Impossible for DOs?

[QuestionsAndQuestions]

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Is it possible to become a pathologist as a DO? I've looked at match lists and it doesn't come up often. I also noticed that MD schools have a small amount too, if any (ex. ~2 in 200).

 

[Goro]

You haven't been very diligent. I have seen DO's on the match list in path for places like NYU, U Chicago and Stanford. Path is a very DO friendly specialty. A quick google search showed this:

Residents | Department of Pathology

That's THE NYU, whose IM residency refuses to take DOs.

Here's one more:
Yale Pathology Residency Training Program

 

[MADD!!!]

Not only is it possible, but it’s possible at the best residencies as well. It’s not really desired, hence the low match rate.

 

[Trollest]

Not only is it possible, but it’s possible at the best residencies as well. It’s not really desired, hence the low match rate.

Why is that? is it because of the salary? Would you say that they have a lower salary than FMs?

 

[Mad Jack]

Why is that? is it because of the salary? Would you say that they have a lower salary than FMs?

It's because the job market is horrifically bad

 

[treatem-and-streetem]

Why is that? is it because of the salary? Would you say that they have a lower salary than FMs?

Just look at the medscape compensation reports. They release one every year.

 

[Trollest]

It's because the job market is horrifically bad

So lot of residencies spots but not enough offers?

 

[Mad Jack]

So lot of residencies spots but not enough offers?

Lots of residency spots and no jobs for any but the best graduating residents. Read the path forums

 

[MADD!!!]

It's because the job market is horrifically bad

I had no clue. wow. I thought ppl just didn't like it in general.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

It’s not really desired, hence the low match rate.

Agreed, the only people I know who claim to want it are lying.

 

[Coltuna]

I've actually recently been interested in this as well; however, the most common things I've seen regarding the profession are:
1. The job market has been (for the past 10 years at least from what I've seen), is, and will be awful (relative to other physician specialties) mostly because pathologists just don't ever seem to retire. Seriously, numerous people have told me that they don't have a pathologist under 65 y/o in their lab lol.
2. You're not really marketable as a pathologist right out of residency-- Most places want to see 1-2 fellowships after residency.
3. Those pathologist I have spoken to (N=4) are very happy with their career choice however.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Is it possible to become a pathologist as a DO? I've looked at match lists and it doesn't come up often. I also noticed that MD schools have a small amount too, if any (ex. ~2 in 200).

That’s because no one wants to do it. It’s like psych in that it requires a certain personality but is different than psych in that in psych you’ll have a job after residency. Put those things together and you get few US grads that want to do it.

I had no clue. wow. I thought ppl just didn't like it in general.

Well there is that too, it definitely takes a unique personality.

 

[cliquesh]

I think around 50 DOs match pathology each year. I have a friend who is a D.O. pathologist. He went to a top 10 pathology residency. He said he didn't have much trouble finding a job, but did tell me that pathology residents need to do at least one fellowship to find employment. He works for a private practice. He works about 50 hrs a week and makes low to mid 200k, but has the potential to make 300k+ as partner in the future. Academic jobs, at least for new attendings, typical pay in the mid to upper 100k he said. Pathology might not have a great job market, but it's probably not as bad as SDN says it is. I think SDN exaggerates the job market situation for many fields. People on here say the anesthesia job market is bad, but from personal experience it seems fine.

If you are interested in diagnostic pathology (looking at biopsies and what not) you should take a look at diagnostic radiology. The job is similar (making diagnostic reports on the macro vs micro scale ), the job market is somewhat better, and the pay is about 100k higher.

By the way, there was an article in The NEJM not too long ago that speculated that pathology and radiology will be replaced by machines in the not too distant future. I don't know if it will happen in our lifetime, the authors thought so, but it's something to consider.

 

[__AVI8R__]

Lots of residency spots and no jobs for any but the best graduating residents. Read the path forums

Is there any particular reason that there are so many spots then? Or is the residency system just slow to respond to real market needs?

