How tough is it to get a good residency after DO

[PhD2MD]

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I want to be an anesthesiologist and am thinking about going the DO route because admissions are somewhat less competitive. I was wondering how hard it is for DOs to specialize and get good residencies. Are they looked down upon and preference given to MDs? Also, how many years does an anesthesiology residency last?

 

[DrMom]

There are quite a few DOs in anesthesiology. Do well in school and on boards (take COMLEX and USMLE) and apply to a good # of residencies. 👍 I think anesthesiology is 4 years, but I'm not positive on that one.

 

[misyel]

I want to be an anesthesiologist and am thinking about going the DO route because admissions are somewhat less competitive. I was wondering how hard it is for DOs to specialize and get good residencies. Are they looked down upon and preference given to MDs? Also, how many years does an anesthesiology residency last?

I don't know what the stats are for other schools, but I've seen NYCOM's match lists and a fair amount of NYCOM grads end up doing Anesthesiology. From what I've read, letters of recommendation, as well as board scores, are the most important thing. If you want to get into a competitive residency, it helps to network early, do your elective rotations in hospitals you are considering for your residency. If they like your work ethics and get along with you, they're likely to take you in.

 

[Khirurg]

Good residency is hard to get no matter where you graduate from. Now if you are talking about Anesthesiology, you have to be specific whether you want to get Gas as residency or you want to get a good gas residency. I am from NYCOM, graduating this year. We have 23 people going to Anesthesia this year, and places range from NUMC to Johns Hopkins. And anesthesia was getting very competitive this year. It is definitely possible, and if you're good student it is possible to obtain even the most competitive spots.

 

[Stump]

I second what the above posters say. Start early, get great LOR's, kick butt on the boards, and rotate through programs you would be interested in doing a residency at. As long as the aforementioned things are in order, you will have no problem matching into gas. It is true that anesthesia is getting more & more competitive. But traditionally it has been a very D.O. friendly specialty. If you're truly interested, you just have to go for it! And don't be afraid to apply to big name programs, there are plenty of D.O.'s that matched this year. Good luck!!!!!!!

 

[dblr516]

I saw that list too - NYU, Hopkins, Yale were just a few that caught my attention. Great job!

 

[vivek311r]

I went to match day at an allopathic med school in Virginia recently, and probably 90 percent of them were going into primary care fields (Medicine, Peds, OBGyn)...granted this school sort of promotes itself as a primary care oriented med school, its still an allopathic med school, and I didnt see a bit of difference between their stats and the stats at any other DO school.

My point: Most people do primary care, wherever you go (MD or DO) It doesn't make a difference, and it all ultimately depends on your USMLE scores.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I went to match day at an allopathic med school in Virginia recently, and probably 90 percent of them were going into primary care fields (Medicine, Peds, OBGyn)...granted this school sort of promotes itself as a primary care oriented med school, its still an allopathic med school, and I didnt see a bit of difference between their stats and the stats at any other DO school.

My point: Most people do primary care, wherever you go (MD or DO) It doesn't make a difference, and it all ultimately depends on your USMLE scores.

or COMLEX

 

[vtdo07]

I want to be an anesthesiologist and am thinking about going the DO route because admissions are somewhat less competitive. I was wondering how hard it is for DOs to specialize and get good residencies. Are they looked down upon and preference given to MDs? Also, how many years does an anesthesiology residency last?

Like all the above posters stated, if you do well in school, matching shouldn't be a problem from GAS. Any specialty you apply for be it DO or MD will be more and more competative based on the number of available slots. The only residencies that are difficult to match as a DO are the same residencies which are difficult to match as an MD. The simple truth of the matter is if you want it, the opportunity will be there for you to take it. Good Luck 👍

 

[FowlersGap]

I want to be an anesthesiologist and am thinking about going the DO route because admissions are somewhat less competitive. I was wondering how hard it is for DOs to specialize and get good residencies. Are they looked down upon and preference given to MDs? Also, how many years does an anesthesiology residency last?

check out some of the match lists that are posted

 

[vivek311r]

OSUdoc, I left out COMLEX b/c I'm guessing you cant just use it to apply to top residencies...as the dean at VCOM said: The hospitals want something to compare all the applicants as a standard...VCOM makes everyone take the USMLE...and I think they do that for a reason; to keep options open for match.

 

[box29]

OSUdoc, I left out COMLEX b/c I'm guessing you cant just use it to apply to top residencies...as the dean at VCOM said: The hospitals want something to compare all the applicants as a standard...VCOM makes everyone take the USMLE...and I think they do that for a reason; to keep options open for match.

Sad but true ( about some programs not looking at COMLEX)...


...although it may depend on what type of residency (primary care vs. specialty) and where (top tier university/academic vs. mid-tier...or big metro/urban area vs. small town/rural).

We were definitely told that taking the USMLE would definitely keep the options open...considering scores were competitive.

 

[dr.z]

I think anesthesiology is pretty DO friendly. I have seen several DOs who entered anesthesiology.