Don't hate me for asking: Is RVUCom good?

[ChrisMack390]

I believe so. MD students that I know seem to have much more lax schedules. We at LECOM had exams every Monday then started the next section Tuesdays. We had OMM exam and practical every 4th Wed. We also had Anatomy, Histology, Neuro, and Micro practicals too.

Interesting. DO schools seem to be more "old school" in a lot of ways.

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[acapnial]

Kind of surprising that University of Colorado is very welcoming of Rocky Vista students in research and clinics. I remember several threads about CU charging $4000 dollars for osteopathic students who want to do rotations . Not sure if this applies to osteopathic students outsides of Colorado or Rocky Vista students.

EDIT: here is one thread on the subject (out-of-state DOs its $4000 for specialty aways and $2000 for Rocky Vista students)
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/opsc-email-re-university-of-california-rotations.1064103/

It's a complicated relationship. The main teaching hospitals of CU (which are arguably their best rotations sites) are the ones you have to pay to rotate at if you're a DO student. We share some hospitals Denver, all the hospitals in Colorado Springs, and then some rotations up north are shared as well. I heard that the reason they have the DO rotation fee is because DO schools tend to pay preceptors to take students while MD schools do not. Not sure if that's the real reason or if somebody high up in administration just loves sending 'screw you' messages to DO's. The overall message I've heard is that our relationship with CU isn't perfect, but it's improving, and obviously we're capable of sharing with each other, at least to a point. As far as doing research at CU I've never heard of anyone caring what school you come from.

 

[IslandStyle808]

It's a complicated relationship. The main teaching hospitals of CU (which are arguably their best rotations sites) are the ones you have to pay to rotate at if you're a DO student. We share some hospitals Denver, all the hospitals in Colorado Springs, and then some rotations up north are shared as well. I heard that the reason they have the DO rotation fee is because DO schools tend to pay preceptors to take students while MD schools do not. Not sure if that's the real reason or if somebody high up in administration just loves sending 'screw you' messages to DO's. The overall message I've heard is that our relationship with CU isn't perfect, but it's improving, and obviously we're capable of sharing with each other, at least to a point. As far as doing research at CU I've never heard of anyone caring what school you come from.

Thanks for the reply. Fun they state this, because it feels like the opposite thing is happening with DO schools where we have trouble keeping preceptors because we don't pay them (they are glorified volunteers). I will tell you something even more interesting about whether they are biased against DOs. Take a look at their PM&R residency page. You will not find a single DO on the roster. Now if you look at the 2014 NRMP program directory survey, 97% of PM&R programs interview DOs. This right here says a lot about the DO bias, and it is extremely strong.

One could counter this by saying they get exceptional MD candidates, but if you look at the tiers in the PM&R threads it is not even consider amongst the elite. And all the elite programs have taken DOs at one point...

 

[Ioannes Paulus]

Thanks for the reply. Fun they state this, because it feels like the opposite thing is happening with DO schools where we have trouble keeping preceptors because we don't pay them (they are glorified volunteers). I will tell you something even more interesting about whether they are biased against DOs. Take a look at their PM&R residency page. You will not find a single DO on the roster. Now if you look at the 2014 NRMP program directory survey, 97% of PM&R programs interview DOs. This right here says a lot about the DO bias, and it is extremely strong.

I love how you use the plural "we" when you're still pre-med. chutzpah!
A program not having a DO on the roster, especially a field as small and interest-heavy as PM&R, says nothing about "DO bias" let along "extremely strong" DO bias. Finally, Dr. Zinis is a DO PM&R specialist in Denver that completed his residency in University of Colorado PM&R program and has held a faculty teaching spot in the same program for more than a decade. How do I know about him? I love the Denver Nuggets and he used to be their team physician. Google the physician roster for your favorite sports teams and chances are you'll find a DO physiatrist.
I suspect the reason they have no DOs on the roster now is simply because none of the recent DO graduates that want do PM&R want to go to Colorado.

