Diagnostic Radiology as a DO

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I really struggled in the Trig and Calc required for my degree. However, I also took a lot of health science classes for another career.

For this reason, my AACOMAS science GPA is a lot higher than my AMCAS science GPA (3.8 vs 3.4) as a result of the difference in definitions of what is and is not a science class. It just makes sense for me to apply solely DO, particularly given the increase in med school competitiveness.

I always thought I would want to be a pediatrician or family physician, but I am getting more and more interested in Diagnostic Radiology as an option. No interest in IR. Similar to primary care, the wide knowledge base really appeals to me.

I saw a post from a Radiology PD on their specialty forum saying they try not to take DOs because it will make US seniors think the program had trouble filling in recent cycles.

How doable is DR as a DO? Is this particular PD's program representative of the whole?

Thank you!

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yes acording to charting outcomes 91% of DO's matched DR. Some programs wont take you but that is true for every single specailty, but there are lots of academic and community programs that take DOs
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It just makes sense for me to apply solely DO, particularly given the increase in med school competitiveness.
Why not apply to your state MD schools? Especially if you have a decent MCAT?
 
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Why not apply to your state MD schools? Especially if you have a decent MCAT?

I am a resident of Illinois (not an especially lucky state) and not sure how realistic that is with a 3.4 sGPA and 3.8 cGPA, albeit with an upward trend and solely due to poor math performance. (I regret not letting go of my Chem major sooner. That's why I had to take so much Calculus.) Rush might be worth a try too because I am strong in nonclinical community service. I think it's worth a try but I think the smart money says I am most likely to get into a DO school given those GPA numbers.

I haven't taken the MCAT yet. I had to cancel when I got COVID and it screwed up my study schedule because I was really sick for 2 weeks. However, I was doing pretty okay on practice tests (515ish each time, ranging 512-518). I am not applying until 2022.
 
I am a resident of Illinois (not an especially lucky state) and not sure how realistic that is with a 3.4 sGPA and 3.8 cGPA, albeit with an upward trend and solely due to poor math performance.
You never know man. I have much lower GPAs than you (3.3x cum, 3.1x sci, with a 513 mcat) and I'm sitting on a state MD II currently.

You're in a much better position than I am, as long as your MCAT goes well.
 
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You never know man..

You're in a much better position than I am, as long as your MCAT goes well.

Thank you. I didn't know that stuff and really appreciate your input. :)

Best of luck to you. :)
 
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I’m an OMS-IV applying to radiology and will (hopefully) match in two months. Rads is definitely doable as a DO. But things change. When I was in your shoes, essentially anyone could match into radiology. Now it’s ticking up. Who knows what the landscape will be in 4-5 years? Always shoot your shot at MD if you even have a vague chance at it.

Happy to answer any questions both in thread or via pm. Good luck!
 
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I am a resident of Illinois (not an especially lucky state) and not sure how realistic that is with a 3.4 sGPA and 3.8 cGPA, albeit with an upward trend and solely due to poor math performance. (I regret not letting go of my Chem major sooner. That's why I had to take so much Calculus.) Rush might be worth a try too because I am strong in nonclinical community service. I think it's worth a try but I think the smart money says I am most likely to get into a DO school given those GPA numbers.

I haven't taken the MCAT yet. I had to cancel when I got COVID and it screwed up my study schedule because I was really sick for 2 weeks. However, I was doing pretty okay on practice tests (515ish each time, ranging 512-518). I am not applying until 2022.

My only acceptance is UIC as a Illinois resident with a 3.6 sGpa and a sub 3.0 cGPA with a 509 MCAT.

I am a non traditional student so my gpa is somewhat wonky as a reinventor but my MCAT is nothing spectacular and when I applied to my state MD programs I applied thinking that it wasn’t really worth it but it can’t hurt. Thank God I decided the couple hundred bucks was worth it. Don’t discount yourself out of any program MD or DO cause you have 0% chance to any school you didn’t apply to. Btw I was sent an interview the first day they started this cycle and given an acceptance the first day they started so UIC at the very least is a mission orientated school rather than just a numbers school.
 
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Thank you so much for your help, @Rapsidy. :) That was really encouraging and I really appreciate you taking the time to share. :) :)

Congratulations on your acceptance! :)
 
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Assuming your MCAT goes well, you should apply MD as well. DR is doable as a DO.
 
