Becoming a DO surgeon

[LoveandhopefulMD]

---

Members do not see this ad.

How much harder is it to become a specialized surgeon after attending DO school? Vs MD? What are the set backs etc


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[WarrensBeenThere]

People in residency programs know that most DO schools are easier to enter than first-level MD schools. That said, do well on your COMLEX and knock out your clinical rotations, which emphasize surgery and your specialized area as much as your program will allow, and you have a decent chance.

 

[Lawpy]

How much harder is it to become a specialized surgeon after attending DO school? Vs MD? What are the set backs etc


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Er... the setbacks pertain to the tired MD vs DO debate. And it's difficult to quantify how hard it is to become a specialized surgeon as DO. This depends on matching into a competitive surgical residency which in turn depends on clinical year performance, USMLEs (MD residencies don't care about COMLEX), good letters etc

Unfortunately, DO clinical rotations are significantly far worse than MD clinical rotations. Again, these reasons are discussed repeatedly in past threads

 

[DocMcMommy]

The DO forum has a ton of active threads discussing DO rotations and residencies and so on. I'm also sure that there's some on this forum if you go back even just a little. I'm not suggesting these in a snarky way, just suggesting where you can find a heap of information and opinions regarding this topic.

 

[gyngyn]

How much harder is it to become a specialized surgeon after attending DO school? Vs MD? What are the set backs etc


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

With good USMLE scores, you can certainly become a general surgeon. Fellowships are possible thereafter with a strong residency performance at an academic center.

 

[Goro]

About 5% of my grads go into General Surgery. This compares to about 10-15% from MD schools. If you look at some other DO school match lists, you'll get the idea. Harder, but not impossible, and it sure seems like it's a surgery thing, rather than a med school thing.

How much harder is it to become a specialized surgeon after attending DO school? Vs MD? What are the set backs etc


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Please for all that is holy use the dang search function Can we please have the mods make it take up half the page?