D.O. Residency programs

[Mohyamin]

Is it true that D.O. and M.D. residency programs have merged and now both D.O. and M.D. graduates can apply to either programs?

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[AnatomyGrey12]

Is it true that D.O. and M.D. residency programs have merged and now both D.O. and M.D. graduates can apply to either programs?

Yes. DOs could always apply to MD programs, just not the other way around.

 

[Hakuna Matata]

Yes. DOs could always apply to MD programs, just not the other way around.

Anatomy is correct above. DOs used to be able to apply to both DO and MD programs but MDs could only apply to MD programs. Now they will all be under the ACGME (MD) umbrella, so everyone can apply everywhere essentially.


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[ill be a doc soon]

DO residencies were usually only open to a couple thousand applicants every year, and now that they're open to literally ten times as many people, including US MDs and IMGs. How does this work for DOs wanting to get into something slightly competitive? I'd imagine that MD residencies will continue to prefer MD over DO, but what about the DO residencies which will be open to everyone?

 

[Rekt]

DO residencies were usually only open to a couple thousand applicants every year, and now that they're open to literally ten times as many people, including US MDs and IMGs. How does this work for DOs wanting to get into something slightly competitive? I'd imagine that MD residencies will continue to prefer MD over DO, but what about the DO residencies which will be open to everyone?

That math is pretty simple isn't it? The net effect of the merger on matching for DO students, is a negative one. It's already getting more and more difficult by the year to match due to the increasing applicant pool without concomitant increase in residency spots (which we don't want anyway), and the merger only exacerbates this.

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

The merger is a necessary step. Expansion honestly scares me though. Let's hope residency parity is not reached anytime soon.


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[AlbinoHawk DO]

That math is pretty simple isn't it? The net effect of the merger on matching for DO students, is a negative one. It's already getting more and more difficult by the year to match due to the increasing applicant pool without concomitant increase in residency spots (which we don't want anyway), and the merger only exacerbates this.

Before if you were a 260+ student with all the bells and whistles and wanted to do ortho, you were considered to be crazy to forgo AOA to attempt ACGME. Now that you can apply for everything, the potential for DOs entering better programs has increased. Unfortunately, the safety net is lost. There's always an upside and a downside to everything.

 

[zukunft195]

In the short run, DO grads seeking spots in competitive specialties will be hurt. In the long run, the playing field will be leveled and the DO image will improve.

You may no longer be able to match ortho with a 220 (or a high COMLEX score), but decades from now, your MD colleagues (especially younger ones) may have a greater appreciation for your training and background. That seems like a fair trade-off to me.

The people who are most concerned about the merger are the osteopathic fundamentalists, who consider A.T. Still to be some sort of prophet or saint. Sorry, but if we want progress in the medical profession, there needs to be some UNITY among medical professionals. Of course, unification between a majority group and a minority group generally requires a degree of ASSIMILATION -- and that's perfectly okay.

 

[EM2Be2017]

Before if you were a 260+ student with all the bells and whistles and wanted to do ortho, you were considered to be crazy to forgo AOA to attempt ACGME. Now that you can apply for everything, the potential for DOs entering better programs has increased. Unfortunately, the safety net is lost. There's always an upside and a downside to everything.

I think this is a very nice benefit for these students. I feel bad for DOs that get two or three interviews at programs they really like in the ACGME match, but can't really even try to match at those programs because the risk of not matching at all is too high.

I don't understand how we allowed two separate systems like the ACGME and the AOA to operate independently. It should have always been one system, we are all physicians.

 

[ill be a doc soon]

If theres been a cap on residencies since 1997, why are new residency spots still opening (not that im complaining)? Are they funded by the hospitals/schools themselves? Sorry if this is a noob question lol.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

I think this is a very nice benefit for these students. I feel bad for DOs that get two or three interviews at programs they really like in the ACGME match, but can't really even try to match at those programs because the risk of not matching at all is too high.

I don't understand how we allowed two separate systems like the ACGME and the AOA to operate independently. It should have always been one system, we are all physicians.

You know the history we've had. The fact that we have 2 degrees seems ridiculous to many, but thank god for it because it let me stay in CA.

 

[CastleG8]

I just like the idea of having one merged residency match process instead of two as a DO.

Now if we could just get rid of comlex and let omm be an elective. 🙂