>>Here is an example of DO and MD Requirements:
>>
http://www.osteopathic.org/index.cfm?PageID=ado_whatis>>
>>D.O.s/M.D.s:
>>
>>--Applicants to both D.O. and M.D. medical colleges typically have four-year undergraduate degrees with an emphasis on scientific courses.
>>--Both D.O.s and M.D.s complete four years of basic medical education.
>>--After medical school, both D.O.s and M.D.s obtain graduate medical education through such programs as internships and residencies. This training typically lasts three to six years and prepares D.O.s and M.D.s to practice a specialty.
>>--Both D.O.s and M.D.s can choose to practice in any specialty area of medicine-such as pediatrics, family practice, psychiatry, surgery or obstetrics.
>>--D.O.s and M.D.s must pass comparable examinations to obtain state licenses.
>>--D.O.s and M.D.s both practice in fully accredited and licensed health care facilities.
>>
>>4+4+3=11 Years Minimum
>
>So we're talking about 7-9 years (actually 8 to 10 - because they have to do at least one year as MD in between) vs 11. The difference may be in the first couple of years of college, where they spend a lot of time on general science courses - which is covered in high school and partially on freshman year there. The other difference is that our medical students spend only about a quarter of their time at the clinic or lab and residents aren't forced to work 36 hour shifts. So I figure they get broader knowledge but less practice.
I cannot say about Serbia, but I expect it would be closer to Soviet Union days. That's true about 7-9 years, but post-college years could not be compared with US medical school and especially residency. To be precise it's quite difficult to find an analogue for US residency programs in terms of labor intensity.
Edward Pikman
Independent Consultant