Hi-
New here but I’ve lurked and read some threads before in the past while researching. I’m in kind of a tough spot.
After a career in fashion, three years ago I went to massage school as a means to have a flexible means, to go back to school for something else.
I attended a really rigorous program (for a massage school) that focuses on medical/orthopedic massage. While there I fell in love with the science courses and while I didn’t expect it, I really love, love, love what I do. I love helping people, spending time with them, learning something from every single client, learning about the body, and coming up with creative treatments for different ailments. I and on more than one occasion gotten complements from pts + phisyatrists that I really “know my stuff.”
I’ve been much more successful that I ever thought and I was well on my way to a rare 100k a year massage career but, a year later I have found myself diagnosed with cubital tunnel syndrome and I know my days are numbered.
Due to my prior educational experience and unstable home life as a young person my options of academic path are pretty limited.
I’m considering acupuncture school as a way to finish a bs/ms and then applying to a post-bacc pre-med program and then hopefully onward to an osteopathy school. Is this totally insane?
My dream would be to combine both east + western medicine. And I think even attempting this route would be a personal triumph for me.
I’m 31, just married 2 months ago, no kids, and living in New York where everyone just spends all their money on rent anyway. So I don’t own a home, am reasonable mobile, etc.
I just can’t stomach the idea of just taking on another 60k on top of the 20k in loans i already have for just acupuncture school and no gaurenteed way to make a living whatsoever, hence another reason to consider attempting medical school.
Thoughts?
Dr. Stephen Weiss, DO is a pain specialist in New York. Sorry I don’t have more contact info but I’ll try to track some down. He taught a seminar at our school on a therapy for post-traumatic stress he developed (which involves some energy work). One of my classmates trained and worked with him for several years (as did his wife, both of them massage therapists). I suspect that shadowing him would be very rewarding and might give you some ideas as to paths to pursue in osteopathic medicine. Just an aside since I see you are in New York.
Kate
That would be helpful, Kate. Thank you.
There are some people that I’ve come across in my area that have done a similar trajectory. Massage/ Acupuncture/pre-med/med school that I’ve been thinking of getting in touch with. I feel like it would be good though to focus on phase 1 of the 2 phase plan!
I just want to tell You that combining western and eastern medicine is feasible, especially when it comes to osteopathic medicine. I shadowed two doctors who are doing this. One was using medical acupuncture and homeopathy and lots of other thing additionally to traditional medicine, and he is very successful. There was few weeks waiting time for a prospective patient to see him.
And 31 one is not too old. I am 32 and just starting medical school. And I think that Your previous career can really help You - you can use it in personal statement and on interview and later in classes.
Another option is naturopathic medicine. A friend of mine just finished her first year at NCNM in Portland, Orgeon. I believe it is a 5-year program which can be extended even further to receive training in acupuncture. Her rotations will be alongside the M.D.'s and D.O.'s at various hospitals. Might be worth researching given your interest in Eastern medicine.
Thanks for the info everyone.
Oddly, last week after writing this post, I came down with some symptoms the day after a very long massage day which were a little more than what some ice can fix and it appears that I have cubital tunnel. Which means my days are numbered doing what I do now.
I’m reaching out to some acupuncturist now to talk to them about their practices and probably will start my first semester of acupuncture school part time (only due to commitments through the end of the year) at the end of august.
Aside from that the more I ask myself the question, the more I feel this is the only option for me.
I always want to learn more about our amazing bodies and I can’t imagine not helping others and educating them about them.