osteopathic residencies

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moorecameron

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Hey, so I know this is a dumb question but I've been searching for a bit and can't find an answer, I would be thankful if some one could clarify the situation for me. If you complete an AOA residency, does that limit you to just Osteopathic hospitals afterwards or can you get jobs at any hospital? Thank you!
 
moorecameron said:
Hey, so I know this is a dumb question but I've been searching for a bit and can't find an answer, I would be thankful if some one could clarify the situation for me. If you complete an AOA residency, does that limit you to just Osteopathic hospitals afterwards or can you get jobs at any hospital? Thank you!
Click to expand...

Obviously that's not the case because there are AOA-trained DOs all over the place. There are not many osteopathic hospitals anymore anyway.
 
moorecameron said:
Hey, so I know this is a dumb question but I've been searching for a bit and can't find an answer, I would be thankful if some one could clarify the situation for me. If you complete an AOA residency, does that limit you to just Osteopathic hospitals afterwards or can you get jobs at any hospital? Thank you!
Click to expand...

DOs are fully licensed physicians and can work wherever they choose.
 
If I were to complete my medical school training in the midwest, and wanted to live on the east coast afterwards such as NY, would it be harder for me as a DO physician? What about if I did internal med ?
 
SMC123 said:
If I were to complete my medical school training in the midwest, and wanted to live on the east coast afterwards such as NY, would it be harder for me as a DO physician? What about if I did internal med ?
Click to expand...

no. and no.
 
SMC123 said:
If I were to complete my medical school training in the midwest, and wanted to live on the east coast afterwards such as NY, would it be harder for me as a DO physician? What about if I did internal med ?
Click to expand...

You'd be fine. Look into the term "Hospital Privileges" as it may clarify your current understanding of the hospital-private practice physician relationship. Anyway, there are several ways a doctor may be associated with a particular hospital.
 
Last edited:
SMC123 said:
If I were to complete my medical school training in the midwest, and wanted to live on the east coast afterwards such as NY, would it be harder for me as a DO physician? What about if I did internal med ?
Click to expand...
No, and no. Your job opportunities will most likely be the exact same as an ACGME residency, except you will probably have a harder time getting into academia or research, if that's what you want to do.
 
SMC123 said:
If I were to complete my medical school training in the midwest, and wanted to live on the east coast afterwards such as NY, would it be harder for me as a DO physician? What about if I did internal med ?
Click to expand...

A quick search you will yield a plethora of debates and opinions regarding AOA vs ACGME programs. Read up!

You will find plenty of DOs on the east coast especially in and around the greater NY metropolitan area. Purely anecdotal, but the ED I worked in was about 50/50 MD/DO. Most of the DO attendings graduated from an AOA EM residency (a few graduated from St. Barnabus in the Bronx). I ran into DOs in just about every department in the hospital (especially internal medicine and peds, no surprise there), however I do not remember any DO surgeons.

The general public in that area seems to have had more exposure to DOs over the years, so a good percentage of folks are aware of the profession. Most tend to go with whomever has a good reputation with his patients. As for myself, I didn't know my pediatrician was a DO until years after my last appointment with him; when I mentioned osteopathic medical school to my mom at some point, she said "oh your childhood doctor was a DO." I would've never known. Although he was a Kirksville grad from back in the late 60s, there wasn't a second of OMM in his office, as far as I remember are least. Anyways, tangent complete.
 
SoulinNeed said:
No, and no. Your job opportunities will most likely be the exact same as an ACGME residency, except you will probably have a harder time getting into academia or research, if that's what you want to do.
Click to expand...

You're forgetting that AOA programs also conduct extensive research and have academic posts available...
 
donkeykong1 said:
You're forgetting that AOA programs also conduct extensive research and have academic posts available...
Click to expand...
That's true, but just not to the same extent as most MD programs. I'm not saying doing an AOA program will lock you out of academia, but in general, relative to MD programs, doing an AOA residency will place you at a disadvantage when it comes to academia or research. However, if you just want to practice in that specific fields, then your job opportunities will be fine.
 
In other words, what you guys are saying is, I would be able to freely go to the east or west coast rather than settle in the midwest (MI), without any problems? Or would it be way more competitive since NYC is NYC, not a rural city or anything.
 
SMC123 said:
In other words, what you guys are saying is, I would be able to freely go to the east or west coast rather than settle in the midwest (MI), without any problems? Or would it be way more competitive since NYC is NYC, not a rural city or anything.
Click to expand...

You can go anywhere but of course a city like NYC will be more competitive being that is a saturated market. There will be challenges establishing yourself in such a market regardless of your training, not to mention physician incomes are often lower while COL is higher. There are always the suburbs though...

I cannot comment on the west coast, but again, I have heard that southern Cali is also a tough place to break into.

