How would the following specialties rank in terms of difficult for a DO to match into?

[FlatIsJustice]

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For allopathic residencies.

Diagnostic Radiology
Radiation Oncology
Neurology
PM&R
Psychiatry
EM

 

[SRC1987]

Rad Onc would be the hardest to match into as a DO because there are no osteopathic programs. That said, a couple do it every year. Usually helps when you have a unique story, get started on research early, and do well on auditions.

The other specialties all have osteopathic programs but as a DO you can also match into the allopathic programs. I'm no expert on those specialties so you should look at the NRMP matching data. My guess would be psych<pmr, neur,rads<EM<rad onc for easiest to most challenging. It also depends on not only the specialty but the prestige of the program.

 

[FlatIsJustice]

Rad Onc would be the hardest to match into as a DO because there are no osteopathic programs. That said, a couple do it every year. Usually helps when you have a unique story, get started on research early, and do well on auditions.

The other specialties all have osteopathic programs but as a DO you can also match into the allopathic programs. I'm no expert on those specialties so you should look at the NRMP matching data. My guess would be psych<pmr, neur,rads<EM<rad onc for easiest to most challenging. It also depends on not only the specialty but the prestige of the program.

Oh yeah I meant to say to an allopathic residency of said specialties.

I had no idea EM was harder than Rads

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

For allopathic residencies.

Diagnostic Radiology
Radiation Oncology
Neurology
PM&R
Psychiatry
EM

Rad Onc > Diag Rad > EM > Neuro > PM&R > Psych.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Rad Onc>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>rads>Em>neuro>Pmr> psych


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[IslandStyle808]

Just matching (Interviewed and ranked on PD 2014 survey %)

Rad Onc (45%) >>>> rads (64%) > em (77%) > neuro (80%) >psych (89%) > pm&r (97%)

Quality matching

Rad Onc >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> rads >>>>>>>>>>>> em = neuro > psych >>>>>>>> pm&r

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Just matching (Interviewed and ranked on PD 2014 survey %)

Rad Onc (45%) >>>> rads (64%) > em (77%) > neuro (80%) >psych (89%) > pm&r (97%)

Quality matching

Rad Onc >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> rads >>>>>>>>>>>> em = neuro > psych >>>>>>>> pm&r

What do you mean by quality matching? Because if you mean getting into a better program then shouldn't it just go backward? I've seen multiple DOs matching PM&R at Stanford but I have probably only seen 1 Rad Onc match in like the last 3 years.

 

[IslandStyle808]

What do you mean by quality matching? Because if you mean getting into a better program then shouldn't it just go backward? I've seen multiple DOs matching PM&R at Stanford but I have probably only seen 1 Rad Onc match in like the last 3 years.

Sorry turn it backwards (meant to say most difficult quality programs to match into are rad onc and easiest is pm&r, all top PM&R programs had DOs at one point or most have them currently in their roster).

And based on the PM&R forums, Stanford is not a top tier PM&R program.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Sorry turn it backwards (meant to say most difficult quality programs to match into are rad onc and easiest is pm&r, all top PM&R programs had DOs at one point or most have them currently in their roster).

And based on the PM&R forums, Stanford is not a top tier PM&R program.

Interesting. I should research the field more, perhaps after my rotation if I like it.

 

[IslandStyle808]

Interesting. I should research the field more, perhaps after my rotation if I like it.

I have an interest in it myself, and its looks pretty diverse. I am family friends with a PM&R doc, but she does mostly pain and injury outpatient. I wanted to look into traumatic brain injury or cancer rehabilitation, these two have caught my interest so far. We shall see.

You can look at the PM&R forums to get an idea of each program and what they do. I think my favorite so far from reading it was Spaulding/Harvard, since they have a ton of elective time in 4th year (so you can cater your training to what you want to do). Well, can't say for sure if I will pursue PM&R, so won't get too caught up in the detail of all the programs (just like reading about them none the less).

