I don't get it!

[USArmyDoc]

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I am really interested in going the Osteopathic route but I was reading on a post that its very hard for a DO to get into cardiology, a field I am interested in. It almost seems like getting a residency other than FP or IM is very hard for an osteopathic physician. Yet, when talking to practicing physicians they tell me its not that much harder as a DO. I get so many mixed messages. While I do like the DO philosophy and the OMM, why bother going through all that work to not get into something I want?

 

[jennkhoho]

I am really interested in going the Osteopathic route but I was reading on a post that its very hard for a DO to get into cardiology, a field I am interested in. It almost seems like getting a residency other than FP or IM is very hard for an osteopathic physician. Yet, when talking to practicing physicians they tell me its not that much harder as a DO. I get so many mixed messages. While I do like the DO philosophy and the OMM, why bother going through all that work to not get into something I want?

oops

 

[USArmyDoc]

It is possible to be a D.O. and a cardiologist but I did hear that it is harder. I will tell you that at the hospital I work at, there are plenty of D.O.'s that have specialized (gastro, ob/gyn, gen surg, etc.) but there is not one cardiologist that is a D.O. Not that that means anything....

The hospital I work at has a bunch of DO cardiologists. I don't know though. I'll have to research it.

 

[Raven Feather]

The hospital I work at has a bunch of DO cardiologists. I don't know though. I'll have to research it.

I know a DO who is a cardiologist--think it all depends on board scores.

 

[Shinken]

I am really interested in going the Osteopathic route but I was reading on a post that its very hard for a DO to get into cardiology, a field I am interested in. It almost seems like getting a residency other than FP or IM is very hard for an osteopathic physician. Yet, when talking to practicing physicians they tell me its not that much harder as a DO. I get so many mixed messages. While I do like the DO philosophy and the OMM, why bother going through all that work to not get into something I want?

I think you answered your own question: "I was reading on a post..."

Trust me, the world of SDN and the real world are two very different things.

 

[-Goose-]

the world of SDN and the real world are two very different things.

thank god for all of us that this is true!

otherwise, none of us w/o 38 MCATs, 4.0s, and some Cancer-curing research would never be docs.

 

[ShyRem]

In my little bitty town there are two cardiologist DOs... and both have been practicing for a while and got their residencies when the DO/MD infighting was pretty harsh. Both have said it was more difficult for them to follow their course, however both have also said things are much (MUCH) better in regards to DOs in allopathic residency programs now than when they were doing residencies.

 

[USArmyDoc]

I think you answered your own question: "I was reading on a post..."

Trust me, the world of SDN and the real world are two very different things.

I think thats a very good point. Sometimes I think the people who post here do not have much of a clue what actually goes on. I speak with MD's and DO's alike and I get the same answer. You can get any specialty you want as a DO. Granted, its harder in some than others but its still very possible. For example, I met a DO neurosurgeon the other day who practices with all MD's. Reading these posts get discouraging sometimes. 😡

 

[OSUdoc08]

I am really interested in going the Osteopathic route but I was reading on a post that its very hard for a DO to get into cardiology, a field I am interested in. It almost seems like getting a residency other than FP or IM is very hard for an osteopathic physician. Yet, when talking to practicing physicians they tell me its not that much harder as a DO. I get so many mixed messages. While I do like the DO philosophy and the OMM, why bother going through all that work to not get into something I want?

It depends on the school you go to. If your school has affiliated cardiology fellowships, then you have a much easier "in" than at a school that has no residencies whatsoever.

With this being said, a good performance in an audition rotation combined with good board scores can get you in anywhere.

By the way, you don't know that you will eventually do cardiology. Don't base your school decision on your specialty.

Base it on where you are going to get the best education and enjoy medical school the most.

 

[USArmyDoc]

It depends on the school you go to. If your school has affiliated cardiology fellowships, then you have a much easier "in" than at a school that has no residencies whatsoever.

With this being said, a good performance in an audition rotation combined with good board scores can get you in anywhere.

By the way, you don't know that you will eventually do cardiology. Don't base your school decision on your specialty.

Base it on where you are going to get the best education and enjoy medical school the most.

