OB/Gyn Residencies

[#stressedout]

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Hello,
I'm really interested in OB, but have a failed COMLEX Level 1 and mediocre grades. Got an average score on my retake but hoping to do well on Level 2. Does anyone have any suggestions for OB/Gyn residencies?! I'm honestly willing to go anywhere, so it's been hard for me to narrow down/research.

If anyone has a list of more DO friendly OB/Gyn residencies, or less competitive locations please let me know!

 

[BorntobeDO?]

My disclaimer: FM-> OB fellowship. I don't see a realistic alternative.

However, if you want to try OB you need to look at Michagan, Ohio, Penn, Kansas, Arkansas, Lousiana, Mississippi, Olklahoma etc. Flyover is your friend, coasts are bad. You need auditions, I would shoot for 4 and even then I don't think it will be enough for you to match OB straight up, but its your best shot. If you could somehow take and do well on step 1 that would be a big help, but a comlex only DO with a failure is just not competative at all.

My advice is to find a FM program you really like that has an OB emphasis. You need to have a FM app in addition to your OB app. You need to get those letters this year. Trust me, FM match is much better than no match and scramble. Plus it has a fellowship that you would be interested in.

 

[#stressedout]

Thanks for the advice! I'm definitely applying FM as well, but just wanted some direction when it came to OB. Will for sure look into the areas you mentioned.

 

[DO2015CA]

My disclaimer: FM-> OB fellowship. I don't see a realistic alternative.

However, if you want to try OB you need to look at Michagan, Ohio, Penn, Kansas, Arkansas, Lousiana, Mississippi, Olklahoma etc. Flyover is your friend, coasts are bad. You need auditions, I would shoot for 4 and even then I don't think it will be enough for you to match OB straight up, but its your best shot. If you could somehow take and do well on step 1 that would be a big help, but a comlex only DO with a failure is just not competative at all.

My advice is to find a FM program you really like that has an OB emphasis. You need to have a FM app in addition to your OB app. You need to get those letters this year. Trust me, FM match is much better than no match and scramble. Plus it has a fellowship that you would be interested in.

I honestly don’t know much about OB other than it’s gotten a bit competitive for DOs in recent years. But idk if step 1 would really do all that much for them. My thought process is they’re most likely DOA at any acgme place even with a good step 1. Sure they don’t care about the level 1 score but they will be alarmed you failed it. I think the specialty is competitive enough that they will have enough other applicants. And old AOA programs won’t care to see the step 1 since they are comfortable with level 1.

I could be way wrong because I was never interested in OB, but I think the best chance is to go all in on previous AOA. Apply to every single program. Audition at 4-6. Show big improvement on level 2 and let the cards fall. Definitely have the FM application as backup.

 

[Spectreman]

My current preceptor is an FM doc who does OB. We are less than an hour from 2 major cities. It’s a sweet gig.

 

[Sardonix]

Google "The List"

It's a list of OB intensive FM residencies.

 

[AMEHigh]

I was you about 5 years ago. Failed comlex, wanted OB. I did get about 9 interviews all at acgme programs, but ultimately failed to match. I didn’t apply to fm as back up as I just wanted to go all in for OB.

I’m now doing family and I’m super happy. I mostly wanted to do gyn stuff anyway so it’s worked out really well for me. Right now I’m at a FQHC in a super large city doing FULL spectrum family med (colpo, endometrial biopsy, all LARCs, prenatal care including ultrasound, miscarriage management with MVA, etc). There are several FM doctors that do deliveries here, but I have no interest in doing that.

So my advice is to just apply widely for obgyn if that’s really what you want, but have fm for a back up. If you don’t match obgyn I promise it’s not the end of the world and you will be able to make your career what you want.

 

[#stressedout]

I was you about 5 years ago. Failed comlex, wanted OB. I did get about 9 interviews all at acgme programs, but ultimately failed to match. I didn’t apply to fm as back up as I just wanted to go all in for OB.

I’m now doing family and I’m super happy. I mostly wanted to do gyn stuff anyway so it’s worked out really well for me. Right now I’m at a FQHC in a super large city doing FULL spectrum family med (colpo, endometrial biopsy, all LARCs, prenatal care including ultrasound, miscarriage management with MVA, etc). There are several FM doctors that do deliveries here, but I have no interest in doing that.

So my advice is to just apply widely for obgyn if that’s really what you want, but have fm for a back up. If you don’t match obgyn I promise it’s not the end of the world and you will be able to make your career what you want.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[austintr]

As the above poster mentioned, if you can see yourself being happy providing a broader range of services, you can be happy in FM. You can make your interests known on a practice website and market accordingly and probably get a large base for gyn patients; even moreso if you practice in a less-than-saturated area when it comes to OB/Gyns. My current attending has done just that and it seems like gyn is the only place we DON'T refer (except those that need gyn surgery, of course).