How many New spots will the be available to MD students due to the Combined Match?

[ZX10R]

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Also MDs can always take a couple months to learn OMM and get certification...it doesn't take 1-2 years (DO don't spend the first two years in med school to only learn how to massage joints and muscles)

Yea at the risk of losing research/Step 1 time (They are going to have to decide 3rd year). I didn't mean to say DOs only spend the first 2 years learning OMM, I have friends that are DOs and most of them tell me they spent 4-6 hours a week on OMM; they also tell me its not comparable to Anatomy lab. For example Leg pain = Do this X or this X; where as we would look at leg pain = dmg in dorsal root ganglion/dmg in PAG, or dmg in Thalamus (central pain causing it), ect. Just seems like a waste, as most DOs say it is.

But since it seems most are opting out of requiring that I guess it doesn't matter.

 

[OrthopedicOpthoderm]

That 250+ DO is not competing with a 215 MD. The DO will get a great residency spot and that MD will go into emergency medicine. 🙂 My MD residency is set for allopathic, 230+ allopathic. It's a numbers game in so many ways, of course, none of it seems fair. We try to make what we do equitable for those we select (I do not care about gender, ethnic or economic background-- you can be a Martian; although, I do avoid the religious).

It's about offering the best we can for our patients and community, and doing our part to the advancement of medicine.

Interesting. Last time I checked Dell and UTH IM programs, there where a good number of IMG's including the Caribbean(~60%,~25%) and DO(~10% for both) by Frieda's rankings/looking at Rosters.

 

[Danbo1957]

At present I do not work for UT-Austin Dell, I do advise the medical school, unpaid. I work clinically in Austin at a community hospital, and academically in a Houston TMC program, but not UT-H.

Just for clarification: I was an IM PD for ten years, not at UT-H (where I went to medical school).

 

[the argus]

As has been pointed out, the following 2 statements don't really jive, unless you're saying good docs come from everywhere but personally you only look at people from certain medical schools. And if that's the case, I'll reiterate that I'm glad you are not my PD.

I'm one of the old-school, white dude PDs (for ten years). Never took anyone without an MD, never will. Don't take low-tier MD school, Caribbean school grads, or Third World school grads either. I am all for any process that weeds out lesser qualified MD graduates too...

I think that the "best" premed students should get into med-school; after med-school is when we decide whether one can become trained to be a doctor. The "best" doctors come from everywhere. After a certain point it's up to individual achievement...

 

[NontradCA]

Lol, if anything the DO residencies are the ones who play the biggest games of croneyism and nepotism. You see this every year in the huge number of them that won't even interview applicants who don't do aways there, or the pay-to-play derm residencies.

The best part of the merger will be pushing this small time mentality out the window.

This is because the clinical education is inconsistent, not because they want to give boosts to people who come and schmooz them.

 

[jw3600]

Yea at the risk of losing research/Step 1 time (They are going to have to decide 3rd year). I didn't mean to say DOs only spend the first 2 years learning OMM, I have friends that are DOs and most of them tell me they spent 4-6 hours a week on OMM; they also tell me its not comparable to Anatomy lab. For example Leg pain = Do this X or this X; where as we would look at leg pain = dmg in dorsal root ganglion/dmg in PAG, or dmg in Thalamus (central pain causing it), ect. Just seems like a waste, as most DOs say it is.

But since it seems most are opting out of requiring that I guess it doesn't matter.

OMM is a joke. I spend anywhere from 8-10 hours a semester on it and get all A's. Don't blow smoke. Makes DO students look silly.

 

[NontradCA]

Also, DO students have been competing with MD students in a lot of fields for decades. There isn't going to be increased bias in those fields, and I can only see bias diminishing as the COMLEX and coca get phased out.

Additionally if you think about the MD students who are going to be the applying to DO programs, they're generally going to be of lower quality (board scores, research etc), because the DO students in the surgical fields and derm generally come from the top of the class.

 

[tymont12]

Because I have no idea...what is the reasoning from the DO side for this merger? Because it sounds like everything is benefiting MD students rather than DO students.

 

[NontradCA]

Because I have no idea...what is the reasoning from the DO side for this merger? Because it sounds like everything is benefiting MD students rather than DO students.

ACGME fellowships were going to be restricting graduating residents of AOA programs if this merger did not go through.

 

[deleted731525]

Because I have no idea...what is the reasoning from the DO side for this merger? Because it sounds like everything is benefiting MD students rather than DO students.

