Osteopathic Education Analysis

Traditionally, what is thought to separate an osteopathic education from its’ allopathic counterpart is the emphasis on holistic healing. Rather than viewing patients as a set of symptoms, isolated to one particular organ or system, D.O.’s recognize the interconnected nature of the human body. While it can be argued that allopathic schools endorse this same doctrine, such practices are truly foundational to osteopathic medicine and therefore an integral component of patient care.
This tendency for D.O.’s to approach patients as more than just their ailment extends beyond physical confines. Whether a person has cancer, or something as routine as a urinary tract infection, people are their most vulnerable when their health is compromised. My extensive hours shadowing has opened my eyes to the fact that many allopathic physicians only treat the physical manifestations of an illness, and not the emotional. Given the holistic nature of osteopathic medicine, the trepidation a patient experiences isn’t disregarded, but addressed. Central to attending to this facet of care is adopting a perspective different from your own. …show more content…
The former stems from the reality that no two people are the same; the world is full of individuals from different backgrounds and from all walks of life. The latter conveys the idea that the only thing separating a person from someone else’s misfortune is God’s mercy. Having several relatives dependent on welfare, an aunt with debilitating schizophrenia, and a mentally ill, drug-addicted brother, I know first hand that not everyone is granted the same blessings as others. My humble upbringing has fostered an ability to relate to individuals on a personal level no matter what circumstances are present, thus providing me with the capacity to genuinely provide comfort to all future