Difficulty obtaining Pain Fellowship as a D.O. w/ACGME Neurology background?

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Would anyone be so kind as to comment on the difficulty of obtaining a Pain Fellowship as a DO that's ACGME trained in Neurology? I have basic science experience in Pain and intend to do a Pain rotation on 3rd and 4th year of medical school. Would the Neurology route be unwise?

Thank you in advance.

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[epidural man]

Not difficult.

Many of the best pain physicians I know are DO.

Good mix and background for pain actually.

 

[lobelsteve]

Near impossible. Neurology is a distant third in choosing candidates for fellowship. There may be some anto DO folks still out there. DO is good match for PMR. But programs pick Anes over everyone.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Seems both opinions are represented.

Would having the DO degree be in any way limiting? Or is it because of the Neurology background?

 

[SSdoc33]

DO is fine. Neurology makes it more difficult. Pick the primary specialty you like best.

 

[Prof Moriarty]

You're already gonna be a DO so don't bother worrying about it. As a med student I used to think that kind of thing mattered a lot, but as time goes by and I get further into my training I see it is less and less important, if at all. Bottom line: be a good doctor. As someone mentioned there may be some old timers w/ bias, but for the most part they are retiring/dying off.

If you like neuro, go for that. Residency is arduous. Better have a solid interest in what you're doing. Anes-based fellowships still like to take anes but a high quality candidate from another field is a boon to a training program, and many good programs know that. I think the trend has been towards accepting more non-anes. Who can say what will be happening in 6+ years? Or if you'll still be interested in pain in 6+ years.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

You're already gonna be a DO so don't bother worrying about it. As a med student I used to think that kind of thing mattered a lot, but as time goes by and I get further into my training I see it is less and less important, if at all. Bottom line: be a good doctor. As someone mentioned there may be some old timers w/ bias, but for the most part they are retiring/dying off.

If you like neuro, go for that. Residency is arduous. Better have a solid interest in what you're doing. Anes-based fellowships still like to take anes but a high quality candidate from another field is a boon to a training program, and many good programs know that. I think the trend has been towards accepting more non-anes. Who can say what will be happening in 6+ years? Or if you'll still be interested in pain in 6+ years.

You're right about being a DO no matter what, but if I'm compounding to the fact that my background would be neurology, I' was going to think hard about PM&R. Ultimately, you're also correct that you have to do what you love because the road is tough.

Thank you for the feedback.

 

[101N]

DO doesn't matter. Albino with a mohawk may raise some eyebrows though.

 

[epidural man]

You're right about being a DO no matter what, but if I'm compounding to the fact that my background would be neurology, I' was going to think hard about PM&R. Ultimately, you're also correct that you have to do what you love because the road is tough.

Thank you for the feedback.

You should do PM&R.

It's like the cool stuff about neurology, the cool stuff about ortho (sports med), and you get to hang with all the hot physical therapists.

 

[lonelobo]

You should do PM&R.

It's like the cool stuff about neurology, the cool stuff about ortho (sports med), and you get to hang with all the hot physical therapists.

 

[drusso]

DO doesn't matter. Albino with a mohawk may raise some eyebrows though.

That must be my problem....

 

[Ligament]

For Pain, DO either has no bearing or may be a slight advantage or disadvantage in some circumstances; either way there is little to worry about. The issue is neurology; not the best base specialty for launching into a pain fellowship. Anesthesia or PM&R would be ideal.

 

[oreosandsake]

most PT/OTs I have worked with have an average age of 25, and BMI a few shades below that.

they also wear active wear such as yoga pants to work.

 

[lobelsteve]

most PT/OTs I have worked with have an average age of 25, and BMI a few shades below that.

they also wear active wear such as yoga pants to work.

And they like pina coladas......

And oreas and sake.