Matching ophthalmology as a DO.. How hard / impossible is it?

[mydogiscool]

What does it take? Based off the data presented here,
( https://www.sfmatch.org/PDFFilesDisplay/Ophthalmology_Residency_Stats_2017.pdf )

DOs did worse last year than the year before. Not even sure where to check for the stats. I've always wanted to be an ophthalmologist and have worked as a scribe for over a year prior to medical school. But I always doubted my ability to score well on exams (MCAT haunted me) and never expected to be in position to even ask this question. I just received my Step 1 score and its right in the mean of the matched applicants... but I'm afraid that only applies for MDs.

So what does it take?

As of right now, I have 2 non-optho related publications (Both in basic science research, with 1 in Nature (but like near last author, but really cool project nonetheless). Also have 3 non-optho related poster presentations.

I don't think I have any real connections to any ophthalmologists here, especially since its a DO school. The previous ophthalmologist I scribed for has been working in private practice for a long time and not sure she has any connections.

I can try emailing the local 2 medical schools to see if i can do something, but wanted to know if I even had a shot being a DO student with just average board scores.

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[DrRedstone]

I think the main problem with DOs matching into ophtho (from a student's perspective, please take with a grain of salt) is that we often do not apply for competitive specialties with the same stats as our MD peers. Make sure you get in more research experiences, do well on your Step 2 and get great letters of rec.

Also, check out this years match data

 

[ocularis]

Interesting discussion. I don't want to say DO is not a factor, but I agree with DrRedstone - taking the DO component out of the game, the DO's I have seen go unmatched were just not as high of quality applicants when compared to the general application pool, and the ones who did match deserved the spot. Score high, interview well, do research, create relationships, rock at your away rotations -- that's the expectation for everyone in the game.

 

[EyeApply]

Away rotations in Ophtho hardly show your ability. It basically is an audition for the attendings and residents to see if they can stand being around you for a couple of years. Best things a DO (or MD) can do is to kill the boards, get meaningful research, and letters from important Ophthalmologists. Only do an away if you are likable.

 

[sab3156]

I don't think I have any real connections to any ophthalmologists here, especially since its a DO school. The previous ophthalmologist I scribed for has been working in private practice for a long time and not sure she has any connections.

I can try emailing the local 2 medical schools to see if i can do something, but wanted to know if I even had a shot being a DO student with just average board scores.

I can relay to you the information told to me first-hand in unfiltered discussions about this topic with many ophthalmologists that I worked with (including PDs and big name faculty) at several academic programs - the only reliable way for a DO to match is to either network into a program or use influential connections to get in. That is assuming that the application is good enough for these connections and networking methods to have impact (great research and great scores). It is tough otherwise. They also said that the vast majority of ACGME ophthalmology programs likely will not interview DOs no matter how the application looks like. The historical data show that osteopathic applicants do quite poorly in the ophthalmology match.

The general advice seems to be that you should get good research accomplished with influential people who can tilt the tide in your favor at some programs during the application cycle.