Is Minnesota D.O. friendly?

[herbiederbie]

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Does anyone know if MN has good residency opportunities for D.O. grads? And do the hospitals in the area hire D.O.'s regularly? I'd like to end up back here in Minnesota even if I'm OOS for med school and want to know if D.O. will be a good option for me as I begin to apply to schools. The other reason I ask is because the 3 med schools here in the state are all MD programs.

Thanks!

 

[mspeedwagon]

Unfortunately, overall MN is NOT very DO friendly. The main reason being the fact that there are 3 med schools, which are all MD schools as you have mentioned. If you want to do primary care, it shouldn't matter much. MN does have resources for DOs: http://www.mndo.org/. There are a number of them in MN, but overall MN is not as DO friendly as say PA, AZ or KS.

 

[herbiederbie]

Unfortunately, overall MN is NOT very DO friendly. The main reason being the fact that there are 3 med schools, which are all MD schools as you have mentioned. If you want to do primary care, it shouldn't matter much. MN does have resources for DOs: http://www.mndo.org/. There are a number of them in MN, but overall MN is not as DO friendly as say PA, AZ or KS.

Thanks for the insight. Do you think it makes any difference if someone graduates from a DO program and then does an allopathic residency, even in another state, and THEN tries to get a job in Minnesota? Seems a rather long and convoluted route in order to get back to MN, but I wonder if the allopathic residency would be looked upon more favorably by potential employers. Thoughts on this?

 

[nlax30]

Unfortunately, overall MN is NOT very DO friendly. The main reason being the fact that there are 3 med schools, which are all MD schools as you have mentioned. If you want to do primary care, it shouldn't matter much. MN does have resources for DOs: http://www.mndo.org/. There are a number of them in MN, but overall MN is not as DO friendly as say PA, AZ or KS.

How so? Are you just saying that because of no DO schools there, or do you intimate knowledge of the job market there?

To the OP: Here's the page to search for DO residencies/internships Just did a quick search and looks like there are only 2 DO FP residencies in the state.

Ultimately, once you are a board certified physician, DO or MD, it won't matter. I'm sure there are some private groups out there who still have some bias against DO's for whatever reason, but I have yet to see/hear about this from any resident or attending I've worked with. So I'm not really sure how anyone can say a state is not DO "friendly", unless that is just referring to the fact that there are no DO schools and limited residencies.... certainly doesn't mean they don't hire DO's though.

 

[mspeedwagon]

Basing it on two factors: 1) the number of DOs in MN (do a google search) and look through the hospital rosters in MN (virtually no DOs are the major hospitals) and 2) number of DO residencies in the state (very few). The OP asked if MN was DO friendly, and these indicators show me that it is not. As per my link, there are definitely DOs in MN and there are definitely opportunities for them, but this does not mean the state is overly DO friendly.

How so? Are you just saying that because of no DO schools there, or do you intimate knowledge of the job market there?

 

[nlax30]

Basing it on two factors: 1) the number of DOs in MN (do a google search) and look through the hospital rosters in MN (virtually no DOs are the major hospitals) and 2) number of DO residencies in the state (very few). The OP asked if MN was DO friendly, and these indicators show me that it is not. As per my link, there are definitely DOs in MN and there are definitely opportunities for them, but this does not mean the state is overly DO friendly.

It only shows that there are not a lot of DO's in MN, says nothing about "friendliness" or differences in a DO's ability to find a job there compared to an MD.... of which I would seriously doubt there being any difference.

And those stats are not surprising, statistically you're more likely to stay and work within about 100 miles of where you completed residency. Not that surprising that there are not a lot of DO's there.

 

[mspeedwagon]

I think we might have different definitions of friendliness. To me a state is DO friendly if it attracts a lot of DOs to the state to practice, not necessarily one where there are a lot jobs for DOs. Your definition is clearly different (are there job differences for DOs vs MDs). So, as a whole based on number of DOs present, MN is not DO friendly. Based on the differences to actually find a job in MN it likely DO friendly. That said OP, you should really ask doctors at local hospitals in MN. This will give you some good insight on how they feel, especially if you can get in touch with a few people in higher positions that hire (much better than any here on sdn).

It only shows that there are not a lot of DO's in MN, says nothing about "friendliness" or differences in a DO's ability to find a job there compared to an MD.... of which I would seriously doubt there being any difference.

