DO's in PM&R 4 years from now

[K-man]

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Hey, I've been checking on this forum religiously for the past six months or so and it seems to me that PM&R is not too difficult for DO's to get into right now. I have also noticed that many of the posters here seem to think that two years from now PM&R will be super competitive to get into to. My question is whether DO's will get squeezed out of PM&R in 4 years(when I graduate) because of increased MD applicants. What should I do while in med school to increase my chances of matching into PM&R. I don't want to work my butt off for 4 years and then get denied.

 

[Ligament]

hey k-man,

I wonder the same myself. I do not think DO's will ever be squeezed out of PM&R, simply because PM&R is very appreciative of OMM and the additional MSK training DOs get and also because (this is important to remember) there are quite a few DOs in a position of power within the allopathic PM&R world. For example, the residency program director at RIC, arguably the top (allopathic) PM&R residency in the country, is Jim Sliwa, DO.

Yes, it will get more competitive for both DOs and MDs. And yes I think allopathic institutions *should* favor MD applicants (they should take care of their own offspring first). Perhaps a slightly lower percentage of DOs will secure positions. PM&R will get more competitive but never to such a level of Derm or Rad Onc where hundreds of new MDs are denied a position each year and it is 99% impossible for a DO to get a spot.

all the best, Ligament

 

[JMartell]

---K-Man,

I would not worry too much about that if I were you. 4 yrs from now, I think we are going to see quite a bit of change in the field of PM&R. It has already begun. Program directors are recognizing that many of the philosophy/ideals of physiatry coincide with that which is taught in Osteopathic Medical Schools. That, with the increasing trend and transition of PM&R from inpatient to more outpatient, musculoskeletal oriented practices, has given D.O.'s what *should be* a distinctive edge in this field. I believe there will be more MDs in PM&R than DOs for a number of yrs still, by virtue of less DO graduates. However, in order to stay current and to expand the training opportunites for the other residents in musculoskeletal medicine, more and more DOs will be recruited into this field to fill a recognized void. Many programs are already recruiting DO's in hopes of learning the art of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. Hope that helps, and good luck with your decision!🙂