Is DO a life mission or a career options limitation?

[NJCU05]

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Guys,
Would the DO title impose great difficulty on the osteopathic medical graduate to pursue some certain residencies?

What are these certain residencies?

How could I overcome such an imposed difficulty to pursue my desired residency if it were one of these certain residencies?

Thanks greatly to any one who could contribute his or her thoughts

 

[matteaton81]

Those residencies (ortho, radiology, ENT, and others) are going to be competitive even if you are in an MD program. So it stands to reason that if you are a DO, they will be that much harder to obtain. I am going to try to score as high on the boards as I possibly can so I can give myself the best chance at getting one of those specialties.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Guys,
1. Would the DO title impose great difficulty on the osteopathic medical graduate to pursue some certain residencies?

2. What are these certain residencies?

3. How could I overcome such an imposed difficulty to pursue my desired residency if it were one of these certain residencies?

Thanks greatly to any one who could contribute his or her thoughts

1 & 2. Dermatology, Surgical subspecialties, and other competitive MD residencies

3. Apply to DO residencies in a non-competitive field and/or get good USMLE scores

 

[NJCU05]

1 & 2. Dermatology, Surgical subspecialties, and other competitive MD residencies

3. Apply to DO residencies in a non-competitive field and/or get good USMLE scores

OSUdoc08,
Do you advise me to take the USMLE (not required for DOs) in addition to the COMLEX to increase my admissions chance into a competitive residency?

Thanks for your input.

 

[OSUdoc08]

OSUdoc08,
Do you advise me to take the USMLE (not required for DOs) in addition to the COMLEX to increase my admissions chance into a competitive residency?

Thanks for your input.

ABSOLUTELY.

(Some ACGME residencies require it anyway, but it helps in those that don't as well.)

 

[DireWolf]

If you want to train at an allopathic program, some of those specialties are virtually impossible to obtain as DO. Of course there will be anecdotal stories like the guy who matched Derm at the CCF a couple years ago. But in the super competitive specialties, DOs will be shut out with maybe 1-2 exceptions.

I know that DO students like to rationalize this by saying these specialties are hard to obtain anyway regardless if you are a MD or DO. But in reality, the degree does place great limitations on what speicalites you can pursue (if you are hoping for an allopathic program).

Some students will try to say that the above is total BS, but they are either naive or in denial. Even in some of the low-moderate competitive specialties like PM&R, Anesthesia, EM there are many programs that will not interview and/or rank DOs. This is becoming the rule rather than the exception as some of these specialties become more popular (i.e. anesthesia).

If you are hell bent on training at an allopathic program then the MD degree is the way to go.

Some examples of specialties that would be all but impossible to obtain:
1. Derm
2. Rad Onc
3. Urology
4. ENT
5. Ophtho
6. Plastics
7. Ortho
8. Neurosurgery
9. Radiology

 

[OSUdoc08]

If you want to train at an allopathic program, some of those specialties are virtually impossible to obtain as DO. Of course there will be anecdotal stories like the guy who matched Derm at the CCF a couple years ago. But in the super competitive specialties, DOs will be shut out with maybe 1-2 exceptions.

I know that DO students like to rationalize this by saying these specialties are hard to obtain anyway regardless if you are a MD or DO. But in reality, the degree does place great limitations on what speicalites you can pursue (if you are hoping for an allopathic program).

Some students will try to say that the above is total BS, but they are either naive or in denial. Even in some of the low-moderate competitive specialties like PM&R, Anesthesia, EM there are many programs that will not interview and/or rank DOs. This is becoming the rule rather than the exception as some of these specialties become more popular (i.e. anesthesia).

If you are hell bent on training at an allopathic program then the MD degree is the way to go.

Some examples of specialties that would be all but impossible to obtain:
1. Derm
2. Rad Onc
3. Urology
4. ENT
5. Ophtho
6. Plastics
7. Ortho
8. Neurosurgery
9. Radiology

I'll agree with you on Derm & Gas, but there is no difficulty in getting an ACGME EM residency as a DO. Yes, some residencies may not interview, but a large majority will.

