Orthopedic Hand Specialists as DO

[DOwnage]

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I've heard many people say on SDN how there are a lot of good options for orthopedic surgery residencies as DO's. From many match lists I've seen, DO's tend to go to osteopathic ortho residencies instead of allo ones; this is understandable because its a very competitive field and it would be unwise to opt of the AOA match and participate in only the ACGME match for ortho. After looking at the osteopathic opportunities website, I haven't seen a fellowship in the area of hand orthopedic surgery, however...

My question is: is it at all more difficult for a DO in an osteopathic ortho residency vs a DO/MD in an allopathic ortho residency to land a position in a hand surgery fellowship?

 

[TeamZissou]

Wow no responses thus far....

I will tell you what I know (which is little but hey at least it's something).

My understanding is that once you are in residency it's a whole new ball game for fellowships. What that ball game is I dunno, but you can bet that it is different from just looking at scores because there are DOs in various specialties that land some really prestigious fellowships. So along those lines I would bet that there is no rule on how to go about obtaining a hand fellowship. I know for a fact you can get there through gen surg and ortho and I believe even ENT (but don't quote me on that one).

But to get to your point I think it would probably depend on where the fellowship was located. Because honestly these surgeons who are in these cities with each other usually know each other. Meaning the PD for a hand fellowship in detroit is probably more familiar with the other detroit hospitals/residencies than he is with say a ortho program in Florida.

Kinda sucks that this isn't something that can be measured quantitatively so it can't be approached like obtaining a grade in a class.

So for these reasons I will say that it would probably be easier to obtain an ACGME hand fellowship coming from an ACGME residency. HOWEVER I will tell you that I can also say without a doubt that it can be turned around i.e. it would probably be easier to obtain a hand fellowship if you are an ortho resident that is in the same city or even the same hospital, regardless of if it's ACGME/AOA. Face time is everything.

And there is one AOA Hand Surgery fellowship. It's at Grandview and it's listed as Hand Surgery under residency on the AOA opportunities page.

http://opportunities.osteopathic.org/search/search_details.cfm?program_id=169699&hosp_id=118996

 

[luti84]

Check out this link:

http://www.assh.org/Professionals/Education/ResidentsandFellows/Pages/Openings.aspx

The hard part is getting the ortho residency. The most competitive fellowships will certainly fill, but in almost all ortho subspecialties, there are unfilled slots post-match. However, I do believe shoulder and elbow had more applicants than spots this year, so it filled entirely (it's a relatively new field and there are not many spots).

 

[judasreznor]

So is getting an Ortho residency through the Osteopathic match just as difficult trying to get one in the Allopathic match?

 

[TeamZissou]

So is getting an Ortho residency through the Osteopathic match just as difficult trying to get one in the Allopathic match?

Yup it's extremely competitive for both matches. People always argue one vs the other but to get a spot in either you have to excel in all areas. This is why all the med students and residents get agitated when every premed and their turtle starts harping on the smallest details, bc seriously probably 1% of premeds will actually go into it.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Ortho is competitive for MD's & DO's. Thus it will put DOs at a greater disadvantage.

For fellowships, programs prefer to take their own residents. This can hurt AOA residents if their program doesn't have said fellowship. Many other things are taken into account including the name/quality of program the resident came from. AOA programs usually don't have a big name. I'm being relatively picky though.

It'll be more difficult to land an ortho spot than a fellowship spot in my opinion.

 

[The Poet Sings]

Yup it's extremely competitive for both matches. People always argue one vs the other but to get a spot in either you have to excel in all areas. This is why all the med students and residents get agitated when every premed and their turtle starts harping on the smallest details, bc seriously probably 1% of premeds will actually go into it.

i lol'd. i have a turtle 😀

 

[TeamZissou]

i lol'd. i have a turtle 😀

I just wanted to use something besides the usual dog😉

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

Im at the DO ortho residency in Toledo. One of our chiefs from last year is currently doing is hand fellowship with Stern in Cincinnati. This is arguably one of the best fellowships for hand in the country. He was the first DO and certainly not the last as I know a few of us are considering hand. One of our current chiefs will be doing his hand fellowship in Louisville...again, one of the the better, if not best fellowships.

MD fellowships are wide open. Another of our chiefs will be doing joints at New England Baptist. One of the top three, he was also offered a fellowship at Cleveland CF. MD residencies don't seem to care about where you did your residency. Its all in the OITE score.

 

[whyrms]

Yup it's extremely competitive for both matches. People always argue one vs the other but to get a spot in either you have to excel in all areas. This is why all the med students and residents get agitated when every premed and their turtle starts harping on the smallest details, bc seriously probably 1% of premeds will actually go into it.

"I like turtles"

 

[radiodoc99]

I've heard many people say on SDN how there are a lot of good options for orthopedic surgery residencies as DO's. From many match lists I've seen, DO's tend to go to osteopathic ortho residencies instead of allo ones; this is understandable because its a very competitive field and it would be unwise to opt of the AOA match and participate in only the ACGME match for ortho. After looking at the osteopathic opportunities website, I haven't seen a fellowship in the area of hand orthopedic surgery, however...

My question is: is it at all more difficult for a DO in an osteopathic ortho residency vs a DO/MD in an allopathic ortho residency to land a position in a hand surgery fellowship?

See this:
http://www.newjerseyhandcenter.com/nhc-ames.htm

 

[WADO]

See this:
http://www.newjerseyhandcenter.com/nhc-ames.htm

James Woods?!?

 

[IslandStyle808]

Mods we got