DO Residency Question

[nvshelat]

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Hi Guys,

Wondering if someone could help here. I've been told that if I want to be in some super-competitive specialty, then I'm better off waiting a year and reapplying to MD school. But all I want to do is get out of undergrad, start learning medicine, and start practicing it. I don't really care abt the title after my name - although it may be annoying to have to sometimes explain it - but after some shadowing and long thought, etc., I think that I'm most likely to do either internal medicine or emergency medicine. Are these super competitive, or will I be okay trying to fetch these residencies out of DO? (assuming, of course, I do well on the boards and in med school, etc)

Gracias,
Nirav

 

[electra]

I'm not sure where "you should wait a year and reapply MD" comes from, but you should understand that the super-competitive specialties are also available DO. There actually ARE neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists, radiologists, you name it, who are osteopathic physicians.
These residencies are also very competitive, because there are fewer spots than there are for medicine.

Some of the most important things you can do are to go to school and do well, rotate in an area you like at an institution you favor, make your application as good as you can, and interview as well as you can.

I'm 56 days to DO and I'm going to Harvard, I've classmates going to UCLA, Mayo, and Northwestern, and last year's class sent at least 6 people to the Cleveland Clinic.

There are still places that are less DO-friendly, but overall, you should not have trouble if you are a worthy applicant.

 

[Phil Anthropist]

Internal medicine is one of the least competitive specialties. However, there are some highly competitive residency programs in Internal Medicine. Cleveland Clinic, for example, is a highly desired program. And like electra mentioned, it is very DO friendly. A lot of the Ohio University osteopathic students get residencies at Cleveland Clinic. Mayo takes everything from US MDs, US DOs, to foreign MDs. They're looking for excellent clinicians, not a specific degree. In past years, they've taken a lot of DOs into their PM&R and IM programs (well actually pretty much all PM&R programs love DOs).

Emergency Medicine is getting more competitive, but it is not super-competitive. This is also readily obtainable by DOs and there are many osteopathic EM programs. CCOM, for example, sends many of their grads into their own EM program each year.

Electra also mentioned that there are osteopathic residencies for highly competitive specialties. This is also true. However, some allopathic residency programs (for example, dermatology and radiation oncology) are very difficult for DOs to obtain, but it is not impossible. But again, DOs have their own programs for highly competitive specialties (definitely dermatology, but I don't think there are any rad onc DO programs).

If you're going for Internal Medicine or Emergency Medicine, I really don't see much of a point in waiting another year. For your situation, I don't think reapplying for MD schools would give you any advantages or opportunities that the DO schools couldn't offer.

P.S. You can check out the Residency Match Lists in this forum to see how DOs match into Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine.

 

[DRLEWISDO]

Hi Guys,

Wondering if someone could help here. I've been told that if I want to be in some super-competitive specialty, then I'm better off waiting a year and reapplying to MD school. But all I want to do is get out of undergrad, start learning medicine, and start practicing it. I don't really care abt the title after my name - although it may be annoying to have to sometimes explain it - but after some shadowing and long thought, etc., I think that I'm most likely to do either internal medicine or emergency medicine. Are these super competitive, or will I be okay trying to fetch these residencies out of DO? (assuming, of course, I do well on the boards and in med school, etc)

Gracias,
Nirav

As a DO you are "more or less" on equal footing as your MD counterparts. You can and will be accepted to even the TOP Academic programs as long as you are the best candidate. I am on the admissions commitee and we do not look at where people go to school or degree conferred (as long as it is not a foreign school) when evaluating applicants. Please understand that I am from a high powered, big time, family and community medicine program that received over 750 applications for 8 positions. We interviewed nearly 125 applicants, of which 78 were DO's. We did not interview one FMG. This is a fact that our administrations holds up highly. We ranked amd matched 4 DO's for our 8 positions. The Do degree does not hurt one's competitiveness. In the more sought after specialties (like Orthopedics and Surgery), your DO training will be more of an asset as you will be more schooled in the musculoskeletal system. Please do not let this "myth" stop you from pursuing an osteopathic medical education.

I know many DO students who match at all of the top "names" including Harvard, DUKE, Stanford, Yale, Cornell, etc.. As a DO you will be just as (or moe) competitive as other MD applicants. Your degree conferred will NOT ever be the basis for your not securing a top match. Please trust me as a physician on this and not a 21 year old, eager yet ignorant premedical student.