Still not clear on the appeal to becoming "Pimple Popper, MD" or "Pimple Popper, DO"

Jerry Seinfeld broke up with someone because they went into Derm.

I can't speak for the other specialties listed, but AOA residencies in almost all of those areas are affiliated with our school.

 

[thirdunity]

I'll agree with you on Derm & Gas, but there is no difficulty in getting an ACGME EM residency as a DO. Yes, some residencies may not interview, but a large majority will.

Still not clear on the appeal to becoming "Pimple Popper, MD" or "Pimple Popper, DO"

Jerry Seinfeld broke up with someone because they went into Derm.

I can't speak for the other specialties listed, but AOA residencies in almost all of those areas are affiliated with our school.

Hey there. Same considerations here. I am more likely to go the DO route and think I am most likely to go into EM or Path. Possibly FP or peds.
How is DO for general surgery?

 

[OSUdoc08]

Hey there. Same considerations here. I am more likely to go the DO route and think I am most likely to go into EM or Path. Possibly FP or peds.
How is DO for general surgery?

As a DO, you will handily get any primary care spot (EM, IM, FM, Peds).

I can't speak for Path, but general surgery will be more difficult.

The good news is there is abundance of spots in both AOA & ACGME.

 

[DireWolf]

I'll agree with you on Derm & Gas, but there is no difficulty in getting an ACGME EM residency as a DO. Yes, some residencies may not interview, but a large majority will.

Still not clear on the appeal to becoming "Pimple Popper, MD" or "Pimple Popper, DO"

Jerry Seinfeld broke up with someone because they went into Derm.

I can't speak for the other specialties listed, but AOA residencies in almost all of those areas are affiliated with our school.

I will agree that EM is still DO friendly but that trend will probably slowly discontinue if EM gets even more competitive. The perfect excample of this trend is anesthesiology - which is still considered DO friendly. The more competitive a specialty becomes, the more likely DOs are to be shut out.

And also there is one HUGE disctinction that many students fail to recognize. There is a big difference between getting invited for an interview and actually being ranked high enough to match.

There are plenty of allopathic anesthesia programs that will interview a few DOs but will not rank them high enough to match.

 

[DireWolf]

Hey there. Same considerations here. I am more likely to go the DO route and think I am most likely to go into EM or Path. Possibly FP or peds.
How is DO for general surgery?

Matching into an allopathic general surgery program is also extremely difficult. It probably deserves to be on the above list. If I remember correctly somewhere around 5 DO students match into allopathic general surgery each year.

 

[Sinnman]

Some students will try to say that the above is total BS, but they are either naive or in denial. Even in some of the low-moderate competitive specialties like PM&R, Anesthesia, EM there are many programs that will not interview and/or rank DOs. This is becoming the rule rather than the exception as some of these specialties become more popular (i.e. anesthesia).

You mean like this:

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/anesthesiology/Education/Match_result06.html

 

[QuantumMechanic]

You mean like this:

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/anesthesiology/Education/Match_result06.html

nationwide statisitcs would be more helpful than anecdotal evidence...

 

[OSUdoc08]

nationwide statisitcs would be more helpful than anecdotal evidence...

Who talks like this in real life?

 

[OSUdoc08]

You mean like this:

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/anesthesiology/Education/Match_result06.html

You tell 'em!

👍

 

[DireWolf]

You mean like this:

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/anesthesiology/Education/Match_result06.html

No. I meant more like the top anesthesia programs that didn't interview any DOs this year - MGH, UCSF, Emory, Stanford (they may have invited 1 or 2), Columbia, etc.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Who talks like this in real life?

I admit it, I'm pompous.

 

[DireWolf]

You tell 'em!

👍

yeah. let's listen to the guy who doesn't know firsthand about the how process works and scrounged up one of the exceptions 👍 🙄

(which JHU clearly is - its anesthesia program has and probably will always be DO friendly- no secret there)

 

[bones]

Guys,
Would the DO title impose great difficulty on the osteopathic medical graduate to pursue some certain residencies?

