Becoming a plastic surgeon as a DO

[ModelOD]

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[cleopatra1710]

Hello,

So, I'm currently applying now for residency so am not an expert; however, I would venture to say that if you think you want to be a plastic surgeon that you should go to a MD program. It is already very difficult to become a plastic surgeon (particularly through the integrated 6 year pathway), though if you are willing to do a full general surgery residency first (5-7 years) followed by a plastics fellowship (3 years) it may be more feasible. To give yourself the greatest chance, I would suggest an MD program.

Best of luck

 

[JaggerPlate]

Hey Guys! After researching the difference between MD and DO schools I have decided that DO is more of a fit for me. I was just wondering if it is difficult to become a plastic surgeon if attending a DO program? Also, how I would go about becoming a plastic surgeon when attending a DO program?

Thanks for the advice!

1. It's super, duper hard from both sides (MD and DO)
2. The reason it is easier from MD side is because you have the option for integrated and g surg -> fellowship, and there are far more ACGME PRS fellowships. DOs can apply to Allo G Surg and even integrated programs, but again ... very, very competitive (I don't know if any DOs, thus far, have matched into AGCME integrated plastics).
3. Go to a well established DO school, get really good grades, network, do G Surg and PRS audition rotations
4. Match G-Surg at a program that has a PRS fellowship, be really good in the g surg (show interest in plastics while also being great at g surg, showing that you aren't just using the residency to get into a fellowship)
5. Match into the PRS program there (this is the hard step, and do be surprised if it takes multiple times).

http://opportunities.osteopathic.org (where the Osteopathic PRS fellowships are listed)

PM me if you want more info. I could have ranted here for a long, long time ... but didn't. I've researched this pretty extensively.

 

[maxheadroom]

The route as a DO will be much more difficult than the route as a MD. I would recommend that any student who is interested in the more competitive specialties take the MD route if it is open to them.

 

[deleted144060]

This is a thread from a couple of years ago on the mentor forum.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5180829&postcount=5

--M

 

[JaggerPlate]

The route as a DO will be much more difficult than the route as a MD. I would recommend that any student who is interested in the more competitive specialties take the MD route if it is open to them.

I'm not saying you are right or wrong here ... but would you mind giving your (personal) reasoning behind this statement???

 

[Stare Decisis]

I think Moravian's link will answer your questions for the most part. It is Located directly above your post.

 

[maxheadroom]

I think Moravian's link will answer your questions for the most part. It is Located directly above your post.

Moravian's post is (in my opinion) accurate. I have experience at two very different academic plastic surgery departments. One has an integrated program (where I did my Plastics) and one has a combined program (where I did some advanced training). Both have had DO students as rotators during my time and neither program was inclined to offer an interview. I do not know if their status as DOs was responsible for this, as MD rotators were not ensured an interview, either.

As Moravian noted, there is a prejudice against DOs in the MD world. When you're coming into a competitive field like MD Plastics (or others like Derm or Ortho), you need to do everything you can to make sure that you have the strongest background. Quite simply, the DO degree, while equivalent, does not get the same respect in the more competitive fields. If you have the choice between MD and DO schools and you're interested in Plastics/Derm/Ortho/ENT/RadOnc, you will be best served by the MD school almost every time.

 

[igap]

Plastic surgery resident speaking...

I agree with the above posters vis a vis DO status and applying for prs. For all of the listed reasons.

Simply stated, DO school (at least in the MD world) is associated with a low level of prestige. This will be a liability if your goal is to obtain a residency position in plastic surgery which is a very high prestige field.

If you know that you want to be a plastic surgeon, it does not make sense to choose the DO route. If you have the option of going to an MD school, take it. Good luck!

 

[JaggerPlate]

Good input. It's always nice to hear attending/residents opinions on the matter. I don't think it's any secret that ROAD from the ACGME world as a DO is rough. However, I do think it should be noted (as Moravian probably stated) that there are residencies in each of these respective fields funded by the AOA that only DOs can apply to. The quality and quantity of these residencies is up for debate. As a pre-med, I guess that is all I can say about the issue, but I think it's important that this fact at least is stated.

 

[maxheadroom]

Good input. It's always nice to hear attending/residents opinions on the matter. I don't think it's any secret that ROAD from the ACGME world as a DO is rough. However, I do think it should be noted (as Moravian probably stated) that there are residencies in each of these respective fields funded by the AOA that only DOs can apply to. The quality and quantity of these residencies is up for debate. As a pre-med, I guess that is all I can say about the issue, but I think it's important that this fact at least is stated.

True, there are AOA residencies in Plastics, but there are very few. A friend who tried to get into an AOA Plastics residency said that it seemed as though the positions went to internal candidates and that if you didn't go to the school that had a residency that you were screwed.

Again, if you really want to do Plastics, do everything that you can do to go MD.

