OMS-1 DO Preparation for future OB/GYN Match

[hikerdr]

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I am currently a 1st year medical student at an Osteopathic school in the west. I say this to only to paint a better picture of myself, but I am male, currently in top 25% of class, and score fairly well on standardized tests, not that this is any indication of future competitiveness.
I know that as a lowly OMS-1, I have plenty of time to decipher my future. However, I am a chronic planner and like to set goals and plan in advance. Like the adage says "Thorough preparation makes its own luck."

Although I am early in my medical education, I have a very strong preference and desire to pursue OB/GYN. My questions to current and past OB/GYN residents are:
- What do I need to do, as a DO candidate, to be successful matching into OB/GYN?
- Is matching at an academic program significantly harder for DOs over MDs?
- Is there a baseline USMLE/COMLEX that should be obtained to be competitive? Community vs Academic?
- What would you have done in your first 2 years of medical school differently to increase competitiveness?
- What would you recommend I accomplish during these 2 years to increase odds of matching?
- For many AOA programs and DO schools, away rotations are a must. I have noticed however, that many MD students are advised not to pursue away rotations. Are away rotations viewed positively at ACGME academic programs? Would it increase the chances of a DO matching there?
- I haven't seen very many DO fellows in OB/GYN, is that simply self selection or do programs not take DO fellows as often?
- I personally have interests in the specialties of OB/GYN medicine and would like to not close those fellowship doors if I ultimately desire to pursue them. As such, I personally am more focused on academic programs. What are crucial things to do in order for a DO to match at an academic program?

I know it's a lot of questions, but hopefully we can get some good dialogue and it can provide info for a lot of future OB/GYN applicants. I ask these questions with an Osteopathic mindset, as I am aware of the increased roadblocks of DO OB/GYN ACGME matching. While I have read and studied the NRMP match data, deciphering between who matches and what constitutes a competitive application is grey at best.

Really any advise would be greatly appreciated! And a big thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to reply.

 

[gyngyn]

Don't call yourself an OMS-X. You're a medical student.

OMS is an acceptable way to designate the type of degree program in which OP is enrolled.

 

[gyngyn]

If one of your MD students told you they were "an allopathic student" would you think, "ah, ok." or would you give them a weird look?

I think we both know the answer to that.

If a distinction means something to the student, I'm fine with it.

 

[Dr G Oogle]

Although I am early in my medical education, I have a very strong preference and desire to pursue OB/GYN. My questions to current and past OB/GYN residents are:
- What do I need to do, as a DO candidate, to be successful matching into OB/GYN?

Have a good preclinical GPA and do well on usmle exam and Complex, not sure what mean score is for OBG but to not close any doors I’d say aim for north of 230

Some research will also be beneficial, doesn’t have to be ground breaking, an abstract would likely be sufficient

Get 1 LOR from non-OB surgical faculty (GS especially) that shows that you can handle yourself in OR, I always look favorably on such letters

- Is matching at an academic program significantly harder for DOs over MDs?

Maybe a little but not like it used to, especially if there are DO faculty in department and there are in many


- Is there a baseline USMLE/COMLEX that should be obtained to be competitive? Community vs Academic?

See above

- What would you have done in your first 2 years of medical school differently to increase competitiveness?

Personally nothing; but see above for what you can do

- What would you recommend I accomplish during these 2 years to increase odds of matching?

See above
- For many AOA programs and DO schools, away rotations are a must. I have noticed however, that many MD students are advised not to pursue away rotations. Are away rotations viewed positively at ACGME academic programs? Would it increase the chances of a DO matching there?

I see lots of People doing away AI in OB, I don’t think it’s necessarily a must like other fields unless you really want to go to a specific program, but it is certainly not frowned upon.

- I haven't seen very many DO fellows in OB/GYN, is that simply self selection or do programs not take DO fellows as often?

I am not sure about DO distribution in fellowship, but in urogyn we do not base applicant suitability by DO vs MD
- I personally have interests in the specialties of OB/GYN medicine and would like to not close those fellowship doors if I ultimately desire to pursue them. As such, I personally am more focused on academic programs. What are crucial things to do in order for a DO to match at an academic program?
See above

 

[gyngyn]

Three letters from gynecologists are preferred.
There are a few medical schools whose students are advised not to do at least one away rotation. They are told that no matter how good they are, they will never measure up to expectations. These are schools with a very high opinion of themselves. I could name them but I am too much a gentlemen...
There are many fine east coast and mid-west academic programs that routinely rank DO's.