What are these certain residencies?

How could I overcome such an imposed difficulty to pursue my desired residency if it were one of these certain residencies?

Thanks greatly to any one who could contribute his or her thoughts

The only real restriction is you as an individual. Most of the people who say otherwise have not been through the process themselves (premeds or MS1/2). If you score very highly on COMLEX and interview well you can pretty much choose whatever residency you want (though not always where). There are DO's in many of the top programs in the country. If you plan on doing pain clinic anesthesia, orthopedics or PM/R at a top program DO degree may help you get noticed above the other 150 applicants, since your osteopathic skill really can set you apart.


If, however, you only went DO because you werent competetive enough to get into an MD school, it is much harder to get into some of the top allopathic residencies than it is to get into their medical schools. What makes you think you will fare better? Some of these programs require statistics at the undergrad equivalent of a 3.9gpa and a 40 MCAT score. Additionally, you should know someone who knows the program director personally- almost all the applicants who get accepted have connections like this. Do some out rotations. Also, it helps to have your name on several publications during your first 3 years of medical school. Many of the MD applicants have this. Get on it. These factors are FAR more important than whether you took the USMLE vs the COMLEX. You cant blame your degree for your own personal failures.



There is genuine anti- DO bias at a few backward podunk hospitals in states without DO schools. You may need to take the USMLE to get into one of these places, or they may even exclude you if you take the USMLE. Get over it. For every one like this there are 5 that wont treat your application any differently than the MD applicants and 1 that will prefer you over an MD because of your degree alone. Harvard, U of Wash, Cleveland Clinic and Mayo all openly welcome DO's to their most competetive programs, just to name a couple.

Also, there are several DO-only residencies in some of the most competitive specialties if you're numbers arent good enough for the best allopathic residencies in the country. There are something like 5 DO derm residents here in kirksville. There are several DO anesthesiology residents, several DO surgery residents. This is a very small town. You can get into DO derm or DO surgery residencies with even average numbers if you know the doc and have some charisma... a backdoor way into very high competition fields. I have heard many MD's complain about how unfair this is, and how its so much harder for them to get into competetive specialties than it is for DO's because of this.


The only real restriction with the DO degree is working internationally. This is only true for certain countries, and people are working on it, but it continues to be a challenge. There are many countries that welcome DO's however. If you arent too picky about where you go this isnt that big a deal.



when all is said and done though, ask yourself why you want to be a DO. If you dont have a answer you're happy with- go MD. If you do have a good answer- no restrictions will hinder you.

 

[OSUdoc08]

yeah. let's listen to the guy who doesn't know firsthand about the how process works and scrounged up one of the exceptions 👍 🙄

(which JHU clearly is - its anesthesia program has and probably will always be DO friendly- no secret there)

It's not like it's some community hospital in Idaho.

 

[beastmaster]

Even at the most prestigious hospitals, a changing of the tide is inevitable. If you look at the previous years at JHU, they took their first DO 3 years ago. Maybe they realized that neither the degree nor prestige of your school should be an overriding factor in selection, and just went with the best candidates. Who knows. But as someone else said on here, DOs need to bring their A-game if they want to compete for desired spots. Average stats probably won't cut muster.

 

[mcandy]

The only real restriction is you as an individual. Most of the people who say otherwise have not been through the process themselves (premeds or MS1/2). If you score very highly on COMLEX and interview well you can pretty much choose whatever residency you want (though not always where). There are DO's in many of the top programs in the country. If you plan on doing pain clinic anesthesia, orthopedics or PM/R at a top program DO degree may help you get noticed above the other 150 applicants, since your osteopathic skill really can set you apart.


