DO in Psychiatry

[postbacpremed87]

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I was recently accepted into ACOM - a DO program and I have a few questions about the field of psychiatry. I know prior threads address this, but I would like some new insight.

Hypothetical DO student is in the top quarter of their class, takes the USMLE and does reasonably well, then they should not have a problem matching into a mid to high tiered ACGME Psych residency, correct?

I am torn between Neurology and Psychiatry - I love the brain, both the intangible and tangible. As far as I can tell, the pay is similar between the two. Is it reasonable to expect 220-240k/year as a Psychiatrist practicing in a rural region of the Midwest if you are willing to take call as well?

This is all preliminary but fun to talk about.

 

[touchpause13]

I'm also interested in psych and I've been told you should have no problem matching a top tier ACGME program as a DO. Plan on taking the USMLE as well as the COMLEX.

I'm not totally sure on salary but that seems right to me.

 

[Dharma]

Some good threads to check out:

DO (psych) FAQ: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=992027

DO "friendly" ACGME programs: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/ind...riendly-psychiatry-residency-programs.955375/

Good discussion regarding neurology and psych (not sure if enough psychiatrists chimed in here yet though): http://forums.studentdoctor.net/ind...sychiatry-can-a-neurologist-practice.1022262/

Another neuropsych type of thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/ind...hiatry-after-psychiatry-or-neurology.1029671/

Compensation: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/index.php?threads/psychiatrist-salary.960855/

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Hypothetical DO student is in the top quarter of their class, takes the USMLE and does reasonably well, then they should not have a problem matching into a mid to high tiered ACGME Psych residency, correct?

Most likely yes--though we're talking 4-5 years out, so there's a lot that could happen.

I am torn between Neurology and Psychiatry - I love the brain, both the intangible and tangible. As far as I can tell, the pay is similar between the two. Is it reasonable to expect 220-240k/year as a Psychiatrist practicing in a rural region of the Midwest if you are willing to take call as well?

Yes.

 

[EMDO2018]

I'm interested in psych, neuro, and IM. I'm not sure how this will change in med school, but I think I know myself well enough to say my interest won't change much. 220k is plenty, 180k is plenty. My mom always ask what im interested in. When I say psychiatry she says " but you're smart enough be a real doctor" 🙄. There was even a group at a church in town that actively worked against psychiatry. A middle aged woman there I talked to about my interest in medicine told me " If you become a doctor PLEASE do not prescribe antidepressants they don't work and they make people worse." I really don't care what people think, its about doing what you're interested in. Psychiatrist don't loose all clinical competence do they? They can still treat primary stuff like flu and infections right?

 

[DJspreadsheet]

I'm interested in psych, neuro, and IM. I'm not sure how this will change in med school, but I think I know myself well enough to say my interest won't change much. 220k is plenty, 180k is plenty. My mom always ask what im interested in. When I say psychiatry she says " but you're smart enough be a real doctor" 🙄. There was even a group at a church in town that actively worked against psychiatry. A middle aged woman there I talked to about my interest in medicine told me " If you become a doctor PLEASE do not prescribe antidepressants they don't work and they make people worse." I really don't care what people think, its about doing what you're interested in. Psychiatrist don't loose all clinical competence do they? They can still treat primary stuff like flu and infections right?

If you have an interest in treating someone's sniffles and infections, I suggest picking a different specialty.

 

[whopper]

Henry Nasrallah, M.D., one of the big guns in schizophrenia research is of the opinion that psychiatry and neurology should merge again. He's now the head of the psychiatry and neurology dept at St. Louis University.

He's a heck of a nice guy on top of being a heck of a researcher. He left U of Cincinnati where I'm currently at. Our loss, St. Louis's gain.