Fellowships Question

[ph34r]

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I was wondering how difficult it is to get a spine medicine fellowship or pain medicine fellowship, and how hard it would be to get one as a DO. Are these fields competitive? Thanks.

 

[Llenroc]

My impression is that they are challenging to get. An even bigger problem is that the quality varies wildly.

 

[MSKalltheway]

If you are asking if it will be more difficult for a DO to get a fellowship position than an MD, I've never heard anything to suggest this. Residencies? In other fields yes, but not so much for PM&R. The playing field is equal for everyone (from an MD/DO standpoint) once they have matched into a residency. Fellowships do favor individuals from more prestigious programs; this is not just in PM&R. Anyone may feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about this.

 

[drvlad2004]

Once you are in PM&R residency, it usually does not matter if you are DO or MD in order to get a spine or pain fellowship. The fellowships vary by a lot. The program directors, especially in private practice, look for someone who fits well with him or her. If you want a comprehensive pain program, then usually the anesthesia based fellowships are your better bet. The downsides of those fellowships include not being able to use all of your rehab skills such as electrodiagnostics. In general, these fellowships have become competitive to the point that even non-accredited fellowships have now filled much more spots before the AAPMR conference.

 

[DrJosephKim]

Pain medicine is becoming more and more competitive. You have a better chance at competitive residencies and fellowships as an MD vs. a DO.

 

[drusso]

It's not an issue. As long as you're strong, knowledgable, affable, and industrious fellowship directors could care less. A pain fellowship is a one-year intense experience and they'd rather have the right PERSON with the right credentials instead of the wrong person with the right credentials.

 

[ampaphb]

It's not an issue. As long as you're strong, knowledgable, affable, and industrious fellowship directors could care less. A pain fellowship is a one-year intense experience and they'd rather have the right PERSON with the right credentials instead of the wrong person with the right credentials.

Then how in heavens name did folks like lobelsteve, you, and moi, get in?

 

[drusso]

Then how in heavens name did folks like lobelsteve, you, and moi, get in?

Or, you can just fake it.

 

[staydin]

Personally speaking, I was never questioned about being a D.O. on the Fellowship trail, or when I was interviewing for residency.

The question you should really be asking yourself is, which specialty has an easier time getting into pain fellowships that you are interested in, anesth or pmr? And, if it is anesth, how do you as a PMR resident make yourself more competitive.

Good luck.

 

[lobelsteve]

Then how in heavens name did folks like lobelsteve, you, and moi, get in?

Trying to sneak one by me?

I got in because of Diva. He was a year ahead of me at EVMS and fellowed at Emory the year before me. Even after the "anonymous" letter from my program said how horrible I was and that I was a risk, Diva convinced the PD (W) that the program was screwy and I was "the goods".

Fooled em long enough to get through the fellowship. As far as AMPA, I heard he paid 50k to do the fellowship, money from his breast implant work.😍

 

[chauffeur]

Pain fellowships are much harder to come by than spine fellowships. From my experience there are a ton of spine fellowships out there, some more competitive to get into than others. It seems like anyone can run a private non-accredited spine fellowship. Some of the more prestigious academically based spine fellowships are harder to come by. I don't know anyone who applied to a spine fellowship and didn't get in. I can't say the same out pain fellowships.

 

[Finally M3]

Pain fellowships are much harder to come by than spine fellowships. From my experience there are a ton of spine fellowships out there, some more competitive to get into than others. It seems like anyone can run a private non-accredited spine fellowship. Some of the more prestigious academically based spine fellowships are harder to come by. I don't know anyone who applied to a spine fellowship and didn't get in. I can't say the same out pain fellowships.

I know some people who got ACGME fellowships who didn't get offered at CCF...but you're right, the ACGMEs are harder to get. Stanford's spine spot will be a bear to get as time goes along...

 

[goodandplenty]

So what exactly are they looking for? Is it like applying to residency i.e. USMLE 1,2,3 scores, rotation evals (in residency), research (what type?), LORs, personality/interview, away/in house electives?

 

[rehab_sports_dr]

I do not know of any bias against DOs at the fellowship level

Prestige of PMR program probably matters to some extent

Probably the biggest factor is getting a letter of rec from someone who personally knows the fellowship director. I know that most of us attendings have webs of people we really trust, and a strong word from one of them carries a lot of weight

If you are asking if it will be more difficult for a DO to get a fellowship position than an MD, I've never heard anything to suggest this. Residencies? In other fields yes, but not so much for PM&R. The playing field is equal for everyone (from an MD/DO standpoint) once they have matched into a residency. Fellowships do favor individuals from more prestigious programs; this is not just in PM&R. Anyone may feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about this.