If, however, you only went DO because you werent competetive enough to get into an MD school, it is much harder to get into some of the top allopathic residencies than it is to get into their medical schools. What makes you think you will fare better? Some of these programs require statistics at the undergrad equivalent of a 3.9gpa and a 40 MCAT score. Additionally, you should know someone who knows the program director personally- almost all the applicants who get accepted have connections like this. Do some out rotations. Also, it helps to have your name on several publications during your first 3 years of medical school. Many of the MD applicants have this. Get on it. These factors are FAR more important than whether you took the USMLE vs the COMLEX. You cant blame your degree for your own personal failures.



There is genuine anti- DO bias at a few backward podunk hospitals in states without DO schools. You may need to take the USMLE to get into one of these places, or they may even exclude you if you take the USMLE. Get over it. For every one like this there are 5 that wont treat your application any differently than the MD applicants and 1 that will prefer you over an MD because of your degree alone. Harvard, U of Wash, Cleveland Clinic and Mayo all openly welcome DO's to their most competetive programs, just to name a couple.

Also, there are several DO-only residencies in some of the most competitive specialties if you're numbers arent good enough for the best allopathic residencies in the country. There are something like 5 DO derm residents here in kirksville. There are several DO anesthesiology residents, several DO surgery residents. This is a very small town. You can get into DO derm or DO surgery residencies with even average numbers if you know the doc and have some charisma... a backdoor way into very high competition fields. I have heard many MD's complain about how unfair this is, and how its so much harder for them to get into competetive specialties than it is for DO's because of this.


The only real restriction with the DO degree is working internationally. This is only true for certain countries, and people are working on it, but it continues to be a challenge. There are many countries that welcome DO's however. If you arent too picky about where you go this isnt that big a deal.



when all is said and done though, ask yourself why you want to be a DO. If you dont have a answer you're happy with- go MD. If you do have a good answer- no restrictions will hinder you.

Amen Brother!

Ignore all previously vomitted ignorance, because you can do WHATEVER you want (as a DO) if you put your time in! Do not any heed advice from people that average 93.2 post per day on SDN.

PS- take the USMLE if allopathic residency is what you seek...it will give PDs a number that will demonstrate that you are as good as any MD student (provided you have PUT IN THE TIME). Is it neccessary...No! But why limit yourself.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Even at the most prestigious hospitals, a changing of the tide is inevitable. If you look at the previous years at JHU, they took their first DO 3 years ago. Maybe they realized that neither the degree nor prestige of your school should be an overriding factor in selection, and just went with the best candidates. Who knows. But as someone else said on here, DOs need to bring their A-game if they want to compete for desired spots. Average stats probably won't cut muster.

Yeah, I think this makes sense. As more DOs do allopathic residencies alongside MDs (and yes, at competitive places), and as more MDs work with DOs post-residency, there just has to be more acceptance, not less. It's interesting that everyone at SDN assumes a sky is falling mindset. I start to fall into it, but your'e right, it's not a logical, foregone conclusion that DOs will be more blocked in getting prestigious residencies than they have been in the past.

 

[beastmaster]

Yeah, I think this makes sense. As more DOs do allopathic residencies alongside MDs (and yes, at competitive places), and as more MDs work with DOs post-residency, there just has to be more acceptance, not less. It's interesting that everyone at SDN assumes a sky is falling mindset. I start to fall into it, but your'e right, it's not a logical, foregone conclusion that DOs will be more blocked in getting prestigious residencies than they have been in the past.

Which is why the reactionary alarmism about the possibility of a new school or two producing a few hundred extra DOs at least 5 years from now doesn't make any sense if you look at it without muddying the subject with every other complaint we have about the national osteopathic leadership. It's unfair to get all nostalgic about the good old days with 3 DOs practicing in an underground cellar and in the same breath complain about exposure and national competitiveness in an allopathic system without some small level of expansion.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

It's not like it's some community hospital in Idaho.

OSU, Its not a DO school either, if thats what you were insinuating

 

[Dr Alo]

Hey there. How is DO for general surgery?

I am a DO. I applied to tons of MD surgery programs. I got plenty of interviews. I had no difficulty getting interviews. After going on most interviews, I am confident that I would match at most of those programs. Most were really excited about me.

