Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 11/22/2006

Question
im a sophmore in high school in need of help to pursue my career as an aesthesiologist. here are a couple of questions i have an i would very much apprechiate if you would help me by answering these questions to the best of  your ability.

what is the biggest difference between a MD and a DO?
which one do i need to become an anesthesiologist?
What are the prerequisite courses that i need to take in collegeto be an anesthesiologist?
Can i go to any college i wish?
Whats the lowest my Gpa can be in high school to become an anesthesiologist? in college?

im sorry if these are too many question for you. please get back to me. when you can

Answer
2 main differences, 1) DOs learn manipulation in addition to the allopathic stuff MDs learn and 2) In large cities, etc., DOs are not as common as MDs mostly because people mistake them for chiropractors. In general, if you want to be a DO, expect to work in smaller towns or cities (this is a generalization, not a hard and fast rule).

You can be an anesthesiologist from both tracks (we have several DOs in our program).

Calculus, Physics, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry and Biology.

You can go to any college you wish but the things to look for in a college are the same as anyone looking for a good college. You want it to be competitive, to have a high caliber faculty, to have their own medical school (they often give preference to their graduates) and most importantly, that the faculty and coursework in your chosen major are of high quality.

High school GPA determines only where you go to college. It has no bearing on medical school or residency. Obviously the higher the GPA the better college you can get into (and the same is true for college GPA and medical school).

Hope this helps,

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston