Problem (academic)
I'm having a problem.
Problem is: I wholeheartedly believe in natural medicine, and I am leary of synthetic or otherwise human-made drugs for standard medical practice (I do, however, condone necessary surgery or other forms of emergency medicine when really necessary, and I have a real fascination with such). The problem is, I think I am beginning to feel I "should" go to a naturopathic medical school (who's final licensing options are far more limited at this point than those of a 'regular' medical doctor, and who's graduates are not currently eligible to go on to surgical or some other residencies), and when it comes down to it in another way, I actually want to attend a allopathic medical school, and gain the full American power and eligibilities that graduating from one presents. I don't really want to learn their full system of pharmacology and drug-using or other more interventionist-seeming methods, but other than that I like all forms of medicine. Actually- I take the pharmocology bit back, because I do want to be fully trained in such so I know what I'm talking about and what I'm dealing with in all sorts of patients- many of whom may be on allopathic drugs but may want to be treated with some form of natural method as well. I trust that the accredited naturopathic schools do indeed prepare students to know what they are dealing with in pharmocology, but still...I have that want to just go on and do the 'whole' thing and become an M.D. Gaining such a license would allow me to have full practicing priviledges all across the country and probably most countries outside of ours, which is what I want.
I could go to both forms of school; I have considered this.
The naturopathic ones look SO comfortable and full of good energy, but there are at least a couple allopathic med schools that I feel I could be reasonably comfortable in. Many I think I WOULD NOT be comfortable attending, but ironically, must of that has to do with the huge, huge amount of pressure and time-crunching and other factors that have become standard to medical educations that don't really have to do with the form of medicine being practiced, but they have turned into traits that go pretty much hand in hand with a standard medical education. Ironically again, the naturopathic schools are eager enough to compete with and succeed with the allopathic schools in terms of rigorous and excellent medical education and medical care offered, that they are not necessarily a free and easy place to attend themselves, but at least for me right now I feel like they are still a bit (or actually a lot) more friendly and warm in their general atmosphere.
One final factor is that traditional medical schools tend to have far more demanding internships and trainings, while naturopathic medical schools' internships and such are often limited to the variety of clinics since there is yet no such thing as a fully naturopathic hospital- this makes their rotations and training a little less intense (or at least I would speculate- I don't actually know for sure).
If it were only the two different forms of medicine themselves, and nothing else, I feel like my decision would be easier.
My tiding hope is that traditional medical schools will continue to become more and more inclusive of CAMS (complementary and alternative medicine) modalities and appreciation in their curriculums, and that at the same time, the naturopathic medical schools and licensing standards will continue to expand so that it might begin to be possible to do a surgical rotation with a naturopathic medical degree, or to learn more emergency medicine within the walls of the naturopathic schools. It's a possibility- with 4 more years of college that I need to complete, and the CAMs medicine movement booming, it is a possibility that by the time I actually start applying, it will all feel better to me- my options could be broader.
I hope so.
And this was my problem.
(I want to go to Pritzker School of Medicine. Sort of badly. More so tonight than I want to go to Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. Ha...so there.)
Rachel
Problem is: I wholeheartedly believe in natural medicine, and I am leary of synthetic or otherwise human-made drugs for standard medical practice (I do, however, condone necessary surgery or other forms of emergency medicine when really necessary, and I have a real fascination with such). The problem is, I think I am beginning to feel I "should" go to a naturopathic medical school (who's final licensing options are far more limited at this point than those of a 'regular' medical doctor, and who's graduates are not currently eligible to go on to surgical or some other residencies), and when it comes down to it in another way, I actually want to attend a allopathic medical school, and gain the full American power and eligibilities that graduating from one presents. I don't really want to learn their full system of pharmacology and drug-using or other more interventionist-seeming methods, but other than that I like all forms of medicine. Actually- I take the pharmocology bit back, because I do want to be fully trained in such so I know what I'm talking about and what I'm dealing with in all sorts of patients- many of whom may be on allopathic drugs but may want to be treated with some form of natural method as well. I trust that the accredited naturopathic schools do indeed prepare students to know what they are dealing with in pharmocology, but still...I have that want to just go on and do the 'whole' thing and become an M.D. Gaining such a license would allow me to have full practicing priviledges all across the country and probably most countries outside of ours, which is what I want.
I could go to both forms of school; I have considered this.
The naturopathic ones look SO comfortable and full of good energy, but there are at least a couple allopathic med schools that I feel I could be reasonably comfortable in. Many I think I WOULD NOT be comfortable attending, but ironically, must of that has to do with the huge, huge amount of pressure and time-crunching and other factors that have become standard to medical educations that don't really have to do with the form of medicine being practiced, but they have turned into traits that go pretty much hand in hand with a standard medical education. Ironically again, the naturopathic schools are eager enough to compete with and succeed with the allopathic schools in terms of rigorous and excellent medical education and medical care offered, that they are not necessarily a free and easy place to attend themselves, but at least for me right now I feel like they are still a bit (or actually a lot) more friendly and warm in their general atmosphere.
One final factor is that traditional medical schools tend to have far more demanding internships and trainings, while naturopathic medical schools' internships and such are often limited to the variety of clinics since there is yet no such thing as a fully naturopathic hospital- this makes their rotations and training a little less intense (or at least I would speculate- I don't actually know for sure).
If it were only the two different forms of medicine themselves, and nothing else, I feel like my decision would be easier.
My tiding hope is that traditional medical schools will continue to become more and more inclusive of CAMS (complementary and alternative medicine) modalities and appreciation in their curriculums, and that at the same time, the naturopathic medical schools and licensing standards will continue to expand so that it might begin to be possible to do a surgical rotation with a naturopathic medical degree, or to learn more emergency medicine within the walls of the naturopathic schools. It's a possibility- with 4 more years of college that I need to complete, and the CAMs medicine movement booming, it is a possibility that by the time I actually start applying, it will all feel better to me- my options could be broader.
I hope so.
And this was my problem.
(I want to go to Pritzker School of Medicine. Sort of badly. More so tonight than I want to go to Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. Ha...so there.)
Rachel