DPM-> MD/DO

[caliking87]

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This is not meant to be satire. But someone I know is graduating from DPM school in one year. Current job offers 3rd year residents in my area are receiving are 120-140k base with some sort of bonus. The debt will be at 300k.
Would it be foolish to retake the MCAT and try for DO/MD school to get a higher paying speciality? Assuming acceptance to a school where COA is less than 250k, total debt would be ~600k. If they worked hard and matched a higher paying specialty they could make 300-400k upon graduating.

Financially, would it be smarter to do residency and fight through the horrible job situation which is podiatry? Or would it even make a little bit of sense to go back to school where higher payer can be expected upon graduation.

Also open to other ideas? Maybe going back to try the nursing route. Obviously must pursue something high paying with current student loan balance.

 

[caliking87]

This is not meant to be satire. But someone I know is graduating from DPM school in one year. Current job offers 3rd year residents in my area are receiving are 120-140k base with some sort of bonus. The debt will be at 300k.
Would it be foolish to retake the MCAT and try for DO/MD school to get a higher paying speciality? Assuming acceptance to a school where COA is less than 250k, total debt would be ~600k. If they worked hard and matched a higher paying specialty they could make 300-400k upon graduating.

Financially, would it be smarter to do residency and fight through the horrible job situation which is podiatry? Or would it even make a little bit of sense to go back to school where higher payer can be expected upon graduation.

Also open to other ideas? Maybe going back to try the nursing route. Obviously must pursue something high paying with current student loan balance.

I also feel partly responsible for this persons worries as I was an introduction to podiatry for them. I wasn’t aware tuition was as absurdly high as it is when they started school or I would’ve cautioned

 

[Retrograde_Nail]

This is not meant to be satire. But someone I know is graduating from DPM school in one year. Current job offers 3rd year residents in my area are receiving are 120-140k base with some sort of bonus. The debt will be at 300k.
Would it be foolish to retake the MCAT and try for DO/MD school to get a higher paying speciality? Assuming acceptance to a school where COA is less than 250k, total debt would be ~600k. If they worked hard and matched a higher paying specialty they could make 300-400k upon graduating.

Financially, would it be smarter to do residency and fight through the horrible job situation which is podiatry? Or would it even make a little bit of sense to go back to school where higher payer can be expected upon graduation.

Also open to other ideas? Maybe going back to try the nursing route. Obviously must pursue something high paying with current student loan balance.

If they were not smart enough to get into MD/DO the first time around they most likely are not a top student. Even if they studied hard and got a good enough MCAT to get into DO school the chances of matching into a high paying surgical specialty are still incredibly challenging. They most likely match into medicine or subspecialty of medicine more times than not. Pay for these specialties are 250-300K. Sometimes a little higher.

 

[Weirdy]

What retro said.
MD/DO isn't the same as DPM.
Even if its their 2nd go around, there is no guarantee they'll match a higher specialty than FM/IM/psych etc.

 

[Bluecollarmed]

Retro is a lowly pod making double your “high paying specialty” salary so I’d say it’s better to stick it out and find a way to get a better position or market yourself rather than take on more schooling and debt for the chance at making what most decently busy hospital pods are at (300-400k).

 

[pod squad]

Unlikely that they would get into MD/DO even with a good MCAT score at this point. Unless they scored something amazing, which they probably won't because they're in podiatry school in the first place. Finish 4th year, get the degree and match a residency. Maybe they apply to RN, PA school or anesthesiology assistant on the side as a backup plan during 4th year. However I imagine that'd be a tricky sell to an admissions committee, but not impossible.

 

[Adam Smasher]

Financially, would it be smarter to do residency and fight through the horrible job situation which is podiatry? Or would it even make a little bit of sense to go back to school where higher payer can be expected upon graduation.

Read this: When to hold 'em, when to fold 'em

TLDR: you bring a girl to the prom, you gotta dance with her

 

[heybrother]

Without even talking about being a DPM or being an MD/DO - I just think the future of student loan plans is to be less generous.