Dr Lewis

 

[unk_fxn]

I had no trouble getting more interviews than I could go on and a great match in ACGME Emergency Medicine.

 

[UHS05]

As DO to be very soon, I just matched into radiation oncology which was (along with derm and plastics) among the most difficut residencies to obtain this year according to statistics. Furthermore, I actually matched at my number one choice which is among the top rad-onc programs nationwide.

So it can and has been done!

Good luck!

Internal medicine is one of the least competitive specialties. However, there are some highly competitive residency programs in Internal Medicine. Cleveland Clinic, for example, is a highly desired program. And like electra mentioned, it is very DO friendly. A lot of the Ohio University osteopathic students get residencies at Cleveland Clinic. Mayo takes everything from US MDs, US DOs, to foreign MDs. They're looking for excellent clinicians, not a specific degree. In past years, they've taken a lot of DOs into their PM&R and IM programs (well actually pretty much all PM&R programs love DOs).

Emergency Medicine is getting more competitive, but it is not super-competitive. This is also readily obtainable by DOs and there are many osteopathic EM programs. CCOM, for example, sends many of their grads into their own EM program each year.

Electra also mentioned that there are osteopathic residencies for highly competitive specialties. This is also true. However, some allopathic residency programs (for example, dermatology and radiation oncology) are very difficult for DOs to obtain, but it is not impossible. But again, DOs have their own programs for highly competitive specialties (definitely dermatology, but I don't think there are any rad onc DO programs).

If you're going for Internal Medicine or Emergency Medicine, I really don't see much of a point in waiting another year. For your situation, I don't think reapplying for MD schools would give you any advantages or opportunities that the DO schools couldn't offer.

P.S. You can check out the Residency Match Lists in this forum to see how DOs match into Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine.

 

[harmlessfun21]

Dear Dr. Lewis and others,

Thank you for your posts - quite inspiring.

As DO to be very soon, I just matched into radiation oncology which was (along with derm and plastics) among the most difficut residencies to obtain this year according to statistics. Furthermore, I actually matched at my number one choice which is among the top rad-onc programs nationwide.

So it can and has been done!

Good luck!

 

[JakeHarley]

I have a related question for those of you "in the know." I was speaking recently with an M.D. friend of mine who is starting his EM training this year. His opinion was that going D.O. was a hinderance for those primarily interested in competitive specialties. He also made the comment that a "significant number" of U.S. hospitals will preferentially hire M.D.s over D.O.s for jobs in emergency medicine.

However, just glancing at the match lists and the comments in this thread, his first assumption does not seem totally accurate.

What I want to know is, can anyone comment on the job market post-residency?

 

[Phil Anthropist]

As DO to be very soon, I just matched into radiation oncology which was (along with derm and plastics) among the most difficut residencies to obtain this year according to statistics. Furthermore, I actually matched at my number one choice which is among the top rad-onc programs nationwide.

So it can and has been done!

Good luck!

Wow! That's quite an accomplisment...and not just any residency program, you got Fox Chase! 👍

However, it still seems to me that some residency programs aren't so DO friendly (not specialties as a whole, but specific residency programs). Hopefully this will change in the near future.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I have a related question for those of you "in the know." I was speaking recently with an M.D. friend of mine who is starting his EM training this year. His opinion was that going D.O. was a hinderance for those primarily interested in competitive specialties. He also made the comment that a "significant number" of U.S. hospitals will preferentially hire M.D.s over D.O.s for jobs in emergency medicine.

However, just glancing at the match lists and the comments in this thread, his first assumption does not seem totally accurate.

What I want to know is, can anyone comment on the job market post-residency?

The president of the largest emergency medicine association, the American College of Emergency Physicians, is a D.O.

Depending on the region, you will find D.O.'s at most ER's in large number. This physician is obviously clueless.

You will find D.O.'s at the top trauma centers and ER's in the nation. I can vouch for Texas and Oklahoma, personally.

 

[Khirurg]

As a DO, your advantage coming out of residency is only in the field of Family practice - you can bill for OMM as compared to your MD counterpart. That is leaving DO philosophy and other stuff out of the conversation - the question here is about DO residencies. DO's are at disadvantage when getting into the competitive residency. That being said, competitive residencies can be obtained and are obtained, however its if often despite, not because you are a DO. I am saying that after going through interview process and having heard numerous times that "we don't like DOs and you are here because your stats fit, but otherwise your chances for residency here are null". I did get the residency that i wanted, but as I said, it's not because I am a DO. It was not IM or EM, by the way. AS far as ER or IM is concerned thses fields are far more receptive to DOs than fields like Surgery, and bunch of my classmates matched into allopathic EM programs, which they picked over Do programs because osteo programs are usually another year. And not to mention that if you go to ERs, at least around NewYork area, you'll see plenty of DO attendings there.
Summary: beinga Do will place you at disadvantage at certain programs, even though won't rule out obtaining the spots there, but some programs will not hold it against you.

