Are there any Canadians here familiar with the process?

[jochi1543]

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I posted some questions in the last week or so, but to no avail, and searches tend to bring in results with Canucks as uninformed as me. I am applying to MD this year - don't think I have the best chances, unless I rocked the MCAT, but I scored 29-31 on practices, so I doubt I'd end up with a 36 on May 16th. If I were a US citizen, I'd apply to DO in the blink of an eye, but I'm very wary of the potential limitations. Specifically these include:

1) being able to match into a residency as a visa candidate. I know MD residencies are generally fairly feasible to match into as a Canadian, unless the specialty is very competitive and you are already a borderline candidate in terms of USMLE scores. However, how much of an uphill battle would it be to match into an MD residency as a DO graduate AND a visa applicant? Does it become practically impossible?

What about DO residencies? How welcoming are they towards visa applicants? Any Canadians here who can share their or their friends' experiences?

2) coming back to Canada. To continue with the above train of thought....if you are not lucky in matching in the US (either MD or DO), can you match into a Canadian MD residency, or is this completely off limits? I know IMGs can match in the second round, and US MD grads can match in the 1st, even though it's an uphill battle again, unless you did electives in Canada. Are DOs allowed into either step of the match or are you f-ed if you don't match in the US?

Also, what about the scenario where you get your residency in the US but then fail to secure sponsorship for employment and have to go back to Canada. My understanding is that right now DOs are only allowed to practice FM in Canada. While I'm very interested in primary care, I understand that I could become interested in a specialty later on, and don't want to impose such rigid limitations on my future career unless it's the only way for me to become a physician. Does the FM limitation still apply if you completed an allopathic residency or is it only for DOs who did a DO residency?

Is anyone aware of a route to petition for practice in non-FM fields? If so, what would that involve?

3) Last but not least. Those of you who obtained loans for your DO education in the US, did you find it to be much more challenging than with your MD friends, considering that DO is not a degree offered in Canada? Does CanHELP offer loans for DOs?



Thanks, hopefully someone can answer a few of my questions.

 

[jvinlv]

I wish I could be more help to your questions because they deserve accurate answers. I would suggest contacting the Canadian Medical Assoc., the AMA, and the American Osteopathic Assoc., and try to find a contact at each to answer the questions. In my opinion, you need "official" guidance/advice from these organizations rather than a hit-or-miss q & a on this forum.

I can tell you from my own experience as a US citizen/Canadian permanent resident, I was rejected by all Canadian schools I applied to. Luckily, I have been accepted into a DO program and will be staying in the US to practice. In fact, my province (BC) has limited knowledge of osteopathic medicine as practiced in the US. Obviously, you and I know that DO's are physicians with full scope like MD's. But BC has their own osteopaths, but they are not licensed to practice medicine...they do more like naturalpathy stuff.

Again, I suggest you contact the professional orgs. If you want to practice in Canada, contact the Canadian hospital residency programs ask your q's.

Basically, start asking q's to "official" sources.....good luck.

 

[PistolPete]

I'm interested in the answers to the OP's question as well. If anyone finds anything out, please post here and enlighten others!

 

[jochi1543]

Basically, start asking q's to "official" sources.....good luck.

Yeah, you're probably right....I know there are some Canadians here who are thinking about going DO, but it seems like a question for someone who's actually gone through the whole process, and I think there's only person here like that (docbill?).

 

[jochi1543]

For the other people who were interested in the answers to my questions: I read something on another forum today, and his short answer was that for us Canadians it's imperative to have an MD after our name and that Caribbean is a better route than DO. If you do DO, you pretty much HAVE to do an MD residency, and you will ONLY be able to practice family medicine.

 

[M.Furfur]

I am also interested in the process but here's what I found!

The policy recognizes the “Doctor of Osteopathy” degree granted by American Osteopathic Association-accredited osteopathic schools as equivalent to the degree in medicine granted by LCME or CACMS-accredited medical schools in Canada or the United States:

The Council adopts the policy that the degree, “Doctor of Osteopathy”, granted by an osteopathic medical school in the United States of America that was, at the time the degree was granted, accredited by the American Osteopathic Association, is an equivalent degree in medicine to one granted by a medical school that was, at the time the degree was granted, an accredited medical school as described for the purpose of clause (a) of “degree of medicine” in Section 1 of Ontario Regulation 865/93.

Osteopaths intending to engage in independent medical practice in Ontario must meet all the postgraduate qualifications for an Independent Practice certificate of registration, including the MCCQE Parts 1 and 2 and the certification examinations of either the CFPC or RCPSC.