There was the threat of not allowing DOs into fellowships.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Because I have no idea...what is the reasoning from the DO side for this merger? Because it sounds like everything is benefiting MD students rather than DO students.

The reasoning was that they were going to be locked out of ACGME fellowships otherwise, as well as the belief from the DO side that the merger would align them on the "inside" with respect to slots as opposed to the "outside", due to added representation for DOs within the ACGME

In other words it was less a merger and more a hostile takeover. And the DOs are quickly realizing their own programs don't care much about "osteopathic distinction" when it comes down to it

 

[PL198]

Lol, if anything the DO residencies are the ones who play the biggest games of croneyism and nepotism. You see this every year in the huge number of them that won't even interview applicants who don't do aways there, or the pay-to-play derm residencies.

The best part of the merger will be pushing this small time mentality out the window.

what is this?

 

[Goro]

And squeezing out the IMG from the Carib diploma mills.

Lol, if anything the DO residencies are the ones who play the biggest games of croneyism and nepotism. You see this every year in the huge number of them that won't even interview applicants who don't do aways there, or the pay-to-play derm residencies.

The best part of the merger will be pushing this small time mentality out the window.

 

[kenjixshadow]

In other words it was less a merger and more a hostile takeover. And the DOs are quickly realizing their own programs don't care much about "osteopathic distinction" when it comes down to it

Hell, even their own students and more than 90% DOs don't care for it.

 

[deleted564680]

DO Schools:
- 2-3 weeks of completely off time to study for boards
- curriculum geared toward COMLEX and not USMLE topics
- have to study for and take two exams at nearly the same time (the exams are about 80% the same - different styles, different mix of questions, etc.)

MD Schools:
- 4-8 weeks of completely off time to study for boards
- curriculum geared toward USMLE
- only have to focus on and study for one exam

AND YET, despite these obvious differences, a DO's score is actually worth less than the MD counterpart. From personal experience, if a program is even willing to look at a DO applicant, it roughly translates as such:
- DO 260 = MD 250
- DO 250 = MD 240
- DO 240 = MD 230
- DO 230 = MD 220

It appears that a DO who scores highly (> 250) should actually be held in higher esteem. It's fair to guess that he/she would have scored 3-5 points higher if he/she had been at an MD school. This is impossible to know for sure though.

 

[NontradCA]

DO Schools:
- 2-3 weeks of completely off time to study for boards
- curriculum geared toward COMLEX and not USMLE topics
- have to study for and take two exams at nearly the same time (the exams are about 80% the same - different styles, different mix of questions, etc.)

MD Schools:
- 4-8 weeks of completely off time to study for boards
- curriculum geared toward USMLE
- only have to focus on and study for one exam

AND YET, despite these obvious differences, a DO's score is actually worth less than the MD counterpart. From personal experience, if a program is even willing to look at a DO applicant, it roughly translates as such:
- DO 260 = MD 250
- DO 250 = MD 240
- DO 240 = MD 230
- DO 230 = MD 220

It appears that a DO who scores highly (> 250) should actually be held in higher esteem. It's fair to guess that he/she would have scored 3-5 points higher if he/she had been at an MD school. This is impossible to know for sure though.

But board scores aren't everything.

 

[Goro]

This is a fascinating hypothesis! I'm afraid that I won't see a definitive answer to the OP's question until after I'm retired!

I still wonder how many MD grads will be willing to put up with learning OMM/OMT. My DO colleagues who teach in these courses beleive that it takes over a year just to pick up the baseline manipulative skills. However, there are plenty of DO schools that give lip service to the techniques....which make me speculate that they'll see a cash cow in teaching OMM Lite for MD grads who want to get into AOA residencies!

Time will tell.

Additionally if you think about the MD students who are going to be the applying to DO programs, they're generally going to be of lower quality (board scores, research etc), because the DO students in the surgical fields and derm generally come from the top of the class.

It didn't help the profession that the AOA still has this mania of "More DO schools good" while not opening more AOA residencies, and that there are a lot more DO grads than AOA residencies.

The reasoning was that they were going to be locked out of ACGME fellowships otherwise, as well as the belief from the DO side that the merger would align them on the "inside" with respect to slots as opposed to the "outside", due to added representation for DOs within the ACGME

In other words it was less a merger and more a hostile takeover. And the DOs are quickly realizing their own programs don't care much about "osteopathic distinction" when it comes down to it

 

[the argus]

And squeezing out the IMG from the Carib diploma mills.

