Difference Between DO/MD Residency Application

[rxfudd]

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This is something I am a bit confused about and can find no information on. When it comes time for a med student to apply for an allopathic residency, how does the process itself differ for MD's and DO's? Do they both apply through ERAS? Are there any details in the process that are specific to MD's and specific to DO's?

I'm not a med student yet, just curious.

 

[Neurogirl]

The process is basically the same for both MD and DO students. The only difference is that with the NRMP, DO students are registered as "independent applicants".

 

[rxfudd]

What bearing does being registered as an independent applicant have on ones application? Why make the distinction?

 

[matopet1]

Roughly 55-60% of DO's match to allopathic residencies(Sourde Insider's guide to Med school). Depending on how competitive the residency a DO student may have to take the USMLE and Comflex(ER, Ortho, Surgery). If you do the military all studentts DO and MD get ACGME training(MD) but all the military training is recognized by the AOA. Go to the AOA web site and look at the match info. Basically as a DO you can apply for both allopathic and osteopathic residencies, but if you match to a DO program you are blocked from allopathic. The same goes for allopathic students except the reverse. THe NRMP just started this last year. However, alot of DO's just apply to allopathic programs becuase they tend to be better funded. It doesn't matter which resideny route you take just choose a good program whether allopathic or osteopathic.The key is to be board certified. You want to look at board pass rates, call schedule, # of slots filled and talk to current residents before you choose a residency. --Good Luck!!

 

[matopet1]

For example CCOm in Chicago placed people at the UNiv of Chicago in Er and Peds the last few years. There was even a DO student from CCOM that matched to an Allopathic EM/IM residency a few years back. It is the individual and how you perform that will determine your residency. If you are good, you ar good. Thinitails do not matter. ---Good Luck!!

 

[Rusty]

Originally posted by matopet1:
•However, alot of DO's just apply to allopathic programs becuase they tend to be better funded. •

All allopathic and osteopathic residencies are funded by CMS, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly known as the Health Care Financing Administration--HCFA). While some hospitals receive more money per resident than other hospitals, it is incorrect that allopathic programs are generally better funded. Some programs are better funded and some are funded worse.

 

[matopet1]

Rusty you are correct but look at the AOA site and a # of spots are unfilled at the smaller community hospitals. Gme funding is never enough and unfortunetly the smaller community hospitals have trouble competing. Both Md and Do residencies in larger teaching setting do better because of GME and NIh research funds. Thus a smaller community hospital may not get as much GME or any NIh funding.Do's are definetly doing a service to these underserved communities, but salaries and benefits may be a little less than the larger Teaching hospitals. For example would you go to CCOM rotating internship year program or NYcom rotating year in Watertown New York? Nycom is providing Dr's in an underserved area of New York and keeping with the Osteopath tradition. There are also allopathic programs that are community based and are not as well funnded.Bottom line GME funding needs to increase so all Community based hospitals MD or DO can provide for those who need medical care the most. Write your congressman !!!! --

 

[Rusty]

Originally posted by matopet1:
•DO's are defintely doing a service to these underserved communities, but salaries and benefits may be a little less than the larger Teaching hospitals. •

Salaries and benefits (medical, dental, etc.) are at least as good at small community hospitals with AOA residencies as at ACGME-approved large tertiary care programs. NIH funding for research (prohibited from being used for resident salaries or benefits) is significantly higher at large tertiary care centers than at community hospitals. NIH funding may impact the quality of the residency program, but not the financial health of the residency program. Large teriary care programs have many advantages over community hospital programs, but the residents' salary/benefits are unlikely to be one of them.

 

[Neurogirl]

Being registered as an independent applicant has no bearing on one's actual application. The system was designed to facilitate the matching of US MD students with US residency programs. To help automate the matching process, the system is linked to all US allopathic schools. Independent applicants include DO students, IMG's and MDs who have already graduated but did not initially do a residency, or are changing residencies. In order to eliminate the indepentent applicant category, they'd have to link up with every medical school in the world! 😱 Hardly an inexpensive proposal. I guess you could make an argument for adding DO schools to the system, but I doubt the AOA would agree to such an arrangement.

 

[Winged Scapula]

The only distinction I can see for being registered as an Independent Applicant is that programs are "allowed" to offer NRMP spots to Independent applicants outside of the match. Programs are required to fill a certain percentage of their spots via the NRMP if they choose to participate, but filling them with Independent applicants outside the match apparently reduces the number they are required to fill via the NRMP.