Writing my “why osteopathic medicine” secondary essay for medical school was an introspective and enriching process. It allowed me to reflect deeply on my motivations and experiences, and to articulate how they align with the principles of osteopathic medicine. Here’s a detailed look at how I approached my essay, the experiences I included, and the steps I took to make it stand out.
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“Why Osteopathic Medicine?" Secondary Essay: Why Do Medical Schools Ask This?
This essay is crucial for DO applicants because it showcases your understanding of the philosophy of osteopathic medicine. It’s an opportunity to highlight your unique qualities and experiences that align with the osteopathic approach. The essay also allows admissions committees to see beyond grades and test scores, getting a glimpse of your character, empathy, and suitability for the osteopathic profession.
Despite both fields of medicine being science-based, the MD vs DO debate can get intense, and although it’s certainly not uncommon to have an interest in both fields, you’ll likely be able to understand—if you haven’t completely decided already— which type of medicine is more suited to you if you practice your responses to potential medical school interview questions, such as, “why do you want to become a doctor?”
Schools often ask “why osteopathic medicine” as a secondary essay prompt for applicants because they are looking to read a passionate and authentic response as to why each individual student hopes to pursue a career as a DO. This is a field that has faced backlash and is still contested by some other medical fields, so it’s important that DO programs admit only the most passionate, motivated and talented students. Your essay is a chance for you to prove yourself and share your interest and goals for your career in osteopathic medicine. Through my essay, I demonstrated my commitment to holistic patient care and my ability to integrate osteopathic principles into practice.
How I Approached the "Why Osteopathic Medicine" Secondary Essay
To make my essay stand out, I incorporated real experiences and personal anecdotes from my clinical experience and shadowing hours.
One of the pivotal experiences I included was shadowing Dr. Smith, a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) physician who is also a DO. This opportunity was transformative for me. Dr. Smith’s holistic approach to patient care, emphasizing the integration of mind, body, and spirit, profoundly influenced my perspective on medicine. I observed how he utilized osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to alleviate pain and improve mobility in patients. One memorable case was an elderly woman with chronic back pain, whose condition significantly improved after several OMT sessions. Witnessing the body’s innate ability to heal itself through OMT was eye-opening for me and reinforced my belief in the efficacy of osteopathic medicine.
In addition to shadowing, I worked alongside Dr. Smith and volunteered at a local rehabilitation center, where I assisted in the care of patients recovering from severe injuries. One memorable experience was working with Harrison, a young man who had suffered tibial fractures in a hit-and-run accident. Under Dr. Smith’s guidance, I was involved in Harrison’s rehabilitation process. I saw how a comprehensive treatment plan, incorporating OMT, physical therapy, and emotional support, facilitated his remarkable recovery. Harrison’s journey from being unable to walk to regaining full mobility highlighted the power of holistic care and the osteopathic approach. I helped him during therapy sessions, providing physical assistance and emotional encouragement. This experience was a testament to the osteopathic belief in treating the whole person, not just the symptoms.
Sharing specific stories, such as my involvement in Harrison’s recovery, provided concrete examples of how I internalized and applied the principles of osteopathic medicine. This personal touch conveyed my genuine passion for the field and my readiness to contribute to the osteopathic community. I also highlighted my active role in these experiences, showing not just what I observed, but how I contributed to patient care and what I learned from these interactions.
"Why osteopathic medicine" is sure to come up in an osteopathic medical school interview, too!
These experiences underscored the importance of the tenets of osteopathic medicine to me. Dr. Smith’s emphasis on treating the whole person led to more effective and compassionate care. His application of OMT demonstrated the osteopathic belief in the body’s self-regulatory and self-healing capabilities. By integrating these principles into Harrison’s treatment plan, we addressed not just his physical injuries but also his emotional and psychological well-being.
This holistic approach is central to osteopathic medicine and was vividly illustrated in my "why osteopathic medicine" secondary essay. When it comes to drafting any essay, it is important to always remember to reflect on your experiences and relate them back to the main question!
How I Structured My "Why DO" Secondary Essay
My brainstorming process was straightforward and methodical. I started by identifying key experiences that exemplified my understanding of osteopathic principles. I then crafted a captivating introduction that related to these experiences, focusing on what I learned and how it influenced my desire to become a DO.
I structured my essay with a creative opening, beginning with a vivid description of Harrison’s initial therapy session. I captured the challenges he faced and the determination in his eyes, setting the stage for discussing the impact of holistic care.
Next, I transitioned into a detailed account of my shadowing and volunteering experiences. I highlighted specific moments that illustrated the application of osteopathic principles. For example, I described how Dr. Smith’s use of OMT and a holistic treatment plan helped Harrison regain strength and confidence over time. I also mentioned other patients, such as the elderly woman with chronic back pain, to show a variety of cases and outcomes.