 

[OSUdoc08]

As a DO, your advantage coming out of residency is only in the field of Family practice - you can bill for OMM as compared to your MD counterpart. That is leaving DO philosophy and other stuff out of the conversation - the question here is about DO residencies. DO's are at disadvantage when getting into the competitive residency. That being said, competitive residencies can be obtained and are obtained, however its if often despite, not because you are a DO. I am saying that after going through interview process and having heard numerous times that "we don't like DOs and you are here because your stats fit, but otherwise your chances for residency here are null". I did get the residency that i wanted, but as I said, it's not because I am a DO. It was not IM or EM, by the way. AS far as ER or IM is concerned thses fields are far more receptive to DOs than fields like Surgery, and bunch of my classmates matched into allopathic EM programs, which they picked over Do programs because osteo programs are usually another year. And not to mention that if you go to ERs, at least around NewYork area, you'll see plenty of DO attendings there.
Summary: beinga Do will place you at disadvantage at certain programs, even though won't rule out obtaining the spots there, but some programs will not hold it against you.

Let's be clear that OMM is not only used by family practice physicians. You will see OMM in ER's on patients with low back pain or neck pain. You will see OMM in the ICU on patients that need an increased lymphatic flow. You will see orthopedic surgeons in sports medicine perform OMM on athletes that have sustained an injury.

In fact, check out cover of the latest issue of the JAOA, about OMM in the ER.

 

[Khirurg]

Except that ER docs are on salary rather doing their private billing for OMM, but thats not even a point - the discussion here is about DO going into residency. Perhaps I made my point incorrectly, i meant that DO family practice residencies are better that Allo, because you also get trained to do OMM, which can later put you in the advantage in your practice.
P.S. To be honest I haven't seen much OMM in ER or done by ortho surgeons, not that it can't or isn't done.

 

[UHS05]

I will not deny that for a lot of programs, being a DO will make you have to "shine" to be noticed much more than an MD applicant. But a lot of it is the fact that the programs aren't quite sure what a DO is. I was actually asked at one of my interviews "your application materials only show me your osteopathy (sic) transcript...where is your med school transcript?" Now obviously this person didn't really matter on the importance totem pole at that program (or I wouldn't have been granted an interview to begin with), but it just goes to show some of the ignorance out there. Of course there are some programs that have told my friends quite frankly that they will not ever take a DO- their loss!

I have noticed that if you're proud of your training and have done everything in your power to show that you are on par with your allopathic colleagues, it goes a long way in establishing your credibility and confidence. I am really proud of how hard my classmates at KCUMB have worked and how well they have done in the match (Harvard, Yale, UCLA, Ortho at an allopathic program, Northwestern, Wash U. etc.)...couldn't have asked for a nicer group of people either. While the mountain is a litlle harder to climb, it can be conquered so don't count yourself out no matter what anyone says.

Good luck everyone!

I have a related question for those of you "in the know." I was speaking recently with an M.D. friend of mine who is starting his EM training this year. His opinion was that going D.O. was a hinderance for those primarily interested in competitive specialties. He also made the comment that a "significant number" of U.S. hospitals will preferentially hire M.D.s over D.O.s for jobs in emergency medicine.

However, just glancing at the match lists and the comments in this thread, his first assumption does not seem totally accurate.

What I want to know is, can anyone comment on the job market post-residency?

 

[NRAI2001]

As a DO you are "more or less" on equal footing as your MD counterparts. You can and will be accepted to even the TOP Academic programs as long as you are the best candidate. I am on the admissions commitee and we do not look at where people go to school or degree conferred (as long as it is not a foreign school) when evaluating applicants. Please understand that I am from a high powered, big time, family and community medicine program that received over 750 applications for 8 positions. We interviewed nearly 125 applicants, of which 78 were DO's. We did not interview one FMG. This is a fact that our administrations holds up highly. We ranked amd matched 4 DO's for our 8 positions. The Do degree does not hurt one's competitiveness. In the more sought after specialties (like Orthopedics and Surgery), your DO training will be more of an asset as you will be more schooled in the musculoskeletal system. Please do not let this "myth" stop you from pursuing an osteopathic medical education.

