Matching (especially derm) as DO

[mlalt22]

So I'm an OMS-I and already know I am very interested in dermatology (I worked in it for about a year and had a natural knack for it). I know derm is hard to match into as it is, but I am assuming it's much worse for DO students to go right into derm, not IM then derm fellowship.

My DO school is graded also, not pass fail, so I don't know how that will affect my chances of matching (I'm passing everything). Just feeling a bit lost and defeated in my first year and trying to not have imposter syndrome or regrets for going DO route compared to MD.

Any words of advice or uplifting statements would be appreciated!

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[VaultArmitage]

Derm is going to be quite the uphill battle. Looking at the match data, it looks like the match rate is <50% for DOs and only a handful of applicants apply each year. Taking into account that the average DO student applying to derm is already the top of their class, this means you'll need to try to be one of the top DO applicants in the country. You'll need to take Step 1, crush Step 2, have lots of research, and have killer letters. If derm is worth going through all that and then only having a 50/50 chance of matching, then go for it. But as a first-year student, there are SO MANY specialties you haven't experienced yet. There's nothing wrong with trying to build a competitive app while keeping your options open, you may be surprised the specialty you fall in love with.

Basically, DO as a derm is really, really difficult. It's not impossible, but you're going to have to be the perfect candidate for programs to take a chance on you. But of course, no one here can tell you if you'll match or not. That's 100% up to you.

 

[Ho0v-man]

Focus on crushing classes now. Work on getting connections in derm and be actively engaged in derm research by the time next semester starts. You need to consider if you’re willing to take a research year to pursue this coin flip.

You need to reach out to alumni who have matched derm to ask what they did to match. They might be able to point you to people local to your school to work with.

It absolutely CAN be done. But you’ve gotta hustle like nobodies business. I don’t think I could’ve done it.

 

[gyngyn]

Last year 71 DO applicants to Derm residencies received at least one interview and gave consent to have their data used. 34 matched into a Derm residency. The mean # of abstracts/publications for successful DO's was 15.4.

For comparison, 440 MD's applied Derm and gave consent. 314 matched Derm. The mean number of abstracts/publications for successful MD's was 27.7.

It is not an easy path for either degree. Everyone considering this specialty needs to have identified an additional specialty that they would pursue if the door to Derm closes.

Charting Outcomes™: Characteristics of Applicants Who Match to Their Preferred Specialty

These biennial reports highlight how applicant qualifications affect success in the Main Residency Match® defined as matching to preferred specialty. Ten to twelve measures are examined in these…

www.nrmp.org

 

[Doctoscope]

There is no derm fellowship out of IM. I think you can work on some skin stuff through FM, but if you want to do derm there isn't really a backdoor into it other than matching derm.

 

[Goro]

For starters, be at the top of your class.

 

[MrBigglesworth]

You have to do well in your class. You can do it but you have to work really, really hard. The fact that you are in medical school shows you can do it. Your Grade = Quality of studying x Hours spent studying. You have to increase both. It has to be a full-time commitment and you will have to make sacrifices to do it. I was the last person accepted into my medical school (one week before classes started, off the waitlist for two years in a row) and I made it a mission to prove everyone wrong and make straight As and do well on my steps. I can show you how. Msg me if you want me to mentor you.