Please, everyone, don't comment on something you know very little about, especially if you are a premed. No disrespect at all. I'm just saying.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Please, everyone, don't comment on something you know very little about, especially if you are a premed. No disrespect at all. I'm just saying.

Says the pre-med... The DO bias at UC is extremely strong and can be verified by multiple sources, basically ask any RVU student or MD who went there. Oh and PM&R is not an "interest heavy" specialty. To quote yourself, "don't comment on something you know very little about." Just because someone is pre-med that doesn't mean they can't know things, that whole argument is a lame duck that doesn't fly.

 

[Ioannes Paulus]

Says the pre-med... The DO bias at UC is extremely strong and can be verified by multiple sources...

First of all, it's CU. No one calls it UC.
Second, I said nothing about CU's bias or lack thereof in my post. I was just pointing out that it is disingenuous to say that a program having no DOs on the resident roster is indicative of a bias when, infact, there have been multiple DO faculty and graduates from said programs in the past.
Anyway, this has nothing to do with OPs post, so I will humbly bow out and go back to watching Scrubs.

 

[IslandStyle808]

I love how you use the plural "we" when you're still pre-med. chutzpah!
A program not having a DO on the roster, especially a field as small and interest-heavy as PM&R, says nothing about "DO bias" let along "extremely strong" DO bias. Finally, Dr. Zinis is a DO PM&R specialist in Denver that completed his residency in University of Colorado PM&R program and has held a faculty teaching spot in the same program for more than a decade. How do I know about him? I love the Denver Nuggets and he used to be their team physician. Google the physician roster for your favorite sports teams and chances are you'll find a DO physiatrist.
I suspect the reason they have no DOs on the roster now is simply because none of the recent DO graduates that want do PM&R want to go to Colorado.

Please, everyone, don't comment on something you know very little about, especially if you are a premed. No disrespect at all. I'm just saying.

I got into a DO school this year so thanks for the insult, medical student (accepted) [which should be your real status]. I at least have some modesty to not even put either title on my status.

Now back to the topic at hand. Actually, as @AnatomyGrey12 has stated less interest has nothing to do with it, because there are a lot of DOs who apply to PM&R since 1/3 to 1/2 the applicants are DOs. This difference in attitude might be because of the people in charge of selecting residents. I am surprised no DOs want to enter this program (it is a university program so there has to be a large amount of DOs who would want to attend).

Yet I apologize if I meant it to mean that it has a zero DO policy, but again I still don't believe there isn't a bias. For example look at UW:

http://rehab.washington.edu/education/residency/current.asp (I can see there is around one DO every year)

The current list of CU PM&R resident roster makes me doubt it is DO friendly (their might be exceptions though).

 

[AlteredScale]

Friendly reminder to keep the conversation civil and avoid flaming each other. Thanks.

 

[Necr0sis713]

So does one's ability to go into a speciality depend not really on the school, but on their board scores? Let's say I'm gonna go DO but really want to get into oncology or rad onc, how can I maximize my chances?

 

[acapnial]

Rad onc: Great board scores, lots of research, get people in the specialty to say you're great. pray really really hard (tough love: it's a hard field to get into and although possible, it's not likely to happen. it's best be open minded to other things, especially early in the game)

Oncology: Is a medical subspecialty, so you'd need to get into an academic medical program. better if it's a well-regarded one! good board scores, good clinical evaluations, good letters. research helps but is not absolutely necessary at the residency application stage, although I'm sure it becomes very important for fellowship applications. the field of cancer loves its research


Nobody will ever split hairs over osteopathic schools the way people do here, so don't make the school decision a totally agonizing one. I'd avoid schools that make you do 12 weeks of family practice or surgery, but that's a very personal preference

 

[cabinbuilder]

So does one's ability to go into a speciality depend not really on the school, but on their board scores? Let's say I'm gonna go DO but really want to get into oncology or rad onc, how can I maximize my chances?