I know many DO students who match at all of the top "names" including Harvard, DUKE, Stanford, Yale, Cornell, etc.. As a DO you will be just as (or moe) competitive as other MD applicants. Your degree conferred will NOT ever be the basis for your not securing a top match. Please trust me as a physician on this and not a 21 year old, eager yet ignorant premedical student.

Dr Lewis

What program are you from? Why such a bias against FMG's? More than half of your interviews went to DO's?

 

[capone2975]

How do you know which programs and states for that matter are less DO friendly? Is there a list somewhere or is it b/c you are actually in med school?

 

[medic170]

How do you know which programs and states for that matter are less DO friendly? Is there a list somewhere or is it b/c you are actually in med school?

Some DO friendly states: MI, OH, MO, PA, FL

 

[OSUdoc08]

Some DO friendly states: MI, OH, MO, PA, FL

Don't forget about Oklahoma.

 

[kyriacos01]

As DO to be very soon, I just matched into radiation oncology which was (along with derm and plastics) among the most difficut residencies to obtain this year according to statistics. Furthermore, I actually matched at my number one choice which is among the top rad-onc programs nationwide...

I have noticed that if you're proud of your training and have done everything in your power to show that you are on par with your allopathic colleagues, it goes a long way in establishing your credibility and confidence. I am really proud of how hard my classmates at KCUMB have worked and how well they have done in the match (Harvard, Yale, UCLA, Ortho at an allopathic program, Northwestern, Wash U. etc.)...couldn't have asked for a nicer group of people either. While the mountain is a litlle harder to climb, it can be conquered so don't count yourself out no matter what anyone says.

Irrespective of DO/MD, matching your #1 in radiation oncology is quite the accomplishment; congratulations UHS05; and thanks for the words of advice/encouragement.

All the best,
-ky

 

[ArcherM2]

The rotating internship is required by all DO's, correct? Does this internship cause any problems in getting an allopathic residency? Also, could someone explain exactly how the rotating internship works? TIA.

 

[ak1978]

I have noticed that if you're proud of your training and have done everything in your power to show that you are on par with your allopathic colleagues, it goes a long way in establishing your credibility and confidence. I am really proud of how hard my classmates at KCUMB have worked and how well they have done in the match (Harvard, Yale, UCLA, Ortho at an allopathic program, Northwestern, Wash U. etc.)...couldn't have asked for a nicer group of people either. While the mountain is a litlle harder to climb, it can be conquered so don't count yourself out no matter what anyone says.

Good luck everyone!

Hi UHS05, just curious, what did your classmates who matched at Harvard (MGH, B&W, or BID?), Yale, and UCLA match into
thanks! 🙂

 

[OSUdoc08]

The rotating internship is required by all DO's, correct? Does this internship cause any problems in getting an allopathic residency? Also, could someone explain exactly how the rotating internship works? TIA.

It depends on what your residency is. Some allopathic residencies that already have a transitional year will count your internships. On the most part, they will not count it, and you will have to retake the first year. To get around this, it is possible to skip the AOA internship year and just do the allopathic residency, which is common.

This however precludes you from working in the 5 states that require AOA certification, and from holding any position within the AOA. This alo prevents you from doing any additional AOA fellowships.

There are ways to get the first year of allopathic residency accepted by the AOA as the internship year in extenuated circumstances.

 

[ArcherM2]

Out of curiousity, which 5 states?

 

[OSUdoc08]

Out of curiousity, which 5 states?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Florida, and Oklahoma

 

[normalforce]

GO KCUMB Class of 2005!!!!!

whoooohoooo.

The top allo programs matched from KCUMB were in Ortho, Anesthesia, Rad Onc, IM and PM&R. All of which, maybe except for IM, were mod. competitive to extremely competitive this year. Again, people, it's the person, not the degree. IF you work hard, take advantage of opportunity and, in essence, create your own luck, you will do fine as a DO or MD. Good luck.

By the way, OMM is billed FREQUENTLY in the following specialties:
FP, IM, PMR, OMM, Pain Management, Neurology, Pediatrics, OB/GYN. 😎

 

[NRAI2001]

GO KCUMB Class of 2005!!!!!

whoooohoooo.