 

[Mad Jack]

Is there any particular reason that there are so many spots then? Or is the residency system just slow to respond to real market needs?

See the path forums- basically their academics and professional organization expanded spots for political and self-enrichment reasons, throwing new pathologists under the bus.

 

[darknecrosforte]

The way pathology has been makes it a good choice for only the most entrepreneurial/outgoing people - who also have moderate to high levels of business knowledge (preferably in mergers and acquisitions). You need to know how to actually run a lab and employ path assistants and do deals with hospitals and private groups. The days of the hyper-introverts being able to wallflower their way into 200-300K/year has been gone for decades. The high FMG/IMG rate, even at great programs should be enough to tell you that pathology is best for people who have eliminated all other options first.

Now if you came from a below-poverty-line background and don't mind missing 2 of these three employment elements: desired location, compensation, job/program satisfaction then go for it.

A bonus 4th element is the probably increased prevalence of freakin' weird people. Either weird FMG/IMGs, weird AMGs, or the cutthroat business-types. There's a joke out there:

"What's the difference between an introverted pathologist and an extroverted one?
The introvert looks at his feet when he talks to you and
the extrovert looks at YOUR feet when they talk to you".

*inb4 butthurt path ppl comments

 

[Rads312]

Nothing , minus maybe integrated plastic surgery and ophtho, is impossible, as a DO, or FMG for that matter.

Path is not competitive at all. I'm an integrated Interventional Radiology / Diagnostics resident. My roommate from med school matched MD ophtho ( highly competitive ).

 

[Oh_Gee]

Nothing , minus maybe integrated plastic surgery and ophtho, is impossible, as a DO, or FMG for that matter.

Path is not competitive at all. I'm an integrated Interventional Radiology / Diagnostics resident. My roommate from med school matched MD ophtho ( highly competitive ).

How hard is it for a DO to get an IR residency? step score and research?

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

How hard is it for a DO to get an IR residency? step score and research?

Very difficult. This year IR was the most competitive field in medicine based on a pure applicant’s/spots ratio. You have to be a good applicant if you want to apply to IR. I would wager only 5-10 (max). For comparison that’s about as many as have historically matched MD ortho on a yearly basis.

 

[Oh_Gee]

Very difficult. This year IR was the most competitive field in medicine based on a pure applicant’s/spots ratio. You have to be a good applicant if you want to apply to IR. I would wager only 5-10 (max). For comparison that’s about as many as have historically matched MD ortho on a yearly basis.

lol guess i can cross it off the list

 

[ciestar]

I’m at an MD school...but for our path lectures we have plenty of DO grads come in for things. But as far as match lists and residencies, not a single person from my school (~260 students) even applied for a pathology residency.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

I’m at an MD school...but for our path lectures we have plenty of DO grads come in for things. But as far as match lists and residencies, not a single person from my school (~260 students) even applied for a pathology residency.

One of the lists over on that MD list thread had 11 path matches... blew me away. That’s a ton of path.

 

[ciestar]

One of the lists over on that MD list thread had 11 path matches... blew me away. That’s a ton of path.

11?! That is a LOT

 

[ClinPathDO]

I just matched into a great pathology program (UTSW) as DO. I worked in a path lab for a couple years before medical school went to med school with the idea of becoming a pathologist, explored some different feild but ultimately pathology is what interested me the most. In terms of the job market from what I’ve gathered is if you are a good resident, trained well with a desirable fellowship or two you will find a job somewhere. Forensic pathology is in huge demand even though the pay isn’t great, and anyone who wants to become a medical examiner shouldn’t have to much trouble finding work.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

What ? Can you explain it in detail?

Explain what?

 

[FistLength]

How hard is it for a DO to get an IR residency? step score and research?

It is hard to do, you will need to be pretty solid in everything objectively and subjectively. If it is your passion go for it and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.