 

[DireWolf]

If you score very highly on COMLEX and interview well you can pretty much choose whatever residency you want (though not always where). There are DO's in many of the top programs in the country. If you plan on doing pain clinic anesthesia, orthopedics or PM/R at a top program DO degree may help you get noticed above the other 150 applicants, since your osteopathic skill really can set you apart.

This is 100% incorrect. It is this kind of false and misleading information that hinders ran than helps prospective DO students. You should be ashamed of yourself.

 

[DireWolf]

It's not like it's some community hospital in Idaho.

who said it was?

 

[DireWolf]

Amen Brother!

Ignore all previously vomitted ignorance, because you can do WHATEVER you want (as a DO) if you put your time in! Do not any heed advice from people that average 93.2 post per day on SDN.

PS- take the USMLE if allopathic residency is what you seek...it will give PDs a number that will demonstrate that you are as good as any MD student (provided you have PUT IN THE TIME). Is it neccessary...No! But why limit yourself.

and trusting misinformed people like yourself is dangerous at best.

 

[wertyjoe]

DireWolf

I usually agree with what you say on here but on this subject I feel that you are extremely biased. Will you please give a little info about yourself so everyone knows where you are coming from?

1. Allo or Osteo student or possibly pre-med?
2. if Allo will you be a FMG, IMG, or US grad?
3. What year are you?
4. Where are you from?

Any other background info to help explain to everyone your responses would be helpful. I'm trying to give you the benefit of doubt so please prove to us all that your trying to be helpful and not trolling.

Werty

 

[kahoo99]

I am a DO. I applied to tons of MD surgery programs. I got plenty of interviews. I had no difficulty getting interviews. After going on most interviews, I am confident that I would match at most of those programs. Most were really excited about me.

Did you take the USMLE?
and if so how did you do?

 

[Doctor Bagel]

DireWolf

I usually agree with what you say on here but on this subject I feel that you are extremely biased. Will you please give a little info about yourself so everyone knows where you are coming from?

1. Allo or Osteo student or possibly pre-med?
2. if Allo will you be a FMG, IMG, or US grad?
3. What year are you?
4. Where are you from?

Any other background info to help explain to everyone your responses would be helpful. I'm trying to give you the benefit of doubt so please prove to us all that your trying to be helpful and not trolling.

Werty

True, it'd be interesting to see where DireWolf is at in the process and why he has his opinions. I've got to admit the 4th year students currently applying for residencies have the most valid opinions. Premeds like me have the most worthless opinions, etc.

However, I know DireWolf is not a troll.

 

[Flankstripe]

True, it'd be interesting to see where DireWolf is at in the process and why he has his opinions. I've got to admit the 4th year students currently applying for residencies have the most valid opinions. Premeds like me have the most worthless opinions, etc.

However, I know DireWolf is not a troll.

I would agree with DireWolf. I'm a junior radiology resident at a strong university allopathic program. Interview season is something I went through fairly recently. At none of the high-end interviews I attended did I see any DO interviewees. There were also no DO residents in those programs.

As I got progressively to less desirable programs (community programs, bad locations, etc), I saw a handful of DO interviewees. On talking with them, many expressed frustration at having similar scores and grades as MD applicants, and getting proportionally fewer, or lower quality interview invites. One was very worried that he had insufficient interviews to be confident of matching. This is NOT an isolated phenomenon to radiology, but exists for other competitive specialties like Ortho, Rad Onc, ENT, Derm, etc.

All else being equal, an MD applicant with a 240 Step 1 score is going to get more interview invites than a DO applicant with a 240 Step 1 score. Period.

DO's in hypercompetitive specialties like Rad Onc almost uniformly got into Rad Onc before it became such a competitive specialty. Rad Onc was in the competitiveness doldrums like Anesthesiology and Radiology less than a decade ago.

There are a few DO's on SDN who have matched into an MD radiology program. Those individuals are to be commended, but I think even they will tell you that it was an uphill struggle which would have been significantly easier for a similarly-qualified MD applicant.