If you really want to end up living and working in a particular area why not try for a residency there? That aside, the consensus is that one should train in a program that is a good fit and will provide proper training to become the physician you wish to be, regardless of location. Plus, I don't think anyone would argue with the fact that better training and connections will only help your cause. Personally, I'm nowhere close to residency, but I know I'll be gunning for an ACGME residency to help keep more doors open along this long journey.
 
SMC123 said:
In other words, what you guys are saying is, I would be able to freely go to the east or west coast rather than settle in the midwest (MI), without any problems? Or would it be way more competitive since NYC is NYC, not a rural city or anything.
Click to expand...
You'll be fine, but it's usually tougher in major markets simply because there are already a large number of docs there. However, as far as MD/DO discrepancies, there are few or none.
 
You won't have a harder time as a DO, but if you or your school don't have connections with the east coast it will be hard for you to "break into" residencies there.
 
MedPR said:
You won't have a harder time as a DO, but if you or your school don't have connections with the east coast it will be hard for you to "break into" residencies there.
Click to expand...

Away rotations.

And quite possibly previous grads who matched in years past (but I guess that's on the connection tip).

Plus there are your scores, your clinical grades, LORs, etc. Plenty of folks match in places geographically distant without strong school or personal ties.
 
What if I did my residency in Michigan but then wanted to move to Connecticut? Would I have to do my residency again? Would I have a lower chance of being able to move?
 
Dharma said:
Away rotations.

And quite possibly previous grads who matched in years past (but I guess that's on the connection tip).

Plus there are your scores, your clinical grades, LORs, etc. Plenty of folks match in places geographically distant without strong school or personal ties.
Click to expand...

Yes I agree, but I'm just saying what MS4s who successfully matched said about it. My girlfriend will be an MS3 next month and I've gone with her to quite a few interest group meetings hosted by matched MS4s.

Just like medical schools, a lot of residency programs have a geographic bias presumably because they want to train doctors who are going to stay and practice in the area. If you have no ties to or connections to that particular program or area, it is reasonable for people to think you have no reason to practice there. As far as scores, grades, and ECs go, chances are someone from the region is going to have a better application than you.

I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's certainly more difficult for someone who is from California and completed medical school in California to match in New York compared to someone from New York who attended a NY medical school.
 
SMC123 said:
What if I did my residency in Michigan but then wanted to move to Connecticut? Would I have to do my residency again? Would I have a lower chance of being able to move?
Click to expand...

You wouldn't have to do residency again. Compared to someone from Connecticut with the same stats as you, you would have a lower chance. Doesn't mean you can't do it though.
 
MedPR said:
Yes I agree, but I'm just saying what MS4s who successfully matched said about it. My girlfriend will be an MS3 next month and I've gone with her to quite a few interest group meetings hosted by matched MS4s.

Just like medical schools, a lot of residency programs have a geographic bias presumably because they want to train doctors who are going to stay and practice in the area. If you have no ties to or connections to that particular program or area, it is reasonable for people to think you have no reason to practice there. As far as scores, grades, and ECs go, chances are someone from the region is going to have a better application than you.

I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's certainly more difficult for someone who is from California and completed medical school in California to match in New York compared to someone from New York who attended a NY medical school.
Click to expand...

Definitely agree with ya there. Ties to an area will help an applicant. I've heard a few PDs mention this as well.
 
I don't know why I was with the stigma that DOs can practice everywhere, but their choices are limited compared to MDs on the east and west coast. The place where DOs would prosper is Michigan, (60% of DO residencies) and Oaklahoma.
 
unless you guys have been referring to taking the usmle as a DO student and applying to MD residencies.. because I was always under the impression that DO residencies were limited mostly to Michigan and a couple other states.. and in order to do a residency there (DO residency that is) and then move to the east coast would be hard?

I am only planning on taking the COMLEX exam...
 
SMC123 said:
unless you guys have been referring to taking the usmle as a DO student and applying to MD residencies.. because I was always under the impression that DO residencies were limited mostly to Michigan and a couple other states.. and in order to do a residency there (DO residency that is) and then move to the east coast would be hard?

I am only planning on taking the COMLEX exam...
Click to expand...