Don't you ever get tired of posting this drivel? You have never been able to explain why this would be the case. Saying, "I don't know but this is what people told me," just continues to make you look like even more of an idiot. Here's your previous response,

I'm not making the news, just reporting it, as conveyed to me from people with contacts high up in both AOA and ACGME...y'know, Clinical Deans and Dep't Chairs?

 

[deleted731525]

And squeezing out the IMG from the Carib diploma mills.

Im convinced that the only reason you posted this is because you need to kill some time and saw that theargus posted in this thread.

Edit: ^ LMAO and here we go!

 

[Goro]

Did he? I have him on Ignore. Was he sputtering about NRMP?

Im convinced that the only reason you posted this is because you need to kill some time and saw that theargus posted in this thread.

Edit: ^ LMAO and here we go!

 

[Dr.Smexy]

DO Schools:
- 2-3 weeks of completely off time to study for boards
- curriculum geared toward COMLEX and not USMLE topics
- have to study for and take two exams at nearly the same time (the exams are about 80% the same - different styles, different mix of questions, etc.)

MD Schools:
- 4-8 weeks of completely off time to study for boards
- curriculum geared toward USMLE
- only have to focus on and study for one exam

AND YET, despite these obvious differences, a DO's score is actually worth less than the MD counterpart. From personal experience, if a program is even willing to look at a DO applicant, it roughly translates as such:
- DO 260 = MD 250
- DO 250 = MD 240
- DO 240 = MD 230
- DO 230 = MD 220

It appears that a DO who scores highly (> 250) should actually be held in higher esteem. It's fair to guess that he/she would have scored 3-5 points higher if he/she had been at an MD school. This is impossible to know for sure though.

LOL, gave me a good laugh. Nobody is forcing DO to take 2 exams (until this merger) and the COMLEX is a joke compared to the USMLE. Ask any DO student who took both exams and they'll say that if you prepare well for the USMLE, it will also prepare you more than enough for COMLEX. And for every DO who score in the 250 there is another MD student who score just as much or higher who receives good clinical training, has good research, connections, LOR from well known physicians, etc. Your post is misguided at best. To say that DO who scores high should be respected more is ridiculous...

 

[67552931811]

LOL, gave me a good laugh. Nobody is forcing DO to take 2 exams (until this merger) and the COMLEX is a joke compare to the USMLE. Ask any DO student who took both exams and they'll say that if you prepare well for the USMLE, it will also prepare you more than enough for COMLEX. And for every DO who score in the 250 there is another MD student who score just as much or higher who receives good clinical training, has good research, connections, LOR from well known physicians, etc. Your post is misguided at best. To say that DO who scores high should be respected more is ridiculous...

Please, pre-med, continue to grace us with your immense knowledge.

You are as ill-informed as you are smug. I suggest you address both issues before you start your medical education.

 

[Dr.Smexy]

Please, pre-med, continue to grace us with your immense knowledge.

Typical response from someone who has nothing better to say. Thank you for your immense knowledge as well...oh wait

 

[67552931811]

Typical response from someone who has nothing better to say. Thank you for your immense knowledge as well...oh wait

Perhaps I don't have the time, nor energy, to educate some pretentious turd on the internet...? Possible?

 

[Dr.Smexy]

Perhaps I don't have the time, nor energy, to argue with some pretentious turd on the internet...? Possible?

You have the time and energy to post empty comment and try to belittle others...come again about time? If you can dispute or contribute anything then do...otherwise stop wasting your precious time please.

 

[deleted564680]

LOL, gave me a good laugh. Nobody is forcing DO to take 2 exams (until this merger) and the COMLEX is a joke compared to the USMLE. Ask any DO student who took both exams and they'll say that if you prepare well for the USMLE, it will also prepare you more than enough for COMLEX. And for every DO who score in the 250 there is another MD student who score just as much or higher who receives good clinical training, has good research, connections, LOR from well known physicians, etc. Your post is misguided at best. To say that DO who scores high should be respected more is ridiculous...

I presented facts. I meant the USMLE score should be held in higher esteem and was only talking about that issue by itself. You are free to continue your bias about DOs inferior LOR and clinical training.

 

[Dr.Smexy]

I presented facts. I meant the USMLE score should be held in higher esteem and was only talking about that issue by itself. You are free to continue your bias about DOs inferior LOR and clinical training.

