about it. Kirksville is such a small town that going to Walmart was a high light. We used to drive by the first institution of Osteopathy when we visited. This is the building where my great grandfather, my grandfather, and my mother all earned their degrees in Osteopathy. How cool would it be if earned this degree, setting a four generation achievement?!

Osteopathic medicine is a major degree which can branch out into all sort of medical fields. I am not exactly sure what specific field I would go into… People always ask me if I am going to take over my mother’s practice, which is dermatology. Of course I have considered this option. The thing is I don’t want to have a narrow focus. I want to keep my options open, because what if I fall in love with a different specialty? There is a process called rotations, where a medical student has the opportunity to practice all sorts of medical fields. I hope I know my calling by then. I hope I make it that far.

AT Still University- Kirksville, MO