DO Surgery and Combined Match

[BUPreMed]

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I am planning to apply to medical schools this summer, and I am trying to decide if I want to apply to DO schools. I originally planned to apply to several osteopathic schools, but I am very interested in general surgery at this point and with the new combined residency match set to start in 2015 I am suddenly somewhat weary of becoming a DO. I know that a fair amount of DO discrimination exist in ACGME general surgery programs, so could going into general surgery as a DO in the future be nearly impossible with the increased competition with MDs as there will be no more exclusively DO residencies?

Additionally, if MD schools are planning to increase their class sizes by 30 percent by 2017, where will all of these additional graduates train? There already seems to be a shortage of residency spots as is, and I assume that this will only be exacerbated by the rising number of DO (seems like new schools are constantly opening) and MD graduates (increasing class sizes, new schools) each year.

 

[HalfListic]

I am planning to apply to medical schools this summer, and I am trying to decide if I want to apply to DO schools. I originally planned to apply to several osteopathic schools, but I am very interested in general surgery at this point and with the new combined residency match set to start in 2015 I am suddenly somewhat weary of becoming a DO. I know that a fair amount of DO discrimination exist in ACGME general surgery programs, so could going into general surgery as a DO in the future be nearly impossible with the increased competition with MDs as there will be no more exclusively DO residencies?

Additionally, if MD schools are planning to increase their class sizes by 30 percent by 2017, where will all of these additional graduates train? There already seems to be a shortage of residency spots as is, and I assume that this will only be exacerbated by the rising number of DO (seems like new schools are constantly opening) and MD graduates (increasing class sizes, new schools) each year.

Use search function.


This has been discussed several million times. This exact question. I hope no one answers it so that using the search feature actually get utilized from time to time

 

[BUPreMed]

No need to get upset. Sorry, I did use the search function, but I didn't stumble upon any posts specifically discussing general surgery in the future combined AOA/ACGME match. Can you post a link(s) to some of the posts you are referring too?

 

[cliquesh]

There will still be "DO" general surgery residencies. These residencies will simply be accredited by the acgme instead of the aoa. These programs, with DO program directors, will not all of the sudden stop accepting DO applications. I'm sure, however, some DO residencies will not survive the merger, so there will probably be fewer "DO" residencies than currently.

Additionally, 47 DOs matched Acgme general surgery in 2013. More and more match each year, and it won't be long until the field is "DO friendly" once programs get exposed to good DO residents.

The future is uncertain and I don't think anyone knows what's going to happen. There will be more competition and it will be harder to match. 528 USMDs, for instance, did not match or soap anywhere this year. No internship, no residency, nothing.

 

[SurgeDO]

chill.

there has been much speculation on this topic with two extreme schools of thought arising:


-pro MD

with the ACGME acquiring all the AOA residencies (i will refer to these newly acquired residencies as AOA residencies in this post), all competitive specialties will throw DO applicants to the wayside and jump with glee to accept the superior MD applicants into their programs. all of the AOA residencies will be filled with MDs, and DOs will be forced into whichever specialties the MDs find most undesirable.



-pro DO

with the creation of a single match (instead of before where there was an AOA and ACGME match), DOs will feel liberated to apply to and rank many more ACGME residencies without the fear of having to toss their ACGME residency in the event an AOA program director ranks him or her. with a single match and validation from the ACGME, all DO discrimination from MGH to stanford shall be eliminated, and the DOs shall reign supreme just as Lord Stills once proclaimed.


i think the truth is somewhere in the middle.


a couple of other things to consider:

-despite being absorbed by the ACGME, AOA nor the ACGME has given an official word (at least not that i have heard) whether or not MDs can match into AOA residencies.

-the AOA has been rumored to mention that MDs will have to undergo training in OMM if they wish to match an AOA residency. there is speculation on whether or not an MD student would want to do this additional training to match into a community hospital run by the AOA.

-there is rumor that the merger may not occur until 2018.

 

[DrEnderW]

From what I've read and have been told, the 2015 date is by no means set in stone.

I wouldn't worry about it yet. I truly don't think DO PDs in historically AOA residencies will suddenly stop taking DOs. More importantly, there seems to be a lot of speculation and no one knows how/ when it will shake out.

I am going in with the premise that there with not be a combined match, but will be pleasantly surprised if there is one.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

I think overall, you'll see the best applicant no matter MD or DO for any residency. However, MD favoritism will persist in the Ivy league for a longer time. Much like ivy MD graduate favoritism persists there today.

 

[as1212559]

There are no do surgeons. Apply only to hms, jhu, and washu for best results. /thrad

 

[SurgeDO]

There are no do surgeons. Apply only to hms, jhu, and washu for best results. /thrad

I have also heard Yale has a good surgery school.

 

[KinesiologyNerd]

I have also heard Yale has a good surgery school.

Columbia has "Surgeons" in its name!

 

[Dr Dazzle]

Columbia has "Surgeons" in its name!

I heard Princeton had a solid curriculum for general surgery.