194485
MWU/AZCOM/Verde Valley Med Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Cottonwood
AZ​

170059
MWU/AZCOM/Sierra Vista Regional Health Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Sierra Vista
AZ​

162608
WesternU/COMP/Arrowhead Regional Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
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Colton
CA​

136658
WesternU/COMP/Pacific Hospital Long Beach - Internal Medicine Residency
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Long Beach
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332786
RVUCOM/Sky Ridge Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
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Lone Tree
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197026
Parkview Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
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Pueblo
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163798
UNECOM/Univ of Connecticut HC - Internal Medicine Residency
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Farmington
CT​

325093
LECOM/Manatee Memorial Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
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Brandenton
FL​

170062
NSUCOM/N Broward Hospital District - Internal Medicine Residency
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Ft Lauderdale
FL​

176321
NSUCOM/Palmetto General Hosp - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Hialeah
FL​

182490
NSUCOM/Largo Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Largo
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126253
NSUCOM/Mount Sinai Med Center - Internal Medicine Residency
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Miami Beach
FL​

189071
LECOM/Sacred Heart Health System - Internal Medicine Residency
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Pensacola
FL​

328813
NSUCOM/Larkin Community Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
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South Miami
FL​

132368
Northside Hosp & Heart Inst - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
St Petersburg
FL​

158909
Columbia Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
West Palm Beach
FL​

183217
Wellington Regional Med Ctr - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
West Palm Beach
FL​

163797
MWU/CCOM Swedish Covenant Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Chicago
IL​

187719
MWU/CCOM/Riverside Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Kankakee
IL​

126357
St James Hosp & Health Centers - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Olympia Fields
IL​

170060
MWU/CCOM/Advocate Lutheran General Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Park Ridge
IL​

126336
UNECOM/Berkshire Med Ctr - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Pittsfield
MA​

326175
DMC Osteo Division/Sinai Grace Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Detroit
MI​

329087
DMC Osteo Division/Huron Valley Hosp - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Detroit
MI​

131403
Botsford General Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Farmington Hills
MI​

128406
Garden City Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Garden City
MI​

128270
Genesys Regional Med Ctr-Health Park - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Grand Blanc
MI​

162637
MSUCOM/Western Michigan University School of Med - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Kalamazoo
MI​

126075
McLaren-Greater Lansing - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Lansing
MI​

163796
EW Sparrow Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Lansing
MI​

130104
McLaren-Macomb - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Mount Clemens
MI​

130766
McLaren-Oakland - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Pontiac
MI​

183207
MSUCOM/Lakeland Regional Med Ctr - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
St. Joseph
MI​

195887
Oakwood Healthcare System Osteo Div - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Trenton
MI​

182001
St John Providence Health System-Osteo Div - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Warren
MI​

195294
Henry Ford Macomb Hospitals MEP - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Warren
MI​

158966
Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Wyandotte
MI​

128512
Metro Health Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Wyoming
MI​

130294
Freeman Health System - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Joplin
MO​

132352
Northeast Regional Med Ctr - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Kirksville
MO​

130230
Des Peres Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Saint Louis
MO​

176274
Magnolia Regional Health Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Corinth
MS​

325089
EVVCOM/Blue Ridge Healthcare - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Morganton
NC​

196158
AtlantiCare Regional MC - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Atlantic City
NJ​

189602
NYCOM/Trinitas Regional MC - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Elizabeth
NJ​

196159
Jersey City Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Jersey City
NJ​

133222
UNECOM/St Michael's Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Newark
NJ​

152954
NYCOM/Newark Beth Israel MC/St. Barnabas HS - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Newark
NJ​

339612
Palisades Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
North Bergen
NJ​

126297
UMDNJ/SOM/Kennedy University Hosp/Our Lady of Lourdes - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Stratford
NJ​

162638
UMDNJ-SOM/AHS Overlook MC - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Summit
NJ​

328822
UMDNJ/SOM/South Jersey Healthcare - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Vineland
NJ​

162639
TUCOM/Valley Hospital Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Las Vegas
NV​

126098
St Barnabas Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Bronx
NY​

194843
NYCOM/Coney Island Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Brooklyn
NY​

136609
NYCOM/Sisters of Charity Hosp - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Buffalo
NY​

136610
NYCOM/Nassau University Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
East Meadow
NY​

173192
Wilson Memorial Reg Med Ctr - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Johnson City
NY​

183220
NYCOM/Southampton Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Southampton
NY​

158937
UNECOM/Samaritan Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Watertown
NY​

126129
OUCOM/Doctors Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Columbus
OH​

126184
Summa Western Reserve Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Cuyahoga Falls
OH​

126151
OUCOM/Grandview Hosp & Med Ctr - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Dayton
OH​

330011
OUCOM/Fairfield Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Lancaster
OH​

139090
University Hospitals Richmond Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Richmond Heights
OH​

163029
Firelands Regional Medical Center Main Campus - Internal Medicine Residenc
Internal Medicine
Sandusky
OH​

126204
St Joseph Health Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Warren
OH​

126193
South Pointe Hosp - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Warrensville Heights
OH​
 
138521
OUCOM/St John Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Westlake
OH​

332781
OSUCOM/Tahlequah Medical Group - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Tahlequah
OK​

130305
Oklahoma State University Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Tulsa
OK​

182502
WesternU/COMP/Good Samaritan Reg Med Ctr - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Corvallis
OR​

164257
PCOM/Abington Memorial Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Abington
PA​

126043
PCOM/St. Luke's University Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Bethlehem
PA​

170061
Crozer-Chester Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Chester
PA​

136653
PCOM/Geisinger Health System - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Danville
PA​

173193
Mercy Catholic Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Darby
PA​

128191
Millcreek Community Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Erie
PA​

130994
UPMC Horizon - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Farrell
PA​

127065
PCOM/Pinnacle Health Community General Osteopathic Hosp - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Harrisburg
PA​