Yes, no school gets you into residency. You get into your own residency based on your total package which include your board score/essay/LOR's/dean's letter, etc. Just like no undergrad school "gets" you into medical school. You have to prove yourself and your worth. Remember that oncology/rad onc are specialized fields that are fellowships AFTER you do an Internal medicine residency( oncology) or a Radiology residency(Rad onc). Long ways away since you haven't started medical school yet. A lot of things happen and change in the 7 years you have to get through before even looking at those specialties.

 

[Necr0sis713]

Rad onc: Great board scores, lots of research, get people in the specialty to say you're great. pray really really hard (tough love: it's a hard field to get into and although possible, it's not likely to happen. it's best be open minded to other things, especially early in the game)

Oncology: Is a medical subspecialty, so you'd need to get into an academic medical program. better if it's a well-regarded one! good board scores, good clinical evaluations, good letters. research helps but is not absolutely necessary at the residency application stage, although I'm sure it becomes very important for fellowship applications. the field of cancer loves its research


Nobody will ever split hairs over osteopathic schools the way people do here, so don't make the school decision a totally agonizing one. I'd avoid schools that make you do 12 weeks of family practice or surgery, but that's a very personal preference

Very informative, thanks. I know it's gonna sound like I'm humble bragging, but I'm asking this seriously: if my dad is an oncologist would this help me out? Like for maybe getting in to where he did his speciality?

 

[acapnial]

Very informative, thanks. I know it's gonna sound like I'm humble bragging, but I'm asking this seriously: if my dad is an oncologist would this help me out? Like for maybe getting in to where he did his speciality?

Not directly. I guess it could potentially help you indirectly if it helps you get onto a research project through connections, or something along those lines.

 

[Necr0sis713]

Not directly. I guess it could potentially help you indirectly if it helps you get onto a research project through connections, or something along those lines.

Awesome thanks

 

[IslandStyle808]

Very informative, thanks. I know it's gonna sound like I'm humble bragging, but I'm asking this seriously: if my dad is an oncologist would this help me out? Like for maybe getting in to where he did his speciality?

On the General Residency Issues sub-forum, one of the program coordinators has stated that having an attending who 1. works at their hospital or 2. who was once with their program give you a recommendation (i.e. phone call, email, or speaks directly to PD) has helped applicants getting an interview in the past. However, not sure if that this holds true with direct family members.

 

[JW08]

Yes, no school gets you into residency. You get into your own residency based on your total package which include your board score/essay/LOR's/dean's letter, etc. Just like no undergrad school "gets" you into medical school. You have to prove yourself and your worth. Remember that oncology/rad onc are specialized fields that are fellowships AFTER you do an Internal medicine residency( oncology) or a Radiology residency(Rad onc). Long ways away since you haven't started medical school yet. A lot of things happen and change in the 7 years you have to get through before even looking at those specialties.

Rad Onc is not fellowship. It is 4 years residency after a year of any internship. Radiology has nothing to do with Rad Onc.

 

[JW08]

Rad onc: Great board scores, lots of research, get people in the specialty to say you're great. pray really really hard (tough love: it's a hard field to get into and although possible, it's not likely to happen. it's best be open minded to other things, especially early in the game)

Oncology: Is a medical subspecialty, so you'd need to get into an academic medical program. better if it's a well-regarded one! good board scores, good clinical evaluations, good letters. research helps but is not absolutely necessary at the residency application stage, although I'm sure it becomes very important for fellowship applications. the field of cancer loves its research


Nobody will ever split hairs over osteopathic schools the way people do here, so don't make the school decision a totally agonizing one. I'd avoid schools that make you do 12 weeks of family practice or surgery, but that's a very personal preference

For RadOnc: Besides what is mentioned above, rotate early on in your 4th year in programs where you may have a shot at. There is lot of bias against DO in this field, and very few programs will look at you, so, go there and show yourself and be your best.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Rad Onc is not fellowship. It is 4 years residency after a year of any internship. Radiology has nothing to do with Rad Onc.

Oops, I was thinking about radiology and it's subspecialties.