If you have the choice between DO and MD, and are even remotely unsure if you might one day be applying to a very competitive specialty, the MD will preserve your options far greater than the DO.

It's an old-school stereotype that's not necessarily fair, but it definitely exists and it WILL affect you when it comes to applying to tough residencies.

 

[Dr Alo]

Did you take the USMLE?
and if so how did you do?

I took both the USMLE and COMLEX Steps 1 and 2. Did not flatter anyone. Just normal grades. Nothing impressive by a longshot.

I think what really helped was my grades in my surgery rotations where I scored 93%. Further, one of my LOR said "Best surgery student ever!" from a person who has been receiving medical students for a very long time. All my other letters were equally good. None of them were from department chairs or bigshots.

There are a lot of surgery programs that will take DOs. Yes, surgery is more competitive now, but there are a lot of programs that residents hate going to (even though they have prestigious names) that are dying for applicants and are willing to take anyone that is not foreign.

Except for my LORs, I'd say I was a below average candidate. If you apply to enough places, you will get what you want. Even if it's not at a "brand name" desirable program, you will end up doing what you want.

But, yes, DireWolf is right. He and I talked about this last night for over an hour. If you want to go to the top name places for the most difficult to attain residencies.... it will be harder. I am not willing to say impossible, but close.

But if you want to do ortho or rad/onc.... you could always apply to DO residencies. In the end, you wll be an orthopod and make just as much money. My undergrad degree was in economics, teh study of decision making. Plus I also had careers in politics and own a few businesses. It's all about what you want.

At the end of the day everyone will know you as an orthopedic surgeon or gastroenterologist or cardiologist... not a doctor of osteopathy. And you will get paid market value for your chosen specialty, regardless of whether or not you trained at Harvard or BumbleFart State.

 

[kahoo99]

I took both the USMLE and COMLEX Steps 1 and 2. Did not flatter anyone. Just normal grades. Nothing impressive by a longshot.

I think what really helped was my grades in my surgery rotations where I scored 93%. Further, one of my LOR said "Best surgery student ever!" from a person who has been receiving medical students for a very long time. All my other letters were equally good. None of them were from department chairs or bigshots.

There are a lot of surgery programs that will take DOs. Yes, surgery is more competitive now, but there are a lot of programs that residents hate going to (even though they have prestigious names) that are dying for applicants and are willing to take anyone that is not foreign.

Except for my LORs, I'd say I was a below average candidate. If you apply to enough places, you will get what you want. Even if it's not at a "brand name" desirable program, you will end up doing what you want.

But, yes, DireWolf is right. He and I talked about this last night for over an hour. If you want to go to the top name places for the most difficult to attain residencies.... it will be harder. I am not willing to say impossible, but close.

But if you want to do ortho or rad/onc.... you could always apply to DO residencies. In the end, you wll be an orthopod and make just as much money. My undergrad degree was in economics, teh study of decision making. Plus I also had careers in politics and own a few businesses. It's all about what you want.

At the end of the day everyone will know you as an orthopedic surgeon or gastroenterologist or cardiologist... not a doctor of osteopathy. And you will get paid market value for your chosen specialty, regardless of whether or not you trained at Harvard or BumbleFart State.

thanks for the thoughtful reply

 

[bones]

But, yes, DireWolf is right. He and I talked about this last night for over an hour. If you want to go to the top name places for the most difficult to attain residencies.... it will be harder. I am not willing to say impossible, but close.

Interesting, by his combative, uninformed and unprofessional responses I had assumed he was a pre-med. Do you know him personally? Perhaps he didnt match at his first place choice of residency and is looking for something to blame?


I do agree it is somewhat harder at DO schools in that the personal connections at some of these facilities dont come as naturally. You need to do top-end out rotations at these facilities if you want these opportunities. If you dont have Harvard residency trained mentors who know the Harvard program director it may be more difficult for you to get into a most-competetive Harvard residency. I dont think this is because you are a DO student as much as that many of these institutions are in-bred, and to take an outsider they want to make sure the LOR's are coming from people they know and trust. They typically will not take students from 2nd or 3rd tier MD schools unless (again) they have a LOR from someone they know and trust.