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yes acording to charting outcomes 91% of DO's matched DR. Some programs wont take you but that is true for every single specailty, but there are lots of academic and community programs that take DOs
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Yes DR is very DO friendly, you just need to apply based on fit, and not be tied to big academic centers (many exclude DOs). Do well on step 2 (above 220), get a research project or two (doesn’t need to be rad), and apply broadly, you will match somewhere. The integrated IR has become exceptionally competitive but fellowship is still easily attainable for DOs.
 
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My non trad advisee matched DR at an east coast university, so its quite doable if you are a good candidate.. Sadly DR has devolved from a consulting service to a boiler room system where RVUs and throughput rule. Many older Docs find it unsatisfying. Also, sub specialization is becoming the rule and all of the inherent disadvantages that come with it, ( loss of skills, increased call, decreased compensation due to need to hire more bodies, etc..) At one local Level 1 hospital nearby, it take 3 radiologists to read films from one trauma patient. Neuro,for the bead, ct for chest, and body imaging for abdomen and pelvis. I suppose if this was one's starting point, it would not be so unsatisfying.
 
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My non trad advisee matched DR at an east coast university, so its quite doable if you are a good candidate.. Sadly DR has devolved from a consulting service to a boiler room system where RVUs and throughput rule. Many older Docs find it unsatisfying. Also, sub specialization is becoming the rule and all of the inherent disadvantages that come with it, ( loss of skills, increased call, decreased compensation due to need to hire more bodies, etc..) At one local Level 1 hospital nearby, it take 3 radiologists to read films from one trauma patient. Neuro,for the bead, ct for chest, and body imaging for abdomen and pelvis. I suppose if this was one's starting point, it would not be so unsatisfying.

That sounds absolutely terrible. Do they require so many specialist to read studies solely for sake of saving money? At the level 1 trauma center I work at I don't believe we have that many individuals read.
 
That sounds absolutely terrible. Do they require so many specialist to read studies solely for sake of saving money? At the level 1 trauma center I work at I don't believe we have that many individuals read.
No, it's the whole subspecialty gestalt. Only a ct radiologist can/should read a trauma chest ct, at least what many think. And Woman's radiologist can only read Mammo, and breast mri, neuro radiologists can only read head ct/mri,etc. You get the picture. Subspecialty radiologists are a double edge sword.
 
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No, it's the whole subspecialty gestalt. Only a ct radiologist can/should read a trauma chest ct, at least what many think. And Woman's radiologist can only read Mammo, and breast mri, neuro radiologists can only read head ct/mri,etc. You get the picture. Subspecialty radiologists are a double edge sword.

Maybe I’m naive, actually I’m definitely naive. However I feel that to be a bit much. I’m definitely going to look more into it to try and understand though.
 
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No, it's the whole subspecialty gestalt. Only a ct radiologist can/should read a trauma chest ct, at least what many think. And Woman's radiologist can only read Mammo, and breast mri, neuro radiologists can only read head ct/mri,etc. You get the picture. Subspecialty radiologists are a double edge sword.
That’s definitely not the norm at most places. Yeah the IR doc probably isn’t going to be picking up a high level msk case and mammographers will always read mammo. But the studies you describe in an earlier post are bread and butter and probably anyone in any subspecialty of rads will be reading that stuff in the majority of practice models.

Basically, if it can be ordered routinely out of the ER, most rads can and do read it.
 
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Maybe at a country community hospital. Many neuro cases won't be read by a non neuro radiologist, or even msk, at a tertiary center. Granted, there are more non tertiary centers right now, but as radiologists increase in number, the sub specialty mentality will also proliferate. We are seeing it in our area already. The general radiologist is becoming a vanishing breed.
 
Maybe at a country community hospital. Many neuro cases won't be read by a non neuro radiologist, or even msk, at a tertiary center. Granted, there are more non tertiary centers right now, but as radiologists increase in number, the sub specialty mentality will also proliferate. We are seeing it in our area already. The general radiologist is becoming a vanishing breed.
Regional differences I guess. I’ve worked at large trauma centers/tertiary care centers where everyone reads the bread and butter stuff. There’s just too many head CT’s for only neuro rads to read for example. Yeah the cardiac MRI is going the CV guy, but there’s too many CT chests at most places for what you’re describing.

Procedurally I’ve seen what you’re talking about. 20 years ago, most everyone did some light IR. Not the case anymore.
 
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