Medical Doctors (MD) are trained under a system of medical practice called allopathic medicine. Allopathic medicine treats disease by the use of remedies for the disease under treatment. This type of medicine is also called “conventional medicine” and was defined as “allopathy” by Dr. C. F. S. Hanneman in 1842. The term is derived from Greek root words “allo” meaning opposite and “pathy” meaning disease. This system of therapy is based on the concept that disease can be treated with drugs thought to be capable of producing opposite symptom of the disease when given to healthy people. Today MD’s are trained to practice medicine not only as a science but also as an art. Medicine is practiced in social context and allopathic physicians must be able to communicate with people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences as well as master the vast knowledge of science.

The path to allopathic medicine consists of five phases beginning with the undergraduate college education. Today the overwhelming majority of students entering medical school have completed a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree. The undergraduate education should provide a solid foundation in the natural sciences, the social sciences, and humanities. Undergraduate students are encouraged to seek opportunities to develop problem solving skills, communication and interpersonal skills, and developing strong intellectual discipline. Medical schools seek students who are diverse in talent and interests and who demonstrate not only a strong academic background, but also are altruistic and compassionate in their relationships with patients and peers.

Medical School is a four-year program that is divided into two-year segments. The first two years are focused on mastery of the basic sciences necessary to practice medicine. The clinical significance of the basic science material is constantly stressed. Learning is conducted in both lecture format and through problem based approaches involving small group learning, clinical conferences and interaction with people trained to simulate standardized patients. The final two years consists of clinical rotations or clerkships lasting from 4 to 12 weeks. The rotations cover the various areas of medical specialties such as pediatrics, psychiatry, or family medicine. Clinical rotations are typically done in an outpatient clinic or inpatient hospital where students function under the supervision of physician faculty members. During the fourth and final year, students choose medical specialties and apply to graduate Medical Education Programs in that chosen specialty area of medicine.

After graduating form medical school, students enter Graduate Medical Education. These residency programs focus on the acquisition of knowledge, skills and professional competency in a particular medical specialty area. They can range from 2 to 10 years or more depending on the specialty.

The fourth phase involves Licensure and Certification. Medical practice is regulated by each individual state and jurisdiction. The final phase involves continuing education hours to insure that physicians stay up to date on the most recent trends and technology in medicine.

There are currently 125 accredited United States and 17 accredited Canadian Allopathic Medical Schools granting the M.D. degree. Competition for admission to the entering class at these medical schools is intense. In 2004, 35,735 persons applied at the 125 United States Medical Schools. By the fall of 2004, 16,648 accepted applicants matriculated for an acceptance rate of approximately 46%. Extensive information regarding medical school applicants and matriculants can be found online at http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/.

Additional information about careers in allopathic medicine can be obtained from the AAMC Careers in Medicine Website.