 

[nlax30]

So on that logic, Vermont would not be Hispanic friendly since it has the lowest hispanic population. IMHO,that statement really means nothing practically since it says nothing about whether or not is trying to "attract" more hispanics or if it has policies that actively discourage them to move there.

We do have different definitions and in this case with the OP's concern (about being able to eventually train and work in MN as a DO), equating friendliness with just the number of practicing DO's there means absolutely nothing.

As far as training goes, just depends on what field he wants to go into. If it's strictly a matter of him wanting to eventually go back to MN to work as an attending then it won't matter.

 

[mspeedwagon]

Well... it depends... racism is more prevalent in places where there aren't that many people of your race. For example, as an African, I have felt that people have exhibited much more racism toward me in places like Vermont than in say CA. The reason being, there aren't that many Africans in Vermont. It's almost as if they are stunned to see a person that's not white.

To a large extent, the treatment you get depends on how many people like you are present. Vermont is nowhere near as friendly to Hispanics (or African-Americans) as New York. Kansas is not as friendly to Asians as California is. I took an Asian friend to a few bars in Kansas, and was shocked by some of the comments made toward him. I was shocked by some of the comments made to me while in Kentucky.

So, it is always best to go where there are a lot of folks like you. There are not many DOs in MN. As such, imho, it's not DO friendly.

So on that logic, Vermont would not be Hispanic friendly since it has the lowest hispanic population. IMHO,that statement really means nothing practically since it says nothing about whether or not is trying to "attract" more hispanics or if it has policies that actively discourage them to move there.

We do have different definitions and in this case with the OP's concern (about being able to eventually train and work in MN as a DO), equating friendliness with just the number of practicing DO's there means absolutely nothing.

As far as training goes, just depends on what field he wants to go into. If it's strictly a matter of him wanting to eventually go back to MN to work as an attending then it won't matter.

 

[wholeheartedly]

I disagree with MN not being DO friendly. I live there. There are quite a number of DOs working at Mayo (residents on up), which would probably surprise a lot of people....

Plus if you're from here, that should probably work really well in your favor.

As for the rest of the state, I'd say look at the hospitals and see who their staff physicians are. If you're looking to do rural family med type work you'll probably do just fine.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I disagree with MN not being DO friendly. I live there. There are quite a number of DOs working at Mayo (residents on up), which would probably surprise a lot of people....

Plus if you're from here, that should probably work really well in your favor.

As for the rest of the state, I'd say look at the hospitals and see who their staff physicians are. If you're looking to do rural family med type work you'll probably do just fine.

I support this statement. I live there as well, not only do I have friends who are DOs, but I know they are doing residencies in the hospitals as well, because I see them... esp in the ER where I volunteer. So, if you'll be looking for a residency or job here, I feel you'll have just as good of a chance as anyone...

 

[herbiederbie]

Ok, so this is good news, because I was hoping to be able to apply more broadly to schools when the time comes. I was a little worried about DO's not being as accepted here in MN, because I had read some data that said something like only 0.7% of MN physicians are DO. I know that DOs make up about 5% of practicing physicians in this country, so I'm hoping the low percentage just means that not many DO's are applying here in the state as opposed there being any real hesitation on them being hired. I noticed the U of M hospitals don't have any DOs, though. I couldn't find any on their site, unless I accidently overlooked someone.

I agree that there's probably no issue if one is going into primary care. However, I am undecided at this point and want to give myself the best chance for getting a residency and job here if I decided to specialize.

Any other thoughts, particularly from those who are practicing here in MN or know physicians practicing in the larger hospitals here? I know Mayo has been mentioned. . .

 

[herbiederbie]

I have to take back my statement about not seeing any DOs at the U of M hospital. I was very happy to find a DO oncologist. I wonder what it's like, though, being the minority and surrounded by MDs?

 

[mspeedwagon]

There is one DO at Dana-Farber in Boston. I talked to her and she said she initially felt that people would question her (note: she has been there for a long time). However, she said it has never come up. She's introduced as an oncologist and is treated on par with any other oncologist.

I have to take back my statement about not seeing any DOs at the U of M hospital. I was very happy to find a DO oncologist. I wonder what it's like, though, being the minority and surrounded by MDs?

 

[herbiederbie]

Yay!! Good to hear!

There is one DO at Dana-Farber in Boston. I talked to her and she said she initially felt that people would question her (note: she has been there for a long time). However, she said it has never come up. She's introduced as an oncologist and is treated on par with any other oncologist.