The following exchange illustrates a common misconception of the osteopathic profession:

Questioner: So what exactly is the difference between an MD and a DO?

MD student: The difference is that we are involved in research and they are not.

DO student (Me): Wait a minute! DOs are involved in research; that is not a fair assessment. The primary difference is in the fact that DOs practice manipulation, as well as there is a fundamental difference in philosophy.

MD student: Right! I did not mean that DOs are not involved in research . . .  but that MDs are more prone or likely to do research than DOs — historically speaking, that is.

The following are some photographs of a few of the research-oriented events held at KCOM this quarter. Perhaps that is one of the things I appreciate most about KCOM: that research is fostered, encouraged, and becoming an integral part of the KCOM curriculum!

Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Symposium (Sat., Sept 26, 2009)

Waiting patiently for Dr. Chang to stop by my poster (on right).

Eagerly waiting for Dr. Chang to stop by and talk to me (right) about my poster.

Nastassia Richardson, OMSI (left) discusses her graduate research with Kristi Teal, OMSII (right), a recent graduate of the Biomedical Sciences Program.

Nastassia Richardson, OMSI (left) discusses her graduate research with a recent graduate of the Biomedical Sciences Program, Kristi Teal, OMSII, .

Research Panel Discussion: From the Bedside to the Bench (Thurs., Oct 8, 2009)

Panelists Bill Sexton, Phd, Yingzi Chang, MD, Phd, and Eric Snider, DO discuss how to turn clinical questions into research opportunities.

Panelists Bill Sexton, PhD, Yingzi Chang, MD, PhD, and Eric Snider, DO discuss how to turn clinical questions into research opportunities.

It was my privilege to moderate the panel discussion.

It was my privilege to moderate the panel discussion.