Ophtho vs. Ortho

[hsyed]

Hi everyone,

-I just wanted to know if anyone in ophtho (matched, resident or beyond) was ever conflicted between deciding between ophtho or orthopaedics? If so, what factors eventually helped you decide ophtho over ortho. I am interested in all such factors, especially things about the field themselves (treatments, surgeries, therapies, diseases, etc.). You can't believe how valuable this info will be for a MS3 like me.

-For those of you who matched for 2004, I heard it was very competitive this year.....what was the average Step I score and how important is it to be AOA?

-Is there a website where ophtho statistics are listed, particularly like the exact program listings (location, # of residents per class, etc.) as well Step I scores, etc.?

Thanks a million!

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[hsyed]

180+ views and no replies? Please tell me someone has an opinion on the matter.

 

[scrub monkey]

i'm just a 3rd year so i don't have 1st hand experience.
but it seems like a good number of folks do debate between ortho and ophtho.

one friend of mine narrowed his choices down to ophtho and ortho. he ended up choosing ortho because he wanted to be able to do a wider range of surgeries, with more body parts. for him, ophtho seemed much more limited in terms of just dealing with the eyes.

both are tough fields to get into.
ortho definitely seems more surgical, with big, construction like surgeries. ophtho is so much more delicate, and seems a bit more medical.

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Originally posted by hsyed
Hi everyone,

-I just wanted to know if anyone in ophtho (matched, resident or beyond) was ever conflicted between deciding between ophtho or orthopaedics? If so, what factors eventually helped you decide ophtho over ortho. I am interested in all such factors, especially things about the field themselves (treatments, surgeries, therapies, diseases, etc.). You can't believe how valuable this info will be for a MS3 like me.

-For those of you who matched for 2004, I heard it was very competitive this year.....what was the average Step I score and how important is it to be AOA?

-Is there a website where ophtho statistics are listed, particularly like the exact program listings (location, # of residents per class, etc.) as well Step I scores, etc.?

Thanks a million!

This is quoted from a previous post:

Originally posted by eyehope
2003 stats:
avg USMLE matched: 228
avg USMLE unmatched: 208
percent matched AOA: 22%
Offered: 438
Filled: 434
Overall match: 67%
US senior match: 82%
US grads match: 43%
IMG grads match: 26%

www.sfmatch.org posted stats like the ones above previously; but, the site has now removed this information.

I never really considered ortho; however, I know that I like my free time and time with my family so ortho is not the best career path for me. There's plenty of procedures for the eye, but most procedures are very delicate and require a microscope. If you enjoy working under a microscope, then you'll have no problems. If you do oculoplastics, then you can do TONS of reconstructive surgeries to the face after burns, trauma, ocular/orbital tumors, and for cosmetics.

They are very different fields. I suggest you take electives in both to help you decide.