OSUdoc, I was just using cardiology as an example to be honest. I am looking to specialize in something. That will be determined yet, but I don't want to be held back because of stupid crap like that. Honestly, I am going to take everything with a grain of salt that is said on these boards. I don't think people know as much about residency placements as they claim. Just my opinion.

 

[OSUdoc08]

OSUdoc, I was just using cardiology as an example to be honest. I am looking to specialize in something. That will be determined yet, but I don't want to be held back because of stupid crap like that. Honestly, I am going to take everything with a grain of salt that is said on these boards. I don't think people know as much about residency placements as they claim. Just my opinion.

Well being that you posted on a pre-osteopathic board, most of your responses will come from naiive premedical students anyway, so I agree.

 

[jennkhoho]

Well being that you posted on a pre-osteopathic board, most of your responses will come from naiive premedical students anyway, so I agree.

OSUdoc, please don't confuse naiive with stating the facts. i simply stated that at the hospital i work at, there are no cardiologists that are D.O.'s and i even stated that "not that that means anything..."

doc, take things with a grain of salt but then don't post questions you really want answers to.

thanks

 

[OSUdoc08]

OSUdoc, please don't confuse naiive with stating the facts. i simply stated that at the hospital i work at, there are no cardiologists that are D.O.'s and i even stated that "not that that means anything..."

doc, take things with a grain of salt but then don't post questions you really want answers to.

thanks

At your hospital? Not really relevant unless you have a cardiology fellowship which has never accepted a DO. Do you?

 

[jennkhoho]

At your hospital? Not really relevant unless you have a cardiology fellowship which has never accepted a DO. Do you?

i should correct my reply and say that we have no practicing cardiologists that are D.O.'s. better? ay, yi, yi...

 

[OSUdoc08]

i should correct my reply and say that we have no practicing cardiologists that are D.O.'s. better? ay, yi, yi...

Still, what pertinence does this have to the competitiveness of cardiology? The DO's could have decided to practice in more rural areas for all you know.

 

[USArmyDoc]

doc, take things with a grain of salt but then don't post questions you really want answers to.

thanks

I hope you arn't offended, but I was just saying that some people do not know what they are really talking about when it comes to residency placements. I was not talking to you when I said that. I was simply stating how I felt. Sorry

 

[jennkhoho]

I hope you arn't offended, but I was just saying that some people do not know what they are really talking about when it comes to residency placements. I was not talking to you when I said that. I was simply stating how I felt. Sorry

I was starting to think me coming to this website was a bad idea 😉 Haha. No but seriously, what OSUdoc said is true... i don't know about residency placement because, like you, i am still just trying to get in. i will take off my reply because according to OSUdoc, it isn't pertinent. i tell ya... ya can't win for losin'. i didn't mean to sound negative about you practicing as a cardiologist as a DO. hope you don't think so... 😉

 

[Raven Feather]

ArmyDoc,

I work at a small hospital and there are DOs that are nephrologists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, pathologists, Emergency Medicine, Family Practice, and Internal Medicine that I have seen. To me, that is a good sign being that the city in which I live isn't that big either <40,000 people.

You just kick arse in school and especially on boards and you should be fine!

 

[USArmyDoc]

ArmyDoc,

I work at a small hospital and there are DOs that are nephrologists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, pathologists, Emergency Medicine, Family Practice, and Internal Medicine that I have seen. To me, that is a good sign being that the city in which I live isn't that big either <40,000 people.

You just kick arse in school and especially on boards and you should be fine!

Nice to hear. Maybe some of you will find this information pertinent. I talked to the Chief of Cardiology at the hospital I work at and he said as long as you have good board scores, along with other aspects of an application, you will get a cardiology residency. He has plenty of DO cardiologist and he claims he doesn't care, MD or DO. Just some food for thought. Most likely the place I'll do my residency at (I know, I know I am getting ahead of myself 😀).

 

[Raven Feather]

Nice to hear. Maybe some of you will find this information pertinent. I talked to the Chief of Cardiology at the hospital I work at and he said as long as you have good board scores, along with other aspects of an application, you will get a cardiology residency. He has plenty of DO cardiologist and he claims he doesn't care, MD or DO. Just some food for thought. Most likely the place I'll do my residency at (I know, I know I am getting ahead of myself 😀).

