D.O. and Neurology

[YES123]

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Hi Everyone!
Here is a simple and straightforward question that I am hoping someone would be able to answer for me: Is it hard for a D.O. to get into a regular (by that I mean the same residency programs that M.D. students get into) neurology residency? I know that matching into some competitive residencies are hard for a D.O. student, but since neurology is an easier residency to match into I am wondering if it is easy even for a D.O. student.
Thanks!

 

[valkener]

It's possible if you are in the top 10% of your class and a great applicant.

 

[Ghost22]

It's not usually necessary to be an all-star if the program you're looking at has a history of taking DO applicants. You need to be better than average, for sure, but that's the case with most of the DO-in-ACGME spots.

If you're striking out on your own to a location that's never taken DOs you'll generally need to have better scores (boards), etc than the MD students applying to it to even have a chance of being taken seriously.

 

[Chakrabs]

My medical school (SUNY Downstate) has a decent neurology program. One of the finest residents I've ever worked with was a DO neurology resident whom I worked with while he was an intern and the following year when he was a 1st yr neuro resident. He was obviously a very smart, hardworking guy and I'm sure was amongst one of the top students in his class.

 

[YES123]

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the responses.
Valkener and Ghost22: I did not think that it would be that hard to match into these programs considering that Neurology is not the most competitive residency. I suppose that it is not that easy.
Anyhow, further responses would be appreciates just so I could get a broader perspective. Thanks so much!

 

[ronaldo23]

It's possible if you are in the top 10% of your class and a great applicant.

notsureifsrs

MD neurology is not hard at all to match as a DO student (outside of the top programs)

 

[FIREitUP]

neurology is not super competitive. If you do well on your step 1 and get decent evals I would say you have a good shot of matching into an ACGME program.

 

[ChemMed]

OP you may want to post this question in the appropriate resident forum. They may able to answer your question more to your liking. Since I am just a medical student and have not researched this problem, I feel any answer I could provide you would just be here say.

 

[YES123]

Thanks to all for the replies!

 

[docnotsopc]

I would recommend asking this in the DO med student forums. MD med students generally just assume DOs cant do anything on the MD side unless they are absolute all stars with 250 USMLE scores. This is obviously not true as DO match after DO match proves. With that being said the playing field isnt even, but still its possible.

Neurology, one of the least competitive fields should be easy to get with an ok USMLE scores and decent evals

 

[K31]

Neurology only fills about 60% of its positions each year with US MD graduates. I don't see a reason why a strong (although not necessarily stellar) DO student couldn't match very well. They do every year in IM, and neuro is probably less competitive overall.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Moving to pre-osteo

 

[TriagePreMed]

From my understanding, Neurology is as competitive for ACGME as getting into Internal Medicine, so a D.O. should encounter no problem at all if they score average or above on the USMLE/COMLEX. The idea that you need to be on the top 10% is ludicrous.

Edit: thanks for the correction, AnthroDocFL.

 

[AnthroDocFL]

MCAT scores? Perhaps you meant the USMLE/COMLEX, in which case this is probably more true. The SAT has nothing to do with where you go to medical school, so how does the MCAT determine how competitive you are for a certain residency field?

According to an SDN article, some of the most important factors for getting into a residency are:
-Letters of Recommendation
-USMLE/COMLEX Step scores
-Basic science/clerkship grades
-Where you attend medical school: more to do with the most competitive residency programs
-Personal Statement
-Extracurriculars
-Away electives
-Medical School Performance Evaluation

From my understanding, Neurology is as competitive for ACGME as getting into Internal Medicine, so a D.O. should encounter no problem at all if they score average or above on the MCAT. The idea that you need to be on the top 10% is ludicrous.

 

[DrMediterranean]

My buddy who just matched at a neuro program told me they are practically begging DO's to apply. He matched into a local program that is strong and affiliated with an allopathic school. He interviewed at lots of what seemed to be top notch places (i'm not sure if their neuro residencies are good at all) -- einstein, cleveland clinic, mayo. He ranked his local program highest because he wanted to stay local - but his peers matched at these places for neurology because I saw it in his schools 2012 match list.

I guess Neuro is NOT hard to match into.... even if you wanna go to a "competitive" or "reputable" place, you still have a shot if you work hard.

 

[OrganicDOc2BE]

It's not super hard (neurosurgery is) but when you say "regular" that shouldn't be synonymous with "allopathic". There are regular residencies and fellowships open only to DOs and you'll have the same exact training and practice rights as an allopathic neurologist trained at a "regular" program