Accelerated D.O. Programs

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gzahalan

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Hey everyone,
I noticed that LECOM had an accelerated (3-Year) DO program. Are there any other institutions that have this degree option?

-gzahalan.
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gzahalan said:
Hey everyone,
I noticed that LECOM had an accelerated (3-Year) DO program. Are there any other institutions that have this degree option?

-gzahalan.
Click to expand...

Does the LECOM program lead to PC fields though?? I was under the impression that this three year program was a fast track, but you then went into FP or something. Also, if you aren't in medical school yet ... don't assume you will want it accelerated. From what people say ... it's a TON of information, and the timing is probably where you need it.
 
LECOM offers a 3 year DO degree in primary care by removing a lot of rotations in your third and fourth years. If you're 100% set on primary care then this is an option. However, if you have any inkling of doubt that PC (IM/Peds/FP/OB Gyn/Geriatrics) is not for you then this is not the program for you.

I know that my undergrad has a 3 year BS program with a DO school that you can apply to in your freshman year. This shaves off a year of undergrad, but doesn't cut out electives from your medical school program leaving you the ability to not be sequestered to a few particular fields.
 
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Hey,
Yah Family Medicine is what I want to get into to.
However, I am a Canadian student, so second-level entry is what I would be doing and not the option that you offered. I should have specified that.
 
This sounds like an innovative idea.
Most of the Medical Students who want to match in a field usually match in Family Medicine, and they are happy for doing so. It makes sense to grant students who are keen on becoming Primary Care physicians before they even make it into Medical School the chance to do so, without having to do rotations they truly feel they won't want to expand on, in terms of residency. However, the other end of the stick is that medical students who think they will want to become primary care physicians may not have the exposure to other field rotations that may inspire them to specialize in other field of medicine. I guess this school plays on the idea that ignorance is bliss and/or they must want individuals who are already determined to be primary care physicians. More schools should offer this.

Does anyone know of any other programs of this sort in the United States of America?

-gzahalan.
 
gzahalan said:
Most of the Medical Students who want to match in a field usually match in Family Medicine
Click to expand...

Where did you hear that? Are you talking LECOM students or med students in general because if you mean med students in general, I don't think that's true.
 
I'll be the first one to openly admit that since I haven't gone through rotations, I don't know exactly what it's like. And obviously, everybody goes through the first 2 years together, which gives you the fundamental education...

but, I would think there is a tiny bit of benefit to going on rotations in fields in which you won't specialize simply so that you can ever so slightly interact with them more competently in the future. The best primary care physicians are able to understand and process the assessments from any/all specialists seen by their patients...and be able to re-articulate them for their patients, and make/integrate appropriate general healthcare decisions with this knowledge.

Even if rotations are brief, I think your experiences might give you benefit (especially as a newer physician) mastering this.

I understand the desire to get more practitioners out there, but I'm not sure I like this 😕
 
pietachok said:
I'll be the first one to openly admit that since I haven't gone through rotations, I don't know exactly what it's like. And obviously, everybody goes through the first 2 years together, which gives you the fundamental education...

but, I would think there is a tiny bit of benefit to going on rotations in fields in which you won't specialize simply so that you can ever so slightly interact with them more competently in the future. The best primary care physicians are able to understand and process the assessments from any/all specialists seen by their patients...and be able to re-articulate them for their patients, and make/integrate appropriate general healthcare decisions with this knowledge.

Even if rotations are brief, I think your experiences might give you benefit (especially as a newer physician) mastering this.

I understand the desire to get more practitioners out there, but I'm not sure I like this 😕
Click to expand...

All very good points.

However, I really do love the program and wish more institutions would adapt similar ones, simply b/c LECOM is already relatively cheap (for DO and/or Private), and this shaves yet another 25% off the price, which could be 50 or 60K plus interest (with living expenses). Since so many grads are choosing non-FP/primary care due to indebtedness, I personally feel like the benefits outweigh the consequences.

Money talks, and if you want more primary care docs, you need to give students a little less of a doom-like scenario when they graduate and Sallie Mae comes a-knockin.
 
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If anyone has read the book Intern, in it the author talks about how since he already had a PhD, his medical school (St. Louis Univ. I think) let him forgo his 4th year altogether.....I found that interesting.
 
FlaMedic said:
If anyone has read the book Intern, in it the author talks about how since he already had a PhD, his medical school (St. Louis Univ. I think) let him forgo his 4th year altogether.....I found that interesting.
Click to expand...

That makes zero sense, considering that the fourth year of a plain DO or MD program is clinical rotations. Nothing that would have been experienced via any PhD program I've ever heard of. Perhaps they let him forego the first year of basic sciences. Lots of med students get to bypass classes because of previous advanced degrees where theve already taken med level biochem/physiology/anatomy. Or perhaps he was in a dual degree program where they let him skip another non clinical year.

Men I could be wrong, but it seems a bit off.
 
Yeah, I agree. But that's what he said in his book. I found it kind of odd as well.
 
i was accepted to the 7-year Gannon/PCOM program and most likely going there starting Fall 2009. I wanted to see what people thought of this and if anyone was in this program. Thanks for your input.
 
Chocolate Bear said:
That makes zero sense, considering that the fourth year of a plain DO or MD program is clinical rotations. Nothing that would have been experienced via any PhD program I've ever heard of. Perhaps they let him forego the first year of basic sciences. Lots of med students get to bypass classes because of previous advanced degrees where theve already taken med level biochem/physiology/anatomy. Or perhaps he was in a dual degree program where they let him skip another non clinical year.