The top allo programs matched from KCUMB were in Ortho, Anesthesia, Rad Onc, IM and PM&R. All of which, maybe except for IM, were mod. competitive to extremely competitive this year. Again, people, it's the person, not the degree. IF you work hard, take advantage of opportunity and, in essence, create your own luck, you will do fine as a DO or MD. Good luck.

By the way, OMM is billed FREQUENTLY in the following specialties:
FP, IM, PMR, OMM, Pain Management, Neurology, Pediatrics, OB/GYN. 😎

How well does it pay to do OMM? How does the paying scale or system work for OMM?

 

[VentdependenT]

The rotating internship is required by all DO's, correct?

Nope, just for those 5 states. Even then you may be able to petition out but the AOA can be a bit monolithic.

Does this internship cause any problems in getting an allopathic residency?

Nope. Most of the folks that match for osteo TY have entered the allopathic match and landed their residency through it. Examples: anes, rads, optho, pm&r, rad onc, etc.

Otherwise a prelim year is a prelim year. However if you match ONLY for a TY it may be benificial to do so at a hospital with programs you are interested in. For example, if I didn't match into anesthesia I would focus on rotated through the ER and Anes programs (both of which have residencies) at the hospital I'm at to increase my chances of entering their residency. If your hospital doesn't have residencies that you have interest in then it may hurt you as per my example.

Also, could someone explain exactly how the rotating internship works?
Its a little like fourth year except you have responsibility. Here is a break down of my year:
1 MonthProgressive Coronary Care Unit Q 5 call
1 Month Intensive Medical Care Unit Q 5 call
2 months floor Medicine Q 4 call
1 month Medicine Night Float
1 month FP
1 month ER
1 month Cardiology
1 month Pulmonology
1 month Infectious disease
1 month Radiology
2 weeks Anesthesia
2 weeks Pathology

That is a TON of electives. Those electives are NON CALL months. That makes the TY year extremely desirable. Only 5 months of call during an intern year is about as laid back as it gets. Not every program is the same however but you get the idea.

 

[Chronoch]

Sorry, but what does TY stand for?

 

[normalforce]

How well does it pay to do OMM? How does the paying scale or system work for OMM?

Some docs do a cash fee for service and some do Medicare/Insurance and some do both. Basically it is billed for by areas treated. One area is around $40, so if you treat 5 areas that is $200. Some bill for time involved like a normal PCP (ie. 15 min as a 99213 to 60 min. as a 99215, also complexit of diagnosis and care are involved here). So, basically, I know some OMM docs that work 40-50 hrs per week doing office and some hospital consults making around $200K per year. You can make more or less depending on how hard you want to work. But by all means their is always a market. Most OMM docs have a 1-3 month waiting period.

 

[Kazema]

Sorry, but what does TY stand for?

Transition Year

 

[VUMD2be]

Sorry, but what does TY stand for?

transitional year

 

[PJ1120]

The president of the largest emergency medicine association, the American College of Emergency Physicians, is a D.O.

Depending on the region, you will find D.O.'s at most ER's in large number. This physician is obviously clueless.

You will find D.O.'s at the top trauma centers and ER's in the nation. I can vouch for Texas and Oklahoma, personally.

I'm from NYSTATE and the president of the NY Branch of ACEP is also a DO. NYCOM also has a large # of students matching into EM residencies. Not only do they have a lot of spots of their own, but there are allopathic ones as well. THerefore, u have two options!! Not bad. If it is internal med or EM i don't think there will be any problems at all.

 

[(nicedream)]

The rotating internship is required by all DO's, correct?

Nope, just for those 5 states. Even then you may be able to petition out but the AOA can be a bit monolithic.

Does this internship cause any problems in getting an allopathic residency?

Nope. Most of the folks that match for osteo TY have entered the allopathic match and landed their residency through it. Examples: anes, rads, optho, pm&r, rad onc, etc.

Otherwise a prelim year is a prelim year. However if you match ONLY for a TY it may be benificial to do so at a hospital with programs you are interested in. For example, if I didn't match into anesthesia I would focus on rotated through the ER and Anes programs (both of which have residencies) at the hospital I'm at to increase my chances of entering their residency. If your hospital doesn't have residencies that you have interest in then it may hurt you as per my example.

