A year in review: The DO’s top 10 stories of 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, The DO is taking a pause to review the stories our team and contributing writers have worked hard on this past year. These pieces, many of which were written by very talented members of the osteopathic medical community, inspired us, provided us with new perspectives and ideas, and helped us better connect with the osteopathic medical profession.

As we reflect on our journey through 2024, we also look ahead to next year with anticipation and enthusiasm. Here’s to a new chapter filled with discovery, growth and continued celebration of the osteopathic medical profession! Below, take a look at The DO’s top 10 stories of 2024.

1. 6 ways to be a physician without practicing clinical medicine

As our May Career Moves columnist, Christopher Behringer, DO, shared ideas for nonclinical work for physicians and discussed how his own career includes a combination of clinical and nonclinical work. Dr. Behringer encourages physicians who are experiencing burnout to try incorporating more nonclinical work into their schedule and consider reducing the time they devote to clinical work. He says doing this can be a great starting point in the path of recovery from burnout. Dr. Behringer also describes in detail how he’s adjusted his own schedule to include both clinical and nonclinical work, and he provides examples on how other physicians can do this.

2. The best and worst states for doctors in 2024

In early spring, WalletHub released their latest lists on the best and worst states for practicing medicine. The DO’s staff combed the list and found that Kentucky, South Carolina and Mississippi provide the highest wages adjusted for cost of living, while Washington, D.C., Hawaii and Massachusetts had the lowest wages. We provided a full ranking of the states as well as broke down the factors WalletHub considered when they ranked each state.

3. Being a DO in a heavily MD residency program: What surprised me

Brysen Keith, DO, describes his experience in a highly competitive MD program and shares how his DO training led him to feel more prepared and better equipped throughout his residency. Dr. Keith mentions how easy it can be to underestimate your skills when you are surrounded by highly specialized practitioners. However, he notes that DOs are often very well-positioned to make accurate diagnoses based on physical exam, especially when it comes to the musculoskeletal system.

“I can recall multiple cases in which these skills played a vital role in providing the correct diagnosis and also avoiding unnecessary workup or procedures,” he writes.

4. The DO schools on U.S. News’ best medical schools list for 2024

The 2024 lists of the best medical schools in the United States, released by U.S. News and World Report, included many schools of osteopathic medicine. The lists of the best medical schools for research and primary care each included 10 DO schools. Also, the lists of the medical schools producing the most graduates practicing in primary care, rural areas and underserved areas included many osteopathic medical schools.

5. The sacrifices women physicians make: Balancing a medical career and family

To celebrate National Women Physicians Day on Feb. 3, Shannon Jimenez, DO, dives into the idea of “having it all”—the expectation to perfectly handle career, family, etc., as a woman in today’s society. She delves into her experiences and the broader narrative of women in medicine, highlighting the need to overcome fear and imposter syndrome. Dr. Jimenez also provides advice on pursuing work-life balance. As she states, it’s best to “draw boundaries, stick to them and not feel bad about them, regardless of title.”

6. DOs go global: What to know about practicing osteopathic medicine abroad

Raine Richards, JD, AOA vice president of state and international affairs, shares the steps to take if you’re interested in practicing internationally. She also shares more information on the resolution passed in 2023 by the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA) supporting the equivalency of U.S.-trained DOs and MDs among its 47 member countries worldwide. The article features the experiences of three DOs (Jason Hui, DO, Sonali Shah, DO and Joshua Son, DO) who have become licensed abroad or are in the process of getting licensed and want to help others who aspire to work overseas.

7. The 3 S’s: What you must have in your possession when you retire

In his latest retirement column, Daniel Waters, DO, shares his three keys to retiring contentedly, putting his own spin on “the three A’s of a successful practice (Be Able, Affable and Available).” As always, Dr. Waters uses pop culture references and his experiences in retirement to provide advice to readers on taking on this new chapter away from medicine.

8. Get to know President Joe Biden’s personal physician, Kevin O’Connor, DO

We took a deep dive into the life and career of Kevin O’Connor, DO, who has been Physician to the President since 2021 and also took care of President Joe Biden when he was vice president. Dr. O’Connor shares insights on his work and journey, including the two key factors that helped him land this role. He also provides a breakdown of the White House medical team and discusses who is involved in making care decisions.

9. What residents are getting paid in 2024

Medscape’s 2024 Resident Salary and Debt Report explores average resident salaries based on residency year and notes that 90% of residents feel they are underpaid “relative to their worth, skills and hours.” The survey respondents shared their average salary changes throughout the years. They also opened up about the demanding nature of residency and how this plays into some residents believing they deserve to be paid more. David Shumway, DO, an internal medicine resident in Biloxi, Mississippi, shares his perspective on resident pay and on the report.

10. DOs vs. MDs: Do patient outcomes favor a side?

This study aimed to answer this question. Published in JAMA, it explored patient outcomes following surgical procedures provided by DO and MD surgeons. Using Medicare claims data from 2016 to 2019, it found no statistically significant differences in mortality, readmissions or length of stay between patients who underwent common surgical operations with DO vs. MD surgeons. Joshua D. Lenchus, DO, third vice president of the AOA, provided his thoughts on why he was not surprised by these results.

Thank you for another incredible year at The DO!

Related reading:

Top holiday gifts for physicians and med students in 2024

The DO Book Club, Dec. 2024: Thought-provoking reads to enter the new year