Finally, I reflected on what I learned from these experiences and how they reinforced my desire to pursue osteopathic medicine. While there wasn’t a single “a-ha!” moment during my shadowing experience, my decision was based on many factors. Working with a PMR specialist at a rehab facility and seeing patients improve, coupled with shadowing and learning about OMM, all contributed to my realization that osteopathic medicine was the right path for me. I tied these reflections back to the core tenets of osteopathic medicine, demonstrating my understanding and commitment to these principles.
Here's what you need to know about medical school secondary essays!
"Why Osteopathic Medicine?” Sample Secondary Essays
Sample "Why DO?" Secondary Essay #1
My adoration for holistic medicine began as a young child due to extensive experiences within the medical system before I reached university. I will always be grateful for the doctors who introduced wellness-oriented approaches to my care. Scoliosis isn’t uncommon, but it is rare for children to be born with a severe curve and be diagnosed as infants. Regarded as a medical anomaly by surgeons and doctors, I spent the first twelve years of my life in and out of an orthopedic surgeon’s office in Toronto. This allowed me to connect with various medical staff, including nurses, doctors, X-ray technicians, and other specialists. However, it was my osteopath, massage therapist, and chiropractor who truly helped alleviate my pain through manipulation and exercises. These wellness experts helped me regain control over my body, while other practitioners merely monitored my condition.
As a young adult, my health concerns continued, and I developed several other abnormalities, including advanced stage Endometriosis, that began to impact all of my organs. While my surgeon was certainly helpful in diagnosing the disease and removing what could be safely excised, my osteopathic physician, is whom I credit with helping restore my physical and mental strength. Through all the disappointments, anxieties, and the breakthroughs, they were with me every step of my healthcare journey. Living with and managing several chronic conditions can be frustrating and I understand first-hand the negative impacts of ‘band aid solutions’, gaslighting, and misdiagnoses. I also understand suffering, and the importance of advocacy. That’s why when I returned to school to complete my undergraduate degree after taking some time off to recover from surgery, I did so with the determination to become an osteopathic doctor in mind. I knew then that my purpose here was not to be a patient, but to be an empathetic advocate for others who experience my same struggles. I was lucky to be one of very few pre-meds students at X University to be able to shadow two DOs last semester, and I spent my shadow sessions eagerly learning and understanding how the philosophy behind osteopathic medicine comes into play each day in a hospital setting. I enjoyed watching patients flourish and feel relief because of their OMM treatments.
I am eager to learn and apply the OMM techniques that will help me diagnose, treat, and prevent pain and illness in my future patients. I am empathetic, and will keep my patient’s concerns, goals and best interests in mind as I take care of them. Confident in the benefits of osteopathic treatment, I will provide exceptional experiences to my patients. I have a special interest in unique cases, such as patients experiencing chronic, undiagnosed or misdiagnosed conditions. This type of passion, and approach, cannot be replicated in any other field of medicine.
Osteopathic medicine, and the philosophy driving it, completely aligns with my beliefs as an individual, and as a future doctor. Helping my patients achieve a state of wellness and approaching symptoms with the whole body in mind is the only way I can see myself practicing medicine, as I have seen first-hand how much of an impact osteopathy can make in a healing journey, as well as in a patient’s overall health. My ties to osteopathy have been bound for several years now, and I feel I have the right drive, determination, passion and curiosity to propel me forward down a successful academic and career path in osteopathic medicine.
Sample "Why DO?" Secondary Essay #2
Osteopathic medicine has always been the clear choice for me, but it became a choice I was certain of two years ago. Right before my first year of university, my chosen path was altered forever when my friend was paralyzed. I had always planned on pursuing medicine, but was not sure what field of medicine would provide me with the patient-oriented, hands-on experience I was yearning for. Upon researching osteopathy, shadowing for a semester, and seeing first-hand how a phenomenal DO can change the patient experience, my heart was set.
As a teen, I explored many healthcare careers, but my grades and determination to attend medical school continued to push me toward an MD program. Then my friend endured a rare form of stroke, and I watched him learn how to eat, speak, and breathe again while simultaneously learning how to navigate life in a wheelchair, instead of joining me at school. Several doctors saved his life, but a team of osteopaths at X University Hospital helped him begin to enjoy his life again. They approached his symptoms and state of being with great care and expertise, and they continue to keep his whole body in mind throughout his journey to wellness and comfort. Attending several of his appointments with him showed me how much is possible, how much can be improved, and how patients can thrive with a holistic approach, even in dire situations. I later completed a semester of shadowing with the same osteopaths who treated my friend, observing them work with a multitude of patients. I have witnessed osteopathic doctors save not only my friend’s quality of life but that of other patients, by keeping wellness and interrelations at the forefront of their minds and practice. Improving somebody’s state of existence, helping them enjoy life again, and diagnosing and treating even the rarest symptoms and illnesses is what I look forward to doing most as a future DO.
