DO's and Internal Medicine specialties?????

[bob13]

I have a question. I have been researching info on DO programs and understand their emphasis on primary care, but I rarely see DO that are internal med. Does anyone know why this is? Is there not board certification (BC) for IM DO?s? I tend to see more DO?s with IM subspecialties (nephro, cardio, ect) at my hospital. Is this because they can get BC by being specialist vs just a IM doc?

Thanks

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[Ryan]

Okay bob13 here is the deal...

1) All docs (DO and MD) who have sub-specialized have already completed the IM residency (this is REQUIRED in order to SUB-specialize) and are thus eligible to sit for board exams for straight IM if they chose.

2) I assume that when you are referring to 'straight IM' you are referring to the hospitalists...the docs who take care of only in-patients.

3) The general procedure goes something like this... in the 2od year of IM residency, if you chose, you would apply to a subspecialty and interview late in that year throughout your 3rd year. You can do anything from Sports Med (1 year) to Cardiology invasive (~4 yrs). Thus you can be in training for as little as 3 years (Straight Board Certified IM, many hospitalists do this) to 7 years (Cardiologists, GI, etc subspecialty Boards). Some will also offer a special fellowship tacking on an extra year.

Just a friendly tip... if you have any more questions about IM you should go to the Graduate Medical Forums: Internal Medicine and Subspecialty and post there.. the docs there can be very helpful and nice.

-Ryan