I respect your opinion and we can agree to disagree.

 

[deleted564680]

I respect your opinion and we can agree to disagree.

Deal.

 

[tymont12]

And squeezing out the IMG from the Carib diploma mills.

Don't you ever get tired of posting this drivel? You have never been able to explain why this would be the case. Saying, "I don't know but this is what people told me," just continues to make you look like even more of an idiot.

The bottom line is that there is a finite number of residency spots for ALL applicants and the pecking order is typically MD>DO>IMG>FMG. DO's used to make up a much smaller portion of the applicant pool but their ever-increasing numbers have been slowly nudging out those further down the line. There was a recent pub in the NEJM saying there won't be a residency squeeze for US MD students anytime soon, but FMGs and IMGs will probably be the first affected (that last part is my interpretation).

Everyone likes to say, "hey! why isn't my DO (or IMG MD) degree treated the same as a US MD?!" Well...med school acceptance is called a bottleneck and generally people screen whenever there is a bottleneck in an uber competitive field. Simple as that.

 

[user3]

This is a fascinating hypothesis! I'm afraid that I won't see a definitive answer to the OP's question until after I'm retired!

I still wonder how many MD grads will be willing to put up with learning OMM/OMT. My DO colleagues who teach in these courses beleive that it takes over a year just to pick up the baseline manipulative skills. However, there are plenty of DO schools that give lip service to the techniques....which make me speculate that they'll see a cash cow in teaching OMM Lite for MD grads who want to get into AOA residencies!

Time will tell.





It didn't help the profession that the AOA still has this mania of "More DO schools good" while not opening more AOA residencies, and that there are a lot more DO grads than AOA residencies.

It's generally agreed that most transitioning AOA programs will not be pursuing "osteopathic recognition". What value-add will it really provide their program after they've gone through the work of attaining acgme accreditation?

 

[Goro]

That will save a lot of time (and money)!

It's generally agreed that most transitioning AOA programs will not be pursuing "osteopathic recognition". What value-add will it really provide their program after they've gone through the work of attaining acgme accreditation?

 

[FiveOClock]

I just explained this... There are DOs every year with BETTER stats than some of their MD counterparts who match in nsg, ortho, urology, ENT, etc. that don't even get a look because of bias. The average MD is better than the average DO but there are DOs out there that can compete with just about any MD.

Pretty sure most programs under this concept. DOs will still match in competitive specialties, just less. Part of being a DO is dedicating yourself to osteopathic medicine which means dedication to primary care.

 

[NontradCA]

Please, pre-med, continue to grace us with your immense knowledge.

You are as ill-informed as you are smug. I suggest you address both issues before you start your medical education.

Lol that guys a premed? ****.

 

[jw3600]

Pretty sure most programs under this concept. DOs will still match in competitive specialties, just less. Part of being a DO is dedicating yourself to osteopathic medicine which means dedication to primary care.

Speak for yourself.

 

[fastlane]

Here's an example to illustrate what I'm saying....This person (a DO) posted their rank list on the Rads forum.

USMLE: 256/268
Class Rank: 1/162
Research: 5 "experiences", 3 posters, 1 abstract, 0 pubs
Clinical Grades: all Honors

Rank List:
1. CCF
2. UPMC
3. Dartmouth
4. Penn State
5. Yale
6. UF-Gainesville
7. USF
8. Beaumont
9. Nebraska
10. UF-Jacksonville

Rejections: MIR, Mayo, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, MCW, Wisconsin, Case-UH, UAB, MGH, BWH, NW, Loyola, Rush

Now, if this person was an MD, he/she would be in the running to match at any program outside the top 5 and certainly would not be rejected by all of those programs.

Seriously? This D.O. applicant got interviews from 50% of the allopathic programs they applied for, including Ivy league programs!!! And you're still complaining? WTF?
Get your head out of your @$$, no allopathic candidates are getting interviews at 100% of the programs they apply for. This is already a solid list of interview invites (not to mention D.O.s get their whole bunch of programs to apply to in the D.O. match, which M.D. candidates aren't even allowed to apply for).

DO Schools:
- 2-3 weeks of completely off time to study for boards
- curriculum geared toward COMLEX and not USMLE topics
- have to study for and take two exams at nearly the same time (the exams are about 80% the same - different styles, different mix of questions, etc.)