To my future patients, and to your DO program, I bring with me intelligence in my respective field. I have been awarded several kinesiology and exercise science awards from X University, and through my shadowing experience I have acquired phenomenal mentors in the osteopathic community. I wish to emulate their approachable, kind demeanor and most importantly, their incredible drive to care for their patients and make a difference by utilizing osteopathic principles and utilizing OMT.
FAQs
1. Is a DO program the same as an MD program?
No. Both are very well-respected areas of study in the medical field, however, MDs tend to focus on treating a very specific illness, injury or symptom when it is presented. MDs will focus on one problem at hand, and often refer the patient to a pharmacy for medication, or another specialist, once an emergency has been ruled out. DOs, however, hold a very different philosophy and approach health care from a wellness standpoint. This means that they utilize holistic tactics, such as manipulations (OMM) to treat the whole body of the patient and uncover the root cause/diagnosis, and/or contribute to restoring their wellness through movement.
2. Why do schools ask, “why osteopathic medicine?” as a secondary essay prompt?
Schools ask this question because osteopathic medicine requires a very specific mindset, and the beliefs and goals of each student must align with osteopathic principles. At times, osteopathy has been refuted by other medical fields because osteopaths approach problems by treating the whole body, and not solely the symptom itself. Osteopathy has been proven to improve patients lives and alleviate symptoms, such as chronic pain or bodily malfunction, but because ‘western medicine’ isn’t at the forefront of what they do, osteopaths, and future osteopathic doctors, must adhere to the field’s philosophy and holistic approach. Schools want to know what makes you a good candidate not just for a medical program, but specifically for osteopathy!
3. Should I mention the philosophy behind osteopathy in my essay?
Yes, but don’t simply reiterate the tenets and philosophy that you’ve read online! You may have heard the phrase, ‘actions speak louder than words’, or ‘show, don’t tell’ and this holds true in your essay! You should bring up key components of osteopathic practice and philosophy, and demonstrate why and how you connect with them based on your experiences and goals.
4. What other information should I include in my essay?
When answering this secondary essay prompt, it’s important that you craft your essay to be as authentic and personal as possible, while still remaining professional. Drawing on personal experiences that initiated your interest in the medical field, or specifically in osteopathy, is a great way to tell a chronological tale of how you came to be in the position you’re currently in…applying for a DO program! Essentially, you are telling the admissions team why you decided on osteopathy, and backing up your answer by sharing a relevant narrative and convincing them that you’re a great candidate.
5. How should I format and structure my essay?
As with all admissions essays, ensure that you use a professional font and that your essay follows and format specifications noted in your application instructions. As a best practice, if no specific instructions are given, you should use clear, professional fonts and refrain from including any colors or elaborate headers, titles, or fonts. Your essay should flow well and have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion that reiterates the information you’ve shared in the previous paragraphs. It’s advised to open your essay with a statement about why osteopathy appeals to you, perhaps mention a portion of the philosophy, and follow this with a body paragraph or two that focus on your story and personal ties to osteopathy. This could include shadowing sessions, academic experiences related to osteopathy, or something more personal.
6. How many words should this essay be?
Wordcount will vary by school, so it’s best that you double check each of your application requirements and instructions! Generally, secondary essays can be anywhere from 250-1000 words.
7. What should not be included in my essay?
First, it’s important that you do not simply regurgitate information about osteopathy you read online, as this can seem ingenuine and could also give the impression that you’re applying to several different programs on a whim, or new to the idea of pursuing osteopathy. Along with this state that you’re interested in attending a school or program because “it’s easier to be accepted” or “as a plan B”. Any portions of your essay that might make the admissions team think you aren’t motivated for the right reasons, or passionate about the field, may send your application into the rejection pile.
Along with this, it’s important that you aren’t too vague or too detailed. Try to keep your answers relevant, and don’t get too personal. Any details that are included must contribute to the overall purpose of the essay, which is to tell the admissions team why you’re choosing osteopathy and why you’re a good fit for the program. Details that can be found on your transcript or CV are not usually required in this type of essay, unless you plan on referring to one specific course experience that motivated you to pursue a career as a DO.
8. I need help with my osteopathic medicine application, where can I look for additional support?
If you’re looking to admissions consulting and support with interview preparation, essays, and other application materials, BeMo Academic Consulting can help. BeMo offers 1-on-1 consulting services that helps students in many fields, undergraduate, graduate, and professional fields, like medicine, prepare for their academic journey and careers.
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