 

[air bud]

If they were not smart enough to get into MD/DO the first time around they most likely are not a top student. Even if they studied hard and got a good enough MCAT to get into DO school the chances of matching into a high paying surgical specialty are still incredibly challenging. They most likely match into medicine or subspecialty of medicine more times than not. Pay for these specialties are 250-300K. Sometimes a little higher.

Eh, go Caribbean. If you are smart and have act together you can succeed there. Person clearly is since graduated from pod school.

 

[iridocyclitiss]

makes little sense to jump ship now and add even more debt to that student's loan burden with no easy way to pay it off.

 

[eyeeye_captain]

I started to write a long post, but here’s the gist.

 

[Bored Snorlax]

If your residency offers strong training and leads to good pay, it might make sense to stick with it. But if you're still thinking about MD/DO, look into schools that offer full scholarships like Albert Einstein, NYU, Kaiser, Hopkins, or Columbia. They’re very competitive, but having a DPM background shows you can "probably" pass the USMLE. You could also consider the HPSP military route to avoid more debt, though it comes with a 4 year service commitment. Just keep in mind that many DPMs in PP can make more in those 4 years than you would on a military salary.

 

[pod squad]

But if you're still thinking about MD/DO, look into schools that offer full scholarships like Albert Einstein, NYU, Kaiser, Hopkins, or Columbia.

Full ride to Columbia med school, yeah I'd say that's a solid backup plan. This reminds of the guy who was musing that more of us should have become investment bankers on Wall Street 🤣

 

[Prehealth1011]

Eh, go Caribbean. If you are smart and have act together you can succeed there. Person clearly is since graduated from pod school.

Seems risky to be honest. From the people I know who succeeded from the Caribbean, they all had high mcat low GPAs, i.e. great test takers but partied too hard in undergrad. I wouldn’t gamble on the Caribbean if I’m a <500 MCAT person.

What OP really needs to do is get into a podiatry fellowship. Some good ROI there.

 

[Bored Snorlax]

Full ride to Columbia med school, yeah I'd say that's a solid backup plan. This reminds of the guy who was musing that more of us should have become investment bankers on Wall Street 🤣

Haha fair enough. Just saying if you're gonna shoot your shot, might as well aim for the full ride

 

[Bored Snorlax]

I started to write a long post, but here’s the gist.

Optho bro had a Feli moment but saw the paragraphs forming and aborted the mission

 

[MicroPod]

Pod pay can be lower starting out but I think most do fine after a few years out once they either start producing enough to bonus, start their own PP or find an organizational job. I think it would be a huge mistake to go back because you will likely be making 200k+ within a few years I would think. Possibly start out making that much if you find a hospital or even VA job.

 

[HalluxSlicer]

I am also in the same boat where I introduced podiatry to my colleague and we both are at this point where podiatry is not it and regret not sticking with the MD/DO route. Due to extensive loan burden and current political climate with repayment plan up in the air thanks to the current president coupled with burnout / grim reality of where medicine is heading, we decided to take an L continuing podiatry until other opportunities pop up.
With that being said, I am familiar with this one particular Caribbean school where you can take online classes and USMLE on your own pace. After you pass Step 1 and 2, they will retroactively count your off-service residency rotations as your "clinicals" and will grant you that sweet MD title. There is a DPM intern currently set to graduate with the MD in 2028 and they started the Caribbean program back in 2024. Last I heard they're aiming for Vascular Surgery

 

[Feli]

...I am familiar with this one particular Caribbean school where you can take online classes and USMLE on your own pace. After you pass Step 1 and 2, they will retroactively count your off-service residency rotations as your "clinicals" and will grant you that sweet MD title. There is a DPM intern currently set to graduate with the MD in 2028 and they started the Caribbean program back in 2024. Last I heard they're aiming for Vascular Surgery

"A fool and his money are soon parted."

 

[eyeeye_captain]

I am familiar with this one particular Caribbean school where you can take online classes and USMLE on your own pace. After you pass Step 1 and 2, they will retroactively count your off-service residency rotations as your "clinicals" and will grant you that sweet MD title.

That doesn’t sound sketchy in the least. I think I know one of their admissions counselors, good headshot at their in person campus