MD Schools:
- 4-8 weeks of completely off time to study for boards
- curriculum geared toward USMLE
- only have to focus on and study for one exam

It appears that a DO who scores highly (> 250) should actually be held in higher esteem. It's fair to guess that he/she would have scored 3-5 points higher if he/she had been at an MD school. This is impossible to know for sure though.

Dude, everything you are saying is COMPLETELY FALSE. I have multiple great friends at D.O. schools that get over 10 weeks to study for USMLE Step 1.
Stop spreading false rumours that DO students study "2 weeks" for the Step 1. Get out of here.

Edit: One more thing - all of my DO friends spend all their time prepping for the USMLE Step 1. They take the test and then study 3 days - 1 week and then take the COMLEX. Prepping for the Step 1 is more than adequate to prep for the COMLEX... they are not "2 different exams" in the sense that clinical knowledge tested is completely different.

 

[yanks26dmb]

Typical response from someone who has nothing better to say. Thank you for your immense knowledge as well...oh wait

This doesn't even make sense.

 

[kbeitz]

I'm surprised this turned into a DO bashing thread, despite the first response indicating it would and the history of any mention of DOs causing this entire subforum to foam at the mouth.

Sent from my XT1092 using Tapatalk

 

[IslandStyle808]

Seriously? This D.O. applicant got interviews from 50% of the allopathic programs they applied for, including Ivy league programs!!! And you're still complaining? WTF?
Get your head out of your @$$, no allopathic candidates are getting interviews at 100% of the programs they apply for. This is already a solid list of interview invites (not to mention D.O.s get their whole bunch of programs to apply to in the D.O. match, which M.D. candidates aren't even allowed to apply for).

What wrong with aiming higher and wanting more? Human beings in general like to push the limits. Plus if you think that D.O. have this nice list of fall back AOA options this is a mistaken misconception. DOs only have a realistic shot at an AOA residency if they rotated there, however, U.S. MD don't need to do away rotation to have a fair shot at ACGME residencies. You can look at the 2014 NRMP director's survey and find that of the ACGME radiology programs surveyed only 64% of those programs interview/rank DOs, if these were US MDs they could apply to 99% of them. There are whole lot more radiology programs on the ACGME side versus AOA. This needs to be taken into account.

Dude, everything you are saying is COMPLETELY FALSE. I have multiple great friends at D.O. schools that get over 10 weeks to study for USMLE Step 1.
Stop spreading false rumours that DO students study "2 weeks" for the Step 1. Get out of here.

Edit: One more thing - all of my DO friends spend all their time prepping for the USMLE Step 1. They take the test and then study 3 days - 1 week and then take the COMLEX. Prepping for the Step 1 is more than adequate to prep for the COMLEX... they are not "2 different exams" in the sense that clinical knowledge tested is completely different.

There was one school where I interviewed with in the past who only allow people to study for the COMLEX for 3 weeks (changed now). So he's not pulling some of these numbers out of nowhere. However, 10 weeks, really? There were only two scenarios where any DO school gave 10 weeks from what I have read or seen in the interview trail. The first was that they had to take a mandatory prep course for 6 weeks then have to study 4 weeks (so they didn't have 10 weeks of self dedicated study time). The next was that they had 6 weeks of dedicated board prep, but extended it to 10 weeks by using their elective rotation. I am wondering which schools would do this without the above two scenarios?

 

[tantacles]

And will there be any significant gains in specialty spots? I looked at the DO residencies, and a lot of them are low paying ~42k, and some of the Derm spots don't pay at all?

I'm posting to redirect this thread to the initial question posed by the OP. Please keep the thread civil and on topic.

 

[FiveOClock]

Speak for yourself.

Lol I'm an MD candidate but I recognize that DOs exist in order to fill primary care needs. If you wanted to become an expert in a field, go to MD school first.

 

[NontradCA]

Lol I'm an MD candidate but I recognize that DOs exist in order to fill primary care needs. If you wanted to become an expert in a field, go to MD school first.

What's up with these premeds? Hey bro, why don't YOU go to an MD school first before posting this rubbish.

 

[psychMDhopefully]

Why are pre meds allowed to post here?

 

[NontradCA]

Why are pre meds allowed to post here?

To answer your question about Derm there are 32 programs for ~60 spots (sometimes they don't take residents every year, hence ~). The vast majority of them pay >45k and range from 20-70k. There are 3 in Florida which pay 20k. Another thing I've noticed is the vast majority of them have vacation ranging from 0-15 days, where the standard seems to be 20.

