I am just starting my 4th year as a DO student (I'm currently in California). I will be applying to DO Psych Residency Programs. Do you have any advice or warnings about DO Psych Programs out there? Also, if you have any tips on filling out an DO ERAS application, then please share with us (overwhelmed/stressed applicants) 🙂
DO student applying for Psych Residency - Advice or Warnings about DO Programs?
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Nothing specific, but I've heard vaguely good things about Arrowhead.
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If you're flexible on geography, take a look at the Henry Ford program in Detroit (dually accredited program, but they only take DOs from the DO match). I think it's one of the better DO programs.
It has been a few years since I applied, but as I recall, the ERAS process was the same for DO programs as for MD ones. Remember to sign up for the DO match though! It's a separate registration from your ERAS registration.
It has been a few years since I applied, but as I recall, the ERAS process was the same for DO programs as for MD ones. Remember to sign up for the DO match though! It's a separate registration from your ERAS registration.
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You mean that you can't do a DO gen psych, then a MD fellowship, right? Any other issues?
The severe lack of DO fellowships is a huge reason I'm applying MD only. That and location...but seriously, one child fellowship? Weak.
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Apply to the programs that interest you, and if invited go. Then when you sit down to fill out your rank list compare them to the ACGME programs. By then you should have a good idea what you are looking for in a training program and where you stand as an applicant.
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I'm a DO PGY1 at a program on the west coast....here's my advice, since you said you are in california. I don't know anything about the DO programs anywhere else
Western University has two new psych programs - one in Corvallis, Oregon (can't remember the hospital name) and one in Colton, CA at Arrowhead Regional. Both of these programs are new. The one in Oregon opened last year, I think they only have 5 spots - they participated in the scramble. Arrowhead used to have a program a few years ago but shut down due to funding/program director issues and they just reopened this year, not sure how many spots they have or if they had to scramble. When the program at Arrowhead closed down a few years ago the residents had to find another program quick, some went to Loma Linda and some had to start over in other fields.
Neither of these programs have much history or stability....they have both had problems with funding. If I were you, I would apply broadly to MD programs all over the US if you can. Look for MD programs that are DO friendly. There are out there! Many of my classmates went to some of the different UCLA programs, Loma Linda...it can be done.
Western University has two new psych programs - one in Corvallis, Oregon (can't remember the hospital name) and one in Colton, CA at Arrowhead Regional. Both of these programs are new. The one in Oregon opened last year, I think they only have 5 spots - they participated in the scramble. Arrowhead used to have a program a few years ago but shut down due to funding/program director issues and they just reopened this year, not sure how many spots they have or if they had to scramble. When the program at Arrowhead closed down a few years ago the residents had to find another program quick, some went to Loma Linda and some had to start over in other fields.
Neither of these programs have much history or stability....they have both had problems with funding. If I were you, I would apply broadly to MD programs all over the US if you can. Look for MD programs that are DO friendly. There are out there! Many of my classmates went to some of the different UCLA programs, Loma Linda...it can be done.
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Good points. I'm not sticking myself to any one area, although we'd like to stay in the southeast. With the way spots have been tightening up lately, you should apply a bit more broadly, and be willing to leave Cali, if you have to.
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I am at Arrowhead. We have strong program and lots of support. Our funding is guaranteed for the next 5 years. In fact, we actually have funding for an additional spot. I am in the process of helping someone apply for that extra spot right now. The seniors ahead of me who have graduated just this past year both scored 90%+ percentile on the PRITE. Our PRITE exam review is an on-going series of lectures that go on for all four years, so that by 4th year, you are expected to score very high on the PRITE and the boards. Both graduates also have passed the first part of the boards and are on their way to being board cert'd (in the DO world, one does not have to wait two years to be boarded).
I have gotten old PRITE tests and am cramming for the October test date. The bar has been set high and it has been communicated to us that the expectation is high that we ace the boards.
As far as getting the ERAS . . . get it out yesterday! Don't wait until Oct 31 like I did. Get it out on sept 30. Don't wait for the deans letter. Your chances of getting interviews diminish exponentially with each day you are behind in getting the application into the hands of program directors. They get tired of reading the monotonous mountain of personal statements that all start out with "Psychiatry is my most most best favorite subject in the whole wide world" And they all end with . . . "I look forward to pursuing my favorite intellectually and professionally challenging specialty of _______ at Location x" (fill in the blank with any specialty and location). Personally, I think I would vomit by the 100th one of those. If I were you, I'd want to give the PD some thing short and poignant to read. If nothing else, it is the kind thing to do.
cheers and good luck.
PS: New Mexico has a great program that takes at least one or two do's a year. I interviewed there and it is a strong program with a lot of teaching.
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Hey! Good Luck! I am going to be doing some teaching at WesternU either this year or next year. I will be leading some of the ICM's. I am hoping my attending will let me take a few afternoons off this year to go back to Western to lead some groups.
Good luck and cheers.
I found a dearth of good DO programs for psychiatry, and one that even paid $10,000 less per year (I think in Oregon). I love Osteopathic Medicine, I almost became an OMT fellow, but when it came to residency, I couldn't find DO programs that compared.
So, from one DO to another - I'd say go with an MD program
(shameless plug) - I'm writing a blog about my experience in Residency thus far at:
Sizing Up the Shrink
So, from one DO to another - I'd say go with an MD program
(shameless plug) - I'm writing a blog about my experience in Residency thus far at:
Sizing Up the Shrink
I am a DO in an MD residency - and no one cares. They take one D.O. about every other year or so, and no one ever cares - except some of the MD's who wish they knew how to crack their own backs like I can.
So I don't know what your experience was - but mine has been completely different.
Univ Nevada Reno looks good and are close to the west coast. I know of a DO in the Tuscon Arizona program and he likes it. Also, the UC programs that aren't in San Fran, San Diego, or LA would probably less competitive and good bets for you getting into. I would not rule competitive MD programs just because you are a DO. The biggest thing in psych, I believe, is letters of rec and how you interview. I think DOs get into USC too. I would also consider Univ Washington in Seattle.
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well, if you want to be in southern CA, your bet is very slim whether you are an MD or a DO. On the MD+DO side, you have each program in S.CA getting over 500 applicants each year. This is ubiquitous through out the entire area, including Kern, San Fernando Valley VA, UCLA, Harbor UCLA, Irvine.
So, you are going to compete vs 500 ppl for about 10 spots if you go acgme.
On the other hand, you have Arrowhead, which is prime S. CA spot. We only take DO's. We are getting quite a number of qualified students applying. Several have also rotated through the program. We only have two spots and it is going to be hard to choose. If I had it my way, we would take on about 6 or 7 very qualified folks. But the reality is that there are only two spots, which raises the competitiveness to a high level.
sorry to give you such a grim picture.
But psych is ultra competitive in S. CA
So, you are going to compete vs 500 ppl for about 10 spots if you go acgme.
On the other hand, you have Arrowhead, which is prime S. CA spot. We only take DO's. We are getting quite a number of qualified students applying. Several have also rotated through the program. We only have two spots and it is going to be hard to choose. If I had it my way, we would take on about 6 or 7 very qualified folks. But the reality is that there are only two spots, which raises the competitiveness to a high level.
sorry to give you such a grim picture.
But psych is ultra competitive in S. CA
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While it's true there is a lot of competition, it's not like the 500 applicants are only applying to one program. Those 500 people are applying to many programs. The most competitive applicants are usually applying from all over the country.
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What about AOA psych residencies on the East coast? Anyone have any experience with any of them? Thanks.
