- Joined
- Aug 18, 2011
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So I don't post here very often, but I feel like this is an interesting topic to discuss. I've been reading about the proposed GME accreditation merger for a while, and I was fairly shocked to hear that the AOA/AACOM said no thanks.
I'm applying this year to both MD/DO because I want to be a doctor. I dont care about OMM, and I don't believe that the DO philosophy is actually any different in reality. I think that both MD and DO schools train excellent physicians, and that's what I want to be a part of.
So here's what annoys me about the AOA/AACOM stance on this issue:
The AOA blatantly doesn't have the GME sports available to support the number of DO grads. Not by a loooong shot. Everything is cool as long as DO's can go to ACGME residencies, though. So 60% of DO grads go to ACGME residencies, and all is good. So how can they make a decision to remain separate from the ACGME-- and get a standing ovation -- for defending the hardcore DO principles in their GME when they don't even have the capacity to train half of the DO graduates? Havent they already "lost" like 60% of grads to ACGME because they don't even have room for them? They want to preserve the DO-ness for the minority of students that they have room for?
How is comlex viability even a negotiation point anyways?
And as if it somehow helps matters, why am I reading all this nonsense about how they're working hard to increase AOA residency spots? Like they're going to catch up to ACGME soon or something? AOA has like 1100 programs? ACGME has what, 10,000?
I guess this all just makes me question whether or not I should even apply to DO schools. Seems like common sense would dictate unifying GME, opening more doors, etc... But the powers that be are more concerned with making DO's more separate, and I guess that is not what I would want if I went to a DO school.
I'm applying this year to both MD/DO because I want to be a doctor. I dont care about OMM, and I don't believe that the DO philosophy is actually any different in reality. I think that both MD and DO schools train excellent physicians, and that's what I want to be a part of.
So here's what annoys me about the AOA/AACOM stance on this issue:
The AOA blatantly doesn't have the GME sports available to support the number of DO grads. Not by a loooong shot. Everything is cool as long as DO's can go to ACGME residencies, though. So 60% of DO grads go to ACGME residencies, and all is good. So how can they make a decision to remain separate from the ACGME-- and get a standing ovation -- for defending the hardcore DO principles in their GME when they don't even have the capacity to train half of the DO graduates? Havent they already "lost" like 60% of grads to ACGME because they don't even have room for them? They want to preserve the DO-ness for the minority of students that they have room for?
How is comlex viability even a negotiation point anyways?
And as if it somehow helps matters, why am I reading all this nonsense about how they're working hard to increase AOA residency spots? Like they're going to catch up to ACGME soon or something? AOA has like 1100 programs? ACGME has what, 10,000?
I guess this all just makes me question whether or not I should even apply to DO schools. Seems like common sense would dictate unifying GME, opening more doors, etc... But the powers that be are more concerned with making DO's more separate, and I guess that is not what I would want if I went to a DO school.