 

[yankees527]

Lol I'm an MD candidate but I recognize that DOs exist in order to fill primary care needs. If you wanted to become an expert in a field, go to MD school first.

This is such an ignorant pre med comment. The difference in premed vs med student mindet is stunning

 

[ophthapp1]

That 250+ DO is not competing with a 215 MD. The DO will get a great residency spot and that MD will go into emergency medicine. 🙂 My MD residency is set for allopathic, 230+ allopathic. It's a numbers game in so many ways, of course, none of it seems fair. We try to make what we do equitable for those we select (I do not care about gender, ethnic or economic background-- you can be a Martian; although, I do avoid the religious).

It's about offering the best we can for our patients and community, and doing our part to the advancement of medicine.

Besides your posts contradicting themselves and largely proving the suspicions that many PDs are completely out of touch with reality, there is this: discriminatory employment selection based on religion is against federal and state laws. I'm not naive enough to suggest this isn't happening at the majority of programs - still want to point out your hypocrisy.

 

[FiveOClock]

This is such an ignorant pre med comment. The difference in premed vs med student mindet is stunning

Can you read? I'm in MD school, long time out of pre-med.

What's up with these premeds? Hey bro, why don't YOU go to an MD school first before posting this rubbish.

I suppose you guys are not medical students. If you were, you would know that an MD candidate is someone IN MD SCHOOL.

 

[yankees527]

Can you read? I'm in MD school, long time out of pre-med.



I suppose you guys are not medical students. If you were, you would know that an MD candidate is someone IN MD SCHOOL.

Then that's even worse that you still think that. People with prejudices like you is one of the problems with medicine

 

[deleted564680]

Seriously? This D.O. applicant got interviews from 50% of the allopathic programs they applied for, including Ivy league programs!!! And you're still complaining? WTF?
Get your head out of your @$$, no allopathic candidates are getting interviews at 100% of the programs they apply for. This is already a solid list of interview invites (not to mention D.O.s get their whole bunch of programs to apply to in the D.O. match, which M.D. candidates aren't even allowed to apply for).




Dude, everything you are saying is COMPLETELY FALSE. I have multiple great friends at D.O. schools that get over 10 weeks to study for USMLE Step 1.
Stop spreading false rumours that DO students study "2 weeks" for the Step 1. Get out of here.

Edit: One more thing - all of my DO friends spend all their time prepping for the USMLE Step 1. They take the test and then study 3 days - 1 week and then take the COMLEX. Prepping for the Step 1 is more than adequate to prep for the COMLEX... they are not "2 different exams" in the sense that clinical knowledge tested is completely different.

First of all, thanks for the professional language. I assume you're an MD and it makes you look wonderful. Second of all, you apparently know nothing about radiology programs, which is fine, but you may want to research things before you comment on them. Ivy League is an undergrad phenomenon outside of Harvard (MGH, BWH, BID), and perhaps Columbia. Dartmouth is not even a top 50 rads program and Yale would struggle to be considered top 30. That DO was rejected from all top 20-25 programs except perhaps CCF. It's certainly a solid list of programs, but nothing compared to the list of similar stat MDs on the same thread: MGH, BWH, UCSF, BID, Michigan, MIR (WashU), Mayo, UTSW, Washington.

My information is not false. I went to DO school and had two weeks and all of my friends who went to 4 other DO schools all had 2 or 3 weeks. I still have written down from my DO interviews how many weeks the schools said they get and they were all 2-3 weeks. All my MD friends and during my MD interviews, all had 4-8 weeks.

Also, you can't comment on how adequate and "not different" the two board exams are until you have actually studied, prepared, and taken them both yourself.

 

[scoKraz4]

Please just close this thread!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[GimpGenius]

Lol I'm an MD candidate but I recognize that DOs exist in order to fill primary care needs. If you wanted to become an expert in a field, go to MD school first.

While it's true that most DO programs mention developing primary care providers in their mission statements, it doesn't mean that all DO's are trying to be PCP's. It's subtle, but important, difference.

Several MD schools have similar mission statements as well, so mission statements are generally not helpful in figuring out what students will end up specializing in.

Also, there are plenty of DO's who are "experts" in their fields; and one could argue that the increased focus on musculoskeletal medicine (through OMT training) may help in certain fields (ortho, ENT, sports medicine). Whether that bears out or not is beyond me.