 

[JaggerPlate]

True, there are AOA residencies in Plastics, but there are very few. A friend who tried to get into an AOA Plastics residency said that it seemed as though the positions went to internal candidates and that if you didn't go to the school that had a residency that you were screwed.

Again, if you really want to do Plastics, do everything that you can do to go MD.

Yeah, in my original post, I put do G-Surg in a program with a PRS fellowship.

 

[Winged Scapula]

There is no doubt that you can become an excellent plastic surgeon as a DO. As a matter of fact, two of my close friends and colleagues are DO plastic surgeons and excellent practitioners.

However, they admit that it was difficult - one finished his training at PCOM and the other did her training in an ACGME gen surg residency before going on to Plastics. Both of them encountered some bias, they felt, being a DO.

But I also wanted to comment on the OP's statement, "I have decided that DO is more of a fit for me." The fact of the matter is that nowadays, there is very little difference in training amongst DOs or MDs. The DOs I work with are no more "holistic" in their approach than any MD nor do most of them, if any, use OMM. The DOs I know would laugh at the statement that the osteopathic model is any better fit for anyone, as it hardly deviates, at least in practice, from the allopathic model. Its a common refrain from pre-meds and the schools capitalize on it, but in reality, the education is the same and you will not notice any difference in practice.

Go to the best medical school you can get into especially if you are thinking about plastics. If its DO, that's great but you can encounter some difficulties as noted above. I made the mistake of picking a school that I thought would offer me a great adventure and model but it was certainly a factor in why I did not match into plastics (but probably not the only one, as I still got inteviews.)

But do not go to an osteopathic school because you somehow think its a better model or fit overall - the INDIVIDUAL school/program should be the fit, not the degree offered.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

But I also wanted to comment on the OP's statement, "I have decided that DO is more of a fit for me."

This statement is almost universally a secret code for "I'm afraid I can't get into an MD school"

 

[Winged Scapula]

This statement is almost universally a secret code for "I'm afraid I can't get into an MD school"

Oh, I know...but there ARE users out there whom have drunk the Kool-Aid that there's some difference between the education. You only have to read the Pre-Osteo forums to see users talking about how its so much better because its a more holistic education than allopathic, looks at the whole body, has the advantage of OMM, etc.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Oh, I know...but there ARE users out there whom have drunk the Kool-Aid that there's some difference between the education. You only have to read the Pre-Osteo forums to see users talking about how its so much better because its a more holistic education than allopathic, looks at the whole body, has the advantage of OMM, etc.

Great first post, and I wanted to comment that this mentality seems to be dying down, even among pre-medical students. Most understand that both MD and DO are slightly different paths to a similar goal, and simply want to become excellent physicians. I'd also say that in certain cases there is definitely validity to the 'fit' people talk about. These issues can range from cost, location, closeness to family, etc, but do not have to spring from some fading, historic difference in philosophy.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Great first post, and I wanted to comment that this mentality seems to be dying down, even among pre-medical students. Most understand that both MD and DO are slightly different paths to a similar goal, and simply want to become excellent physicians. I'd also say that in certain cases there is definitely validity to the 'fit' people talk about. These issues can range from cost, location, closeness to family, etc, but do not have to spring from some fading, historic difference in philosophy.

First Post?😕

Fit is an important attribute. But it would be wrong to assign that fit to the degree (which the OP is doing) rather the being close to family, location, etc.

 

[JackADeli]

Great first post...

First Post?...

I think he was referring to #13 in this thread...

... the INDIVIDUAL school/program should be the fit, not the degree offered.

...there is definitely validity to the 'fit' people talk about. These issues can range from cost, location, closeness to family, etc, but do not have to spring from some fading, historic difference in philosophy.

...Fit is an important attribute. But it would be wrong to assign that fit to the degree...

Yep, I think you are both saying the same thing...

 

[Winged Scapula]

I think he was referring to #13 in this thread... Yep, I think you are both saying the same thing...

We are..the OP however, was talking about fit being related to the degree offered.

 

[JaggerPlate]

First Post?😕

Fit is an important attribute. But it would be wrong to assign that fit to the degree (which the OP is doing) rather the being close to family, location, etc.

Haha, yeah like JAD said, I was talking about your first post in this thread (13 err whatever) and we are essentially saying the same thing.

 

[Derma]

Hi everybody

I am a board certified dermatologist 4years back and i did my Mohs surgery fellowship 2 years back ....i can tell you that this fellowship just triggered my passion about surgery coz i applied for orthopedics after med school and i was not accepted and i found acceptence in dermatology with surgical fellowship but the bad thing is that i dont have much skin cancer cases in my home country (compare to US where i was trained )
so i start thinking in doing plastic surgery residency again...one thing to add i start suffering from depression and anexity which am taking medication for ( which can be triggered by stress as all of us know) i just dont know ? how difficult this would be? is there somebody how changed from medical to surgical speciaility

thanks