Really though- class rank, COMLEX (or USMLE) rank, number and quality of publications, who you know, and how well you interview are far more important than whether you are an MD or DO student.

 

[DrBowtie]

But if you want to do ortho or rad/onc.... you could always apply to DO residencies.

There aren't any Rad/Onc DO residencies according to the AOA listing. But your point is definitely still valid.

 

[Dr Alo]

I do agree it is somewhat harder at DO schools in that the personal connections at some of these facilities dont come as naturally. You need to do top-end out rotations at these facilities if you want these opportunities. If you dont have Harvard residency trained mentors who know the Harvard program director it may be more difficult for you to get into a most-competetive Harvard residency.

Personally, I don't care if I get into residncy at Harvard or at Bumblefart. The things I rank more importantly are:
1. close to family (ie location, location, location)
2. do they have fellowships that I may be interested in?
3. quality of training, pay, perks, salaries, call schedules, time off, etc

In the end, you will end up being whatever type of physician you are and no one cares what school was your residency program affiliated with.

 

[bones]

oops double post

 

[bones]

Personally, I don't care if I get into residncy at Harvard or at Bumblefart. The things I rank more importantly are:
1. close to family (ie location, location, location)
2. do they have fellowships that I may be interested in?
3. quality of training, pay, perks, salaries, call schedules, time off, etc

In the end, you will end up being whatever type of physician you are and no one cares what school was your residency program affiliated with.

I agree whole-heartedly. Those factors are more important for me personally and many other people as well- I care more about my patient outcomes, my health and my happiness than my pedigree. For those for whom the name-brand of their residency is very important, however, many people from my school have gotten into their first choice of residency, even very competitive ones. I know exactly how they did it. I felt it appropriate to pass those tips along and paint a realistic picture of the post-grad opportunities for motivated DO students.

Some people think certain things are impossible, and for them they probably are. For the rest of you, there are many exciting opportunities as DO's.

 

[nrddct]

For those for whom the name-brand of their residency is very important, however, many people from my school have gotten into their first choice of residency, even very competitive ones. I know exactly how they did it.

Worked their a$$ off?

 

[wertyjoe]

The problem with the threads that turn into MD vs. DO is that people confuse a good residency with a prestigious residency. Not all prestigious residencies are good residencies and a good residency depends on personal preference.

I am 31 years old, had a few different careers prior to med school, and just want to practice medicine in a field I will enjoy. I could care less about prestige or prestigious programs and I believe this holds true for alot of my osteopathic classmates.

So, when people come on here saying that certain specialties are closed because of the degree after their name I just have to call "bull$hit". Certain places might be closed (Harvard, Yale, etc..) but, IMHO, specialties are not. If you have good grades, test scores, and lors, you will match somewhere in a specialty you like. It may not be Harvard but who really cares. You can still get into rads, opth, derm, ortho, or any other specialty if you work hard.

A good residency to me is:
1. a specialty where I can practice back home
2. close to home
3. a place where my family and I will enjoy
4. salary, benefits, and vacation

I just want to say by talking negatively about someones future degree/profession you are doing more harm than good. You may think you are being helpful but instead you are closing doors for someone else. Please close your own doors and not mine or my fellow classmates.

Stop the hatin
Werty

 

[bones]

Worked their a$$ off?

thats a small part of it yes... but if you dont know where to work you are wasting a lot of time... and i suspect the pessimists above probably studied hard, got good grades- and wondered why they didnt get interviews at ivy-league residencies and are blaming their DO degree. Connections, publications, leadership experience, and self-salesmenship skills are as important as grades and boards if not much more so for the top competitive allopathic residencies- as a DO or MD applicant. They throw out tons of people with great grades. Dont blame your degree 😛