See! That is awesome! Didn't you just get accepted into KCUMB? I think it is a reputable school for its students specializing--like 50% or something?

 

[jmv10]

I know a DO who is a cheif cardiology resident. He graduated from PCOM.

 

[crys20]

Everyone has anecdotes about DOs being chief cardio guys, neuro guys etc. This is because it does happen and it could easily happen to you...If you kicked ass in school, particularly on the boards. So yeah obviously it can and does happen.

I am pro-DO as much as anyone, but one of the factors that makes me this way is the fact that I feel decently sure I'll do primary care SOMETHING. What specifically I don't know, but something. If I felt equally sure on the flip side, that I wanted to do something tertiary and really competitive I would think longer and harder about picking DO over MD. I would. Because lets be honest, in some ways it IS another hurdle and it does make things maybe a little harder going this route and then landing the top notch residency and fellowship spots in the allopathic world. OF course you can counter point that with "yeah but its hard for MDs to get thsoe spots too"...You can go back and forth all you want.

 

[USArmyDoc]

Everyone has anecdotes about DOs being chief cardio guys, neuro guys etc. This is because it does happen and it could easily happen to you...If you kicked ass in school, particularly on the boards. So yeah obviously it can and does happen.

I am pro-DO as much as anyone, but one of the factors that makes me this way is the fact that I feel decently sure I'll do primary care SOMETHING. What specifically I don't know, but something. If I felt equally sure on the flip side, that I wanted to do something tertiary and really competitive I would think longer and harder about picking DO over MD. I would. Because lets be honest, in some ways it IS another hurdle and it does make things maybe a little harder going this route and then landing the top notch residency and fellowship spots in the allopathic world. OF course you can counter point that with "yeah but its hard for MDs to get thsoe spots too"...You can go back and forth all you want.

Excellent point crys!

 

[Shinken]

Everyone has anecdotes about DOs being chief cardio guys, neuro guys etc. This is because it does happen and it could easily happen to you...If you kicked ass in school, particularly on the boards. So yeah obviously it can and does happen.

I am pro-DO as much as anyone, but one of the factors that makes me this way is the fact that I feel decently sure I'll do primary care SOMETHING. What specifically I don't know, but something. If I felt equally sure on the flip side, that I wanted to do something tertiary and really competitive I would think longer and harder about picking DO over MD. I would. Because lets be honest, in some ways it IS another hurdle and it does make things maybe a little harder going this route and then landing the top notch residency and fellowship spots in the allopathic world. OF course you can counter point that with "yeah but its hard for MDs to get thsoe spots too"...You can go back and forth all you want.

What kills me, though, is the guy that has no extracurriculars or ambition, low GPA, sucky MCAT, and he says "Well, I'm going to the Caribbean to get my MD because I don't want the DO degree holding me back."

 

[USArmyDoc]

What kills me, though, is the guy that has no extracurriculars or ambition, low GPA, sucky MCAT, and he says "Well, I'm going to the Caribbean to get my MD because I don't want the DO degree holding me back."

Yea, thats unbelievable. I think it catches up to them in the end. I don't think the DO stigma is as bad as people think.

 

[djnels01]

Yea, thats unbelievable. I think it catches up to them in the end. I don't think the DO stigma is as bad as people think.

It ISN'T! Why!? Because it's mostly self imposed by us! A lot of pre-DO's seem to have this inferiority complex, like we have to constantly be on the defensive from the onslaught of fabricated "beefs" that the world has with DO's.

If people have a legitimate problem with DO's, let them talk, who cares!? You don't have to agree with it but it certainly doesn't do much good getting all worked up about whatever is said. Let your actions as a med-student/physician answer people's doubts, don't add fuel to the fire by throwing tantrums exclaiming how awesome DO's are - we already know that, and those who are willing only to take uneducated shots at O.M. and not to learn more about it aren't worth any time at all IMO.

Sorry, but it really seems like there's a lot of bitching going on in these threads lately! What's happened to civil discourse?

