OSUdoc08 said:
DO's overall have a much higher pass rate on the MD boards than do foreign MD's. In addition, DO's have their own boards, in which they have an even higher pass rate.
This is misleading. From my post in another thread w/ some added modifications:
The board pass rates at the major non-AAMC Caribbean schools (i.e. SGU, Ross, AUC, and Saba) are surprisingly high [around 80% for AUC and higher for the others (higher than 90% in some)], if I remember correctly. HOWEVER, these numbers are misleading due to high attrition (read: flunking out) or deceleration (read: getting held back / forced to slow down). I've stated this before, but it is not fair to compare DO passing rates (COMLEX) with MD passing rates. You can argue that some osteopathic schools claim 90%+ pass rates on COMLEX, but when I last checked, the national first time pass rate on the USMLE Step I (the test for allopathic residencies) for the past few years was around 75-80%. Again, some Caribbean schools range from 80-90+ percent (but again, there's the issue of attrition, shelf exams, and deceleration so the numbers are misleading). MDs do not take the COMLEX and are not eligible to do so. Therefore, you cannot evaluate how they would perform on the non-OMM sections of the COMLEX. Bringing up the COMLEX proves little and does not make for good comparisons. The point is that a comparison of Caribbean med students and osteopathic students on the USMLE Step 1 or USMLE vs. COMLEX is not easy or useful to evaluate.
If you are referring to SGU, Ross, AUC and UAG when you say, "Keep in mind that when discussing "foreign medical grads" I am talking about schools such as in Mexico and the Caribbean that have minimal acceptance standards for students," then your statement is not accurate. The pass rates (with the qualifications I've stated above) of these schools are clearly different from the FMG pass rate in general; these schools have much higher pass rates.
OSUdoc08 said:
2. DO's have a higher acceptance rate into MD residencies overall than foreign MD's. DO's also are able to apply for DO residencies, so the opportunities are much greater.
In the first sentence you're addressing the fact that many DOs go into allo residencies (~70%). The second sentence strikes me as odd since (1) this will account for 30% or so of DO grads (by no means the majority) and (2) many DO grads are concerned with the quality and number of
some osteopathic residency programs and choose not to apply for these programs for this reason. If you want to argue that DOs match better than FMGs, I'll probably give you that. But nearly 100% of qualified FMG applicants from the major Caribbean schools will obtain US residencies.
OSUdoc08 said:
3. DO's enjoy the same licensure rights as domestic MD's in all states. Foreign MD's cannot be licensed by certain states, and must go through a much more difficult accrediation process that do domestic MD's and DO's.
Not true. I have FMG relatives that have licensure in all 50 states. Again, if you're talking about SGU, Ross, AUC, Saba, etc., this is very misleading. These schools do not have the major licensure issues that you describe (especially the first three). So I don't know what you're referring to when you discuss Foreign MDs from "schools such as in Mexico and the Caribbean that have minimal acceptance standards for students" that cannot be licensed by certain states. The hardest states for licensure are New York, California, and Texas. Licensure for all of these states, except TX, is pretty much a sure thing. For Texas, proper rotations (e.g., abiding by the neurology and family practice guidelines) need to be performed to prove "educational equivalency." I'm not sure which ForeignMDs and which states you're referring to. For a difference of opinion, you may want to ask the mods in the IMG forums for their perspective. I do not think that licensure is as difficult as you describe. During Vietnam, the United States took myriad FMGs in the dire time of need. A very high percentage of FMGs are practicing physicians in the US. It is unfair to stereotype these FMGs as second rate doctors. I have many relatives and close family friends that went to foreign medical institutions. Many went on to be Chief Residents for hospitals associated with medical institutions like Columbia and some are directors of fellowship and residency programs (including highly competitive programs like radiology) in major hospitals.
OSUdoc08 said:
4. The people who have negative DO's are simply the ones who don't completely understand what they are. DO schools teach the exact same courses as MD schools, and add one more course. There are many DO schools that are national ranked in the top schools overall with MD's. You will not see any Foreign medical schools ranked, because after speaking to residency program directors, you will find that they are often hesitant to accept such applicants.
I agree with the first half ot this. I disagree with the second half. First of all, I don't know what you mean when you're talking about rankings.
(1) US News and World Report has two rankings: Primary Care and Research. Your comments only apply to the Primary Care rankings. And honestly, I think the arbitrary criteria of the Primary Care rankings AND the Research rankings are pretty useless.
(2) Since you are more than likely referring to the Primary Care rankings, your statement holds little water. Caribbean schools match into Primary Care fields easily. In fact, one of the arguments against going to the Caribbean is that "it's more likely that you'll end up in primary care." So I don't understand where you're going with these Primary Care rankings.
(3) Caribbean schools not being ranked has NOTHING to do with Residency Program directors. All Foreign medical schools are by definition not in the United States. The US News Rankings rank only United States medical schools. Even the best medical schools in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East are not going to show up in the US News rankings--even if these are on par with the best US med schools.
OSUdoc08 said:
5. Keep in mind that when discussing "foreign medical grads" I am talking about schools such as in Mexico and the Caribbean that have minimal acceptance standards for students. Many of these schools don't even require an MCAT or a degree. It is because of these substandards that the limitations are true. If you talk about foreign graduates in first world countries such as Britain and Germany, then you will likely get equal training as that in the U.S.
Could you provide some examples--I don't understand what schools you are referring to. While many US medical schools prefer a baccalaureate degree, US med schools do not always require baccalaureate degrees (check the MSAR). So let's not even bring up the arguments of the Hartford Courant's notorious, misleading article. British and German medical students do not do their clinicals exclusively in the US like the major Caribbean med schools' students do. If I had to go the foreign route and was given the option of Germany/Britain and the Caribbean as a means to practice in the US, I would go the Caribbean route without thinking twice. The US clinicals and opportunities of making connections and auditioning would outweigh the German/British training, in my opinion. You imply that Caribbean grads aren't getting equal training, I disagree with this. Because these students at the major Caribbean schools (not the shady, diploma mill schools with major licensure problems) do their clinicals exclusively in the United States, they are getting similar training to US medical students. Take a look at the clinical affiliations--many of these are excellent US hospitals. The students are limited by two main factors:
(1) the inherent disadvantage in the residency match b/c they are foreign medical students and are often seen as secondary to both their US allo and osteo counterparts
(2) lack of freedom for electives that US students often have
When the time comes for me to send in my first application, I may apply to a few osteopathic schools. I do not intend to apply to ANY foreign medical schools, but I do think the picture you're painting of these schools is inaccurate.
Phil
instead of what will make you regret 