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

I have an interest in it myself, and its looks pretty diverse. I am family friends with a PM&R doc, but she does mostly pain and injury outpatient. I wanted to look into traumatic brain injury or cancer rehabilitation, these two have caught my interest so far. We shall see.

You can look at the PM&R forums to get an idea of each program and what they do. I think my favorite so far from reading it was Spaulding/Harvard, since they have a ton of elective time in 4th year (so you can cater your training to what you want to do). Well, can't say for sure if I will pursue PM&R, so won't get too caught up in the detail of all the programs (just like reading about them none the less).

If I were to do PM&R, it would be to go into Pain and be 100% pain. I like that PM&R and Pain both allow for work/life balance.

 

[IslandStyle808]

If I were to do PM&R, it would be to go into Pain and be 100% pain. I like that PM&R and Pain both allow for work/life balance.

Totally agree, plus you have much more autonomy because of pain and other elective procedures. So if I feel the hospital gig is too much, I will probably join a group or set up my own practice.

 

[studentdocftw]

Only one that may be out of reach is probably Rad Onc. Several people match allopathic diag rad from osteopathic schools...obviously it's tough, but its doable. Rad onc on the other hand, that's a long shot. The rest are fair game.

 

[OrdinaryDO]

PM&R is a field I would stay far away from, but this is just my opinion. The politics in this area are becoming unreal and the autonomy you guys speak of is being chipped away by every passing day. Also, the the epidemic of pain relief medications, we are seeing more and more addicts than we are seeing actual patients who need our help.

 

[PathoTurnUp1865]

PM&R is a field I would stay far away from, but this is just my opinion. The politics in this area are becoming unreal and the autonomy you guys speak of is being chipped away by every passing day. Also, the the epidemic of pain relief medications, we are seeing more and more addicts than we are seeing actual patients who need our help.

Evidence?

 

[OrdinaryDO]

Evidence?

It is only merely an opinion I have formed based on what is going on in the PM&R world right now. My opinion was based almost solely on the pain medication portion of this specialty and treating chronic pain, so I will focus my response more so on that. (Typing on an iPad, so I apologize beforehand for any mistakes with this dang autocorrect.)

Everyone in the healthcare sector of society is probably aware of the epidemic that has become much more prevalent in the passing years. The epidemic of drug addiction, more specifically..opioid pain killers. Most people would agree that this is a very real issue that needs to be halted as soon as possible, but to do so without affecting those individuals who truly need the medication to functional normally in everyday society is a very tough task to complete.

Right now, anything and everything related to opioids is being scrutinized and placed under a microscope for interrogation. I am not saying I am for or against this, but anytime you have the government involved in something that affects your everyday life you can almost bet it will cause some kind of trouble or setback in your daily re outlines. Not too long ago Tramadol and Hydrocodone were rescheduled to Schedule II narcotics. Also, the DEA and the CDC have been on the verge of making major changes in how pain medications are prescribed and when it it appropriate to use them.

I don't think America is ready for the major divorce that is trying to happen between chronic pain relief and opioid pain relief. The NIH has said that based on their assessment "healthcare providers in the United States are poorly prepared for managing pain, and many hold stigmas against their own patients seeking relief. Some physicians 'fire' patients for increasing their dose or merely voicing concerns about their pain management."(time.com/3663907/treating-pain-opioids-painkillers/). Another article from Science Daily states, "Millions of Americans with significant or chronic pain associated with their medical problems are being under-treated as physicians increasingly fail to provide comprehensive pain treatment -- either due to inadequate training, or personal biases or fear of prescription drug abuse.

Like I mentioned before, I am not for or against anything I wrote about in this post I just wanted to post some supporting evidence and context to go along with it to kind of validate my opinion on the matter. PM&R is a VERY broad and diverse specialty that has many facets in the works when you are rehabilitating a patients. Drug intervention for pain relief is just one of those methods used to treat chronic pain, but in America is has gained prominence with each passing day and that will cause major problems in the years to come. PM&R is a promising field with many technological and educational advancements coming along, but if I had to guess I would say there will be a major political explosion focused around narcotic pain management before too long.