Do Gme

[emidesu]

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I'm an OMS-II and hearing various things that concern me about GME. I was under the impression that I could do an osteopathic internship and start an allopathic residency as a PGY-2. However, a classmate told me that people have been doing osteopathic residencies, then starting allopathic residencies as PGY-1s, which adds a year onto the whole thing, not to mention spending two years as an intern. Also my classmate gave me the impression that there is a change in the works to cut out freestanding osteopathic internships, forcing D.O. grads into osteopathic residencies. I have nothing against doing an osteopathic residency but there are none in my area in the field I am interested in, and I am committed to staying here. It seems dumb to do something I don't really want to just to shave a few years off residency, but with deferment rules changing and family obligations looming I may feel I don't have a choice. Can someone explain this please? (I am in Pennsylvania).

 

[Anka]

Just guessing, but it probably has a lot to do with the program you'd be transfering into, i.e., they probably don't have a bunch of PGY2 spots open. Also, a traditional rotating internship only works for certain specialties; your surgical residencies probalby want you to have a full year as a surgery intern.

Best,
Anka

 

[DrMom]

There will still be osteopathic internships available, but the internships that were preiously linked to but not officially part of residency programs will now be fully integrated. This was not done to force people into DO residencies, but it does make the DO system more like the MD system.

Keep in mind that the majority of the DO intern only spots go unfilled from year to year.

 

[Winged Scapula]

It is true for allopathic surgical residencies, if your first PGY-1 year was a traditional rotating osteopathic internship, you will be asked to repeat your intern year as a surgical intern because you will not have the required months of surgical rotations for the ABS.

On the brighter side, the DO interns I had in Pennsylvania were often fantastic, having already done an internship (should be easier the 2nd time around, if not less painful).

 

[emidesu]

In my anxiety I went looking around the net late last night and I think I was fed an overgeneralization; I am interested in neurology and it seems most allopathic neuro residencies are PGY-2 through 4 anyway and don't seem to care much where you do PGY-1. If I were going into surgery that would be another thing, but frankly I would rather have several years of continuous root canal, so we won't be worrying about that.
Thanks to those of you who were kind enough to reply.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I assume you plan to be Board Certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry (AOBNP). You will not be board eligible via the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN, the allopathic board) without an ACGME approved PGY-1 year.

The ABONP states that you must complete 3 years of AOA-approved neuro training. I'm assuming that the AOA considers any ACGME approved program as acceptable, but you might want to check that. It has been posted here on SDN that the ACOI (American College of Osteopathic Internists -- the Osteopathic IM Board) will certify any DO training in an allopathic fellowship (i.e. GI, Cards, H/O, etc), but I'd suggest contacting the AOBNP and checking that this is OK first.

 

[Faebinder]

I assume you plan to be Board Certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry (AOBNP). You will not be board eligible via the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN, the allopathic board) without an ACGME approved PGY-1 year.

The ABONP states that you must complete 3 years of AOA-approved neuro training. I'm assuming that the AOA considers any ACGME approved program as acceptable, but you might want to check that. It has been posted here on SDN that the ACOI (American College of Osteopathic Internists -- the Osteopathic IM Board) will certify any DO training in an allopathic fellowship (i.e. GI, Cards, H/O, etc), but I'd suggest contacting the AOBNP and checking that this is OK first.

MMM.. didn't realize that osteopathic and allopathic have different specialty board certification... do they also have different exams and does this apply to IM as well? Wow, are the exam differences also similar to the differences between USMLE and COMLEX? (i.e. easier, friendlier?)

 

[WestcoastMedicine]

They do have dually accredited AOA/ACGME Internship/Transitional years. That way you would have your required DO internship for the 5 states as well as a acgme approved pgy1 year if that was the problem.