 

[JohnDO]

I'm of the opinion that, by and large, where you end up as a DO is your choice. If you want to do cardiology, then do cardiology. Your degree is not holding you back. If you're a good DO student, you'll get where you want to be. If you're a good MD student, you'll get where you want to be. Attitude and performance are way more important than what letters trail your name. The exams and boards don't care what letters you're working towards.

 

[USArmyDoc]

It ISN'T! Why!? Because it's mostly self imposed by us! A lot of pre-DO's seem to have this inferiority complex, like we have to constantly be on the defensive from the onslaught of fabricated "beefs" that the world has with DO's.

If people have a legitimate problem with DO's, let them talk, who cares!? You don't have to agree with it but it certainly doesn't do much good getting all worked up about whatever is said. Let your actions as a med-student/physician answer people's doubts, don't add fuel to the fire by throwing tantrums exclaiming how awesome DO's are - we already know that, and those who are willing only to take uneducated shots at O.M. and not to learn more about it aren't worth any time at all IMO.

Sorry, but it really seems like there's a lot of bitching going on in these threads lately! What's happened to civil discourse?

Excellent post. However, I think its a valid question to make sure you are going into what is best for you. Afterall, you are going to be spending lots of money!!

 

[MDNICU]

I am new to the site and my areas of interest are Ob/Gyn, reproductive endocrinology, Infertility. I have been exploring the site and came across the DO site. My cousin PCP that delivered her baby was a DO. But I was wondering is that common, what area do most DO go into?

 

[OSUdoc08]

I am new to the site and my areas of interest are Ob/Gyn, reproductive endocrinology, Infertility. I have been exploring the site and came across the DO site. My cousin PCP that delivered her baby was a DO. But I was wondering is that common, what area do most DO go into?

Most go into:

Family Practice
Internal Medicine
Pediatrics
Emergency Medicine
OB/GYN

Some go into:

All specialties & subspecialties

 

[Doctor Bagel]

my dad's cardiologist is a d.o., so it's possible. my dad lives in oklahoma, and you probably see more d.o. cardiologists in places like oklahoma or michigan (ie places with osteopathic schools).

 

[clc8503]

I am really interested in going the Osteopathic route but I was reading on a post that its very hard for a DO to get into cardiology, a field I am interested in. It almost seems like getting a residency other than FP or IM is very hard for an osteopathic physician. Yet, when talking to practicing physicians they tell me its not that much harder as a DO. I get so many mixed messages. While I do like the DO philosophy and the OMM, why bother going through all that work to not get into something I want?

I can't believe no one has posted this website. I have provided for you an AOA website that will inform you on all the Cardiology spots offered exclusively to DOs. There aren't that many of them, but there are a few, and if you graduate closer to the top part of your class and do a solid IM residency, I believe they are acheivable. I would not take an Allopathic cardiology resideny position to the bank, becasue they are even competative for MDs to match and therefore show parciality to their counterparts. Here's the website. Play around on it and enjoy.

http://opportunities.aoa-net.org/search/search.cfm

 

[clc8503]

153268 Sun Coast Hospital Cardiology Largo FL
142041 Mercy Heart Ctr/Mercy Center-North IA Cardiology Mason City IA
126347 St James Hospital and Health Centers Cardiology Olympia Fields IL
131396 Botsford General Hospital Cardiology Farmington Hills MI
128402 Garden City Hospital Cardiology Garden City MI
126074 Ingham Regional Medical Center Cardiology Lansing MI
152627 Mount Clemens General Hospital Cardiology Mount Clemens MI
130758 Pontiac Osteopathic Hosp Med Center (POH) Cardiology Pontiac MI
152952 Oakwood Southshore Medical Center Cardiology Trenton MI
127481 Deborah Heart & Lung Center Cardiology Browns Mills NJ
126283 UMDNJ/SOM/Kennedy Mem Hsp/Our Lady of Lourdes Cardiology Stratford NJ
162642 Grandview Hosp & Medical Ctr Cardiology Dayton OH
162770 UHHS Richmond Heights Hospital Cardiology Richmond Heights OH
152951 Tulsa Regional Medical Center Cardiology Tulsa OK
148162 UNTHSCFW/TCOM/Plaza Medical Center Cardiology Fort Worth TX


As you can see there are 15 AOA Cardiology programs.