hi! i am an IMG. while going through FREIDA, i came across a couple of programs whose program directors were D.O. and not M.D. now in india from where i am, D.O and M.D. are totally separate branches and not intermingable. Is it the same in USA ? my long term goal is to do a CARDIOLOGY FELLOWSHIP and my question is whether M.D. students shud apply to these programs in which have most of the doctors in the faculty are D.O. s
what essentially is the difference.
thanks a lot.

In the US both DO's and MD's have full practice rights. DO's can do MD residencies but MD's generally cannot do DO residencies. This is because DO residencies incorporate manipulative medicine, which MD's are not trained in. I believe NYCOM has a 3 year program for IMG who hold MD degrees to become DO's.

DO education in the United States is very different from DO training in the rest of the world. In the US, DO's are trained as fully priviliged physicians and surgeons.

Though I'm still a premed, it's my understanding that if you want a cards fellowship, then you should try to match into an IM program, do your best to stand out, and then go for the fellowship position.

Good Luck