Men I could be wrong, but it seems a bit off.
Click to expand...

4th year entails around 3 months or so of real rotations while the rest are electives, reading months, interviewing and basically the same kind of work as undergrad.

Foregoing the 4th year, or at least part of it is common practice in MD/PhD programs. Many ( most?) MD/PhDs who want to do clinical work rather than research end up doing the 4th year anyway just based on timing of having to apply to residency.

Those that go into academic research generally forego the 4th year.
 
Loan cost are sadly what break a Family medicine doc's back (FM pay vs specializing). I think the idea of a three year program to shave 25% of the cost incured is great and should probably be expanded.
 
I've always wondered what prevents someone from doing this path, then changing their mind later. What if, after finishing your FP residency, then practicing for say, 5 years, you decide you really love...Anesthesia...who's to stop you from switching? Program directors?
 
digitlnoize said:
I've always wondered what prevents someone from doing this path, then changing their mind later. What if, after finishing your FP residency, then practicing for say, 5 years, you decide you really love...Anesthesia...who's to stop you from switching? Program directors?
Click to expand...

From what I understand, you sign a contract saying you practice primary care for 5? years post residency, and if you break it you end up paying the $$$ to LECOM for the fourth year.

So yeah maybe after that you could go back and do another residency if you really wanted.
 
I spoke to a graduate of LECOM (a chief resident) and she wasn't impressed with the products of the 3-year program.

There's a divide with LECOM. People in the first two years seem content enough, but once they go on rotations they're no longer happy with the school. Be sure to talk to graduates too.
 
engineeredout said:
From what I understand, you sign a contract saying you practice primary care for 5? years post residency, and if you break it you end up paying the $$$ to LECOM for the fourth year.

So yeah maybe after that you could go back and do another residency if you really wanted.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that this may be a bit of a challenge as medicare will only pay for one residency. This means the government funds your residency training for the amount of time you should be in your training period for your chosen specialty. If you decide to do an additional residency, the residency program will have to fund this position without federal reimbursement/payment for your training.



Wook
 
I wouldn't look down on this program because how they do it is you go year round no summer break and all that is really getting cut in your 4th year is electives.
 
This may create a slippery slope with mid level practicioners, like PAs, working for independent practice rights. Many PA programs are 3 years which could make for a compelling argument that PA=DO.

If the 4th was pointless....we wouldn't have to do it.
 
A lot of people have a cushy 4th year, with long vacations and breezy rotations they don't put any effort into b/c they already know they won't end up in that field. LECOM is cutting out summers and a few peripheral rotations, not the core curriculum.

So, you can talk about slippery slopes and the like, but until you show me an outcome study that shows decreased clinical acumen in those trained in an accelerated program such as LECOM's, I'll remain skeptical that those docs are any less well-prepared than the ones who paid 33% more to become a PCP in 4 years.
 
Easy C-Bear....not trying to start a war over here. I just don't want this to be another time in history where rhetoric wins over evidence and inappropriate privileges are granted to mid-level practitioners. The legal system can be a cruel mistress.

The value of the 4th year to PCP docs can be debated until the cows come home. Most 4th years that I know spend a good bit of time studying for boards, so I do wonder how the step 2 scores for the accelerated program compare to the regular program.
 
EricH said:
This may create a slippery slope with mid level practicioners, like PAs, working for independent practice rights. Many PA programs are 3 years which could make for a compelling argument that PA=DO.

If the 4th was pointless....we wouldn't have to do it.
Click to expand...

I'm not getting "worked up" or anything, so please don't think that I am. Merely debating an important issue, IMO. 🙂

As far as "PA = DO," PA is 24-36 months, then you're done.

DO is 36-48 months, then you need another 3 years of RESIDENCY to be a family doc. How is that equivalent?
 
Styria said:
I spoke to a graduate of LECOM (a chief resident) and she wasn't impressed with the products of the 3-year program.

There's a divide with LECOM. People in the first two years seem content enough, but once they go on rotations they're no longer happy with the school. Be sure to talk to graduates too.
Click to expand...

That is interesting, since there are no "products" to speak of as of yet. The first students in this program have just started their rotations(in March) and haven't even taken step one yet! They will take it in May, according to a friend who is one of the students in question.
 
Chocolate Bear said:
I'm not getting "worked up" or anything, so please don't think that I am. Merely debating an important issue, IMO. 🙂

As far as "PA = DO," PA is 24-36 months, then you're done.

DO is 36-48 months, then you need another 3 years of RESIDENCY to be a family doc. How is that equivalent?
Click to expand...

That's not even including the MCAT, the three USMLE steps, the residency board exam, attending annual convensions, and jounals reading.

With no offense to PA's, Do's are called doctors, and PA's are called Physican Assistants
 
mooman said:
That is interesting, since there are no "products" to speak of as of yet. The first students in this program have just started their rotations(in March) and haven't even taken step one yet! They will take it in May, according to a friend who is one of the students in question.
Click to expand...

Huh. Maybe it was the independent study track she was referring to instead?
 
ibn alnafis md said:
that's not even including the mcat, the three usmle steps, the residency board exam, attending annual convensions, and jounals reading.

With no offense to pa's, do's are called doctors, and pa's are called physican assistants
Click to expand...


+1 I agree
 
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