330010
LECOM/Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hosp - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Johnstown
PA​

129294
PCOM/Heart of Lancaster Regional Med Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Lititz
PA​

336439
LECOM/UPMC McKeesport - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
McKeesport
PA​

130917
Mercy Suburban Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Norristown
PA​

126218
Philadelphia College Osteopathic Med - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Philadelphia
PA​

127485
PCOM/Aria Health - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Philadelphia
PA​

175835
PCOM/Pennsylvania Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Philadelphia
PA​

167065
PCOM/Reading Hospital and Med Ctr - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Reading
PA​

196170
LECOM/Wright Center for GME - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Scranton
PA​

169617
PCOM/Lankenau Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Wynnewood
PA​

129825
Memorial Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
York
PA​

196169
UNECOM/Kent Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Warwick
RI​

189612
UNTHSC/TCOM/Bay Area Corpus Christi Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Corpus Christi
TX​

136630
UNTHSC/TCOM/Plaza Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Fort Worth
TX​

181005
EVVCOM/Lewis Gale Hospital-Montgomery - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Blacksburg
VA​

196171
EVVCOM/Danville Regional Med Ctr - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Danville
VA​

138301
Norton Community Hospital, Inc - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Norton
VA​

169606
EVVCOM/Carilion Clinic - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Roanoke
VA​

328827
PNWU-COM/Kennewick General Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Kennewick
WA​

330003
PNWU-COM/Skagit Valley Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Mount Vernon
WA​

181003
EVVCOM/Bluefield Regional Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Bluefield
WV​

156908
WVSOM/Charleston Area Med Ctr - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Charleston
WV​

181014
WVSOM/Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Parkersburg
WV​

126328
WVSOM/Ohio Valley Medical Ctr - Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine
Wheeling
WV​
 
SMC123 said:
unless you guys have been referring to taking the usmle as a DO student and applying to MD residencies.. because I was always under the impression that DO residencies were limited mostly to Michigan and a couple other states.. and in order to do a residency there (DO residency that is) and then move to the east coast would be hard?

I am only planning on taking the COMLEX exam...
Click to expand...

Below is the list of AOA approved IM residencies currently available in the United States. As you can see they aren't limited to Michigan.

Here's the website: http://opportunities.osteopathic.org/search/search.cfm

Search for yourself. Good Luck.
 
SMC123 said:
They are not limited, but 60% of DO residencies are in the state of Michigan.
Click to expand...

19 IM Resicencies in PA to 16 IM Residencies in MI, neither constitutes 60% of the list I provided below. If you want to be on the east coast, ball hard and apply to only hospitals on the east coast...
 
SMC123 said:
They are not limited, but 60% of DO residencies are in the state of Michigan.
Click to expand...

There are 878 AOA residency programs of which 193 are in the state of michigan, which is 20.73%. If you're speaking in terms of actual "spots" then I have no clue because the querey doesn't yield results in that manner but I tend to think that 60% much too high. You are right though, michigan does have the most programs, PA is 2nd with 102.
 
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Night Hawk said:
There are 878 AOA residency programs of which 193 are in the state of michigan, which is 20.73%. If you're speaking in terms of actual "spots" then I have no clue because the querey doesn't yield results in that manner but I tend to think that 60% much too high. You are right though, michigan does have the most programs, PA is 2nd with 102.
Click to expand...

They are definitely not talking about just IM and are definitely talking about amount of spots since that would make more sense. 60% is accurate. I'm too lazy to look it up because I'm at work but don't be so surprised.
 
SMC123 said:
unless you guys have been referring to taking the usmle as a DO student and applying to MD residencies.. because I was always under the impression that DO residencies were limited mostly to Michigan and a couple other states.. and in order to do a residency there (DO residency that is) and then move to the east coast would be hard?

I am only planning on taking the COMLEX exam...
Click to expand...

I think it's in every DO's best interest to take both USMLE and COMLEX. You study the same material and in the event that you score poorly on the USMLE and well on the COMLEX, the USMLE score won't hurt you.

SMC123 said:
They are not limited, but 60% of DO residencies are in the state of Michigan.
Click to expand...

Not sure where your data is from, but 60% is definitely too high.
 
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