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The 2026-2027 DO School Specific Threads are now available in the School Specific Discussions forum. The 2025-2026 discussions are now available in the prior year discussions forum.
D.O. and radiology
Started by arybyinski
Most physicians are MDs in every field, because there are like 10x more MDs than DOs.
I think we had 3-4 people match rads out of like 70 in our first graduating class.
I think we had 3-4 people match rads out of like 70 in our first graduating class.
most physicians are MD's as well. That, in my opinion, explains why most are MD's. Most surgeons and other specialized docs are MD's due to this simple fact. With that said, less DO's tend to specialize as well, partially due to self-selecting factors etc... There are usually a few in each graduating class that match radiology. You've gotta be a stand out though, from what I understand.
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One other thing of note is that compared to some of the other competitive specialties such as Derm, Ortho, ENT, NS. Allopathic rads programs are more accessible to DO students. If you look at some of the match lists from this year you will see it's not uncommon to see some DO students going to allopathic (MD) Radiology residencies. This is compared to only ~1-3 or so DO students who go into allopathic Derm or Ortho.
I think DOs match okay into ACGME rads. It's a competitive field right now, but from what I've heard ... it's slowly getting pulled down, and it may be 'very DO friendly' in the future. With that said ... if you work hard, you should stand a decent chance to match ACGME rads, and there is always AOA residencies. Check out the rads forums and http://opportunities.osteopathic.org for more info.
does that link only show open slots? no radiology spots were showing up in NJ or PA, which leads me to think it shows only available spots.
I know neurosurgery is hard so how many D.O.s are lucky to get into that. Also neurology I did search online and didn't find anything I can trust. I would like to go into neurosurgery but I know its really competitive but I also love neurology how is that one?
Neurology isn't that competitive for one thing, but honestly, most people don't really know what they "love" when they go in. I entertained the idea of neurosurgery until about 20 minutes into the surrounding anatomy when I realized nerves just piss me off.
As far as DO radiologists. It just depends where you live. Where I grew up, the DO radiologists were in the majority. We had 4 DOs and two MDs.
As far as DO radiologists. It just depends where you live. Where I grew up, the DO radiologists were in the majority. We had 4 DOs and two MDs.
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Well, since only 6% of physicians are DOs that means that your hospital (at 3%) is only one DO away from normal. BTW, didn't you mention that you can smoke a pound of weed at one sitting?
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8401140&postcount=63
You keep that up. That's a sure way to win you some votes from the admissions commitees!!! 👍
Hey, atleast it sets me apart from the herd right?
44S too.
Can't win 'em all.
I didnt want to start a new thread, but in speaking with my DO interventional radiologist, he told me there are NO radiology residencies for DO.
He told me that he went through a surgery internship, then onto interventional rad.
I asked about matching into an MD rad slot, and he said its unlikely and I would need to go through an internship after med school and wait for an MD rad resident to give up a spot after it begins.
Yay or nay?
He told me that he went through a surgery internship, then onto interventional rad.
I asked about matching into an MD rad slot, and he said its unlikely and I would need to go through an internship after med school and wait for an MD rad resident to give up a spot after it begins.
Yay or nay?
Nay.
https://services.aamc.org/eras/erasstats/par/display8.cfm?NAV_ROW=PAR&SPEC_CD=O13
There's not a lot of them, but there are some.
I don't know what the difference in interventional radiology and diagnostic radiology (sorry), but there are 15 programs listed for DO's for diagnostic radiology. Here is the link to that list: https://services.aamc.org/eras/erasstats/par/display8.cfm?NAV_ROW=PAR&SPEC_CD=O13
For matching into MD radiology you would have to look at the match outcomes file. Someone will probably post that link or you can search for it.
Interventional radiology is a year long (I think) fellowship done after a diagnostic rads residency.
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Nay. He's incorrect. There are 16 DO diag programs, IR is a different thing after DR. Also, check out the big dogs (KCOM, CCOM, KCUMB) they match pretty well into Allo rads. I even saw an ACGME Rad Onc at Western last year 😱.
wow, 16 in the nation.
So, a DO radiologist either has to go through 1 of those 16 programs OR match into an MD slot?
is there a sticky on the match process? im curious as to how it works.
There are actually 16 programs http://opportunities.osteopathic.or...OKEN=58295230&jsessionid=3030205c6015212e5636 and yes it is unlikely because radiology is competitive even for allopaths to match into the allopathic residency programs... it can be done though and yes you can do a surgical internship and hope that you match into an open spot but this is a gamble and can be risky
apparently im too slow as well
Thanks. Of all the residencies I have looked into rads has not been one, of course I am interested in a lot of things so I may look more into it.
You can look into the residency section (they talk about interviewing/how many places to rank, etc.) or search in the DO section for general match info.
I don't think 16 programs is that small...considering only DO's can apply to them. Is it competitive, yes, but 16 is better than 8.
I'm actually confused about this. Are you saying he did a fellowship in interventional rad after completing a general surgery residency? I thought you had to do a diagnostic rads residency in order to do a VIR fellowship, no? Can someone clarify this?
You do your internship year which is the first year of the normally 5 year surgical residency then apply to a rad residency during that internship year and then finish the remaining 4 years in the rad residency
16 programs, not 'slots.' For example, the Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital takes 2 each year, The St James program can take up to 4 each year, etc:
http://opportunities.osteopathic.org
Now, for allopathic, just pulling up the match list from a few schools:
KCOM: Had two go allopathic in 2008
DMU: Had two go allopathic in 08
... etc. Those were two well known DO schools I seriously just picked at random, and each school had at least the same amount, if not more, people who went into osteopathic DR residencies. So, it's competitive to go ACGME (MD) rads, but not impossible:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7635532&postcount=6
Also, what do you want to know about the match
How exactly does it work? do we pick specialties? or do we take an exam that "matches" us to a specialty(ies)?
then after we pick or receive a specialty, next is applying to a program?
sorry if its a noob question
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We pick what specialties we apply to, fill out the ERAS (centralized application), and all of that information gets sent to the programs we list. Then the interview season starts, and at the end you rank your choices. You send in your rank list and every program sends in their list. A computer program matches it all out. In the DO section there is more detailed threads--this is the bare bones of the match.
Just so you know the DO match occurs before the MD match. If you match into any DO program you are automatically dropped from the MD match. Also, as a DO you can pre-match to an MD program--how often this occurs I have no idea. Again if you go to the specific specialty forum on here there is more information on how interviews are going, how many programs to rank, and other info.
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There are 17 DO PGY-2 Neurosurg slots and 16 DO Neurology PGY-2 slots plus MD neurology isn't too bad to match.
Slots or programs? I could understand 17 neurosurgery, but only 16 slots for neurology seems really low...
That's the number I got from adding up all PGY-2 slots on AOA Oppurtunities. I agree it's low considering there are 87 PGY-2 ortho. THere is also only 17 PGY-2 ophtho which sucks for me.
Are those total slots you're listing or just available scramble opportunities?
I was just looking over at the osteopathic opportunities page and some of the programs (I randomly chose 2) you match into the program directly and do your internship their. So this will add a few to that number--for neurology.
No it won't I chose PGY-2 as it accounts for type 3 matches i.e. derm as I didn't know if these were direct entry or after rotating internship. There are 17 slots. Complain to the AOA.
Huh...are we talking neurology or neurosurgery? I was saying that some of the neurology residencies you do your intern year there so there maybe more slots than 16.
To be honest I only know the basics about matching so I may be confused.
That's why you count PGY-2 slots, some people switch residencies do traditional rotating internships, etc.
Oh, ok thanks for the info...I learn something new on SDN everyday.
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