Also, could someone explain exactly how the rotating internship works?
Its a little like fourth year except you have responsibility. Here is a break down of my year:
1 MonthProgressive Coronary Care Unit Q 5 call
1 Month Intensive Medical Care Unit Q 5 call
2 months floor Medicine Q 4 call
1 month Medicine Night Float
1 month FP
1 month ER
1 month Cardiology
1 month Pulmonology
1 month Infectious disease
1 month Radiology
2 weeks Anesthesia
2 weeks Pathology

That is a TON of electives. Those electives are NON CALL months. That makes the TY year extremely desirable. Only 5 months of call during an intern year is about as laid back as it gets. Not every program is the same however but you get the idea.

Is that an osteopathic TY you're doing? If so, why are you doing one?

 

[NRAI2001]

Some docs do a cash fee for service and some do Medicare/Insurance and some do both. Basically it is billed for by areas treated. One area is around $40, so if you treat 5 areas that is $200. Some bill for time involved like a normal PCP (ie. 15 min as a 99213 to 60 min. as a 99215, also complexit of diagnosis and care are involved here). So, basically, I know some OMM docs that work 40-50 hrs per week doing office and some hospital consults making around $200K per year. You can make more or less depending on how hard you want to work. But by all means their is always a market. Most OMM docs have a 1-3 month waiting period.

O wow, can any DO perform OMM or only doctors who completed an OMM residency?

 

[medic170]

O wow, can any DO perform OMM or only doctors who completed an OMM residency?

Any DO can do it, they learn in during the first 2 years of med school, but those who do a fellowship are especially skilled at it.

 

[VentdependenT]

Is that an osteopathic TY you're doing? If so, why are you doing one?

Yes, its osteo. I chose it because it rocks. I went into DO match for the TY year and the Allo match for my anesthesiology spot.

 

[(nicedream)]

Yes, its osteo. I chose it because it rocks. I went into DO match for the TY year and the Allo match for my anesthesiology spot.

That's cool - what I meant, though, was why are you doing an osteopathic internship year (assuming you don't plan on practicing in one of the infamous 5). Is it dual-accredited, and so you won't have to do another internship in the anesth?

 

[VentdependenT]

That's cool - what I meant, though, was why are you doing an osteopathic internship year (assuming you don't plan on practicing in one of the infamous 5). Is it dual-accredited, and so you won't have to do another internship in the anesth?

It doesn't need to be dual accredited. Your DO intern year is equivalent to an allopathic TY. How you like them apples?

 

[MountaineerDoc]

It doesn't need to be dual accredited. Your DO intern year is equivalent to an allopathic TY. How you like them apples?

Vent, I know you went gas and this works out very well for DOs. However, are gas programs for us up and coming classes (>2008) going to be affected differently? By this I mean are gas programs looking to go to a straight 4 year program (CA1-4) versus the TY/Prelim (PGY-1) followed by (CA1-3)? thereby ruining the 2 birds with one stone for the TY/PGY-1?

Additionally, why do these five states (mine included) insist with this requirement for practice? 45 others apparently do not see a need to do it?! 😡

 

[VentdependenT]

Vent, I know you went gas and this works out very well for DOs. However, are gas programs for us up and coming classes (>2008) going to be affected differently? By this I mean are gas programs looking to go to a straight 4 year program (CA1-4) versus the TY/Prelim (PGY-1) followed by (CA1-3)? thereby ruining the 2 birds with one stone for the TY/PGY-1?

Additionally, why do these five states (mine included) insist with this requirement for practice? 45 others apparently do not see a need to do it?! 😡

It seems the trend will continue for programs convert their available advanced positions into categoricals (CBY included with CA years) because of the increased emphasis on critical care training. Not sure what 08' will look like though.

Ask the AOA about the 5 states.

 

[ArcherM2]

Thank you for a very thorough explanation of the TY. But I still have a couple of questions. 1. Are the Osteopathic and Allopathic PGY-1 similar? i.e. do allopathic residencies have an internship year prior to the actual residency that is considered rotating?

 

[VentdependenT]

Thank you for a very thorough explanation of the TY. But I still have a couple of questions. 1. Are the Osteopathic and Allopathic PGY-1 similar? i.e. do allopathic residencies have an internship year prior to the actual residency that is considered rotating?

They are identical in terms of scope of practice and freedom of elective choice. Your DO TY might have some required OMM classes or something of the like in addition to your in house duties.

As for your second question it is called a transition year. A transitional year, be it DO or MD, is your intern year. The first year of a categorical residency is also called your intern year.

Intern = first year of residency be it categorical, prelim med, prelim surg, TY
Rotating internship = transitional year