Pediatric Sub-Specialties as a DO

[stickgirl390]

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I know that going into pediatrics is very DO friendly, but what about subspecialties like pediatric oncology, or pediatric surgery, neonatal, etc? I’m assuming these paths are done by completing a fellowship after a pediatric residency. How is the competitveness for such programs for those with a DO degree? Thanks!

 

[sab3156]

I know that going into pediatrics is very DO friendly, but what about subspecialties like pediatric oncology, or pediatric surgery, neonatal, etc? I’m assuming these paths are done by completing a fellowship after a pediatric residency. How is the competitveness for such programs for those with a DO degree? Thanks!

Surgery is not a peds subspecialty. You can do a pediatric surgery fellowship after surgery residency, though as a DO you will have trouble getting into general surgery in the first place. The others probably are fine. Ask on the Peds forum.

 

[cliquesh]

http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Results-and-Data-SMS-2017.pdf

Look at page 10. Pediatric surgery is not DO friendly. Pediatric anesthesia is friendly enough.

 

[sab3156]

http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Results-and-Data-SMS-2017.pdf

Look at page 10. Pediatric surgery is not DO friendly. Pediatric anesthesia is friendly enough.

Zero? Ouch...

 

[dr.grenouille]

The DO I shadowed is a neonatology fellow at a top 10 university! There were other DOs in the program too, it’s possible!

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Zero? Ouch...

It’s the kind of field where residency prestige and heavy research play a massive role. Very academic. I think on a pure numbers level it’s the most competitive field in medicine because there aren’t very many spots add on top of that it’s also a super long route as it basically mandates a 7 year Gen Surg program and then is a 2-3 year fellowship I believe, so add all this up and basically it means maybe one DO will get there once or twice a decade. So OP long story short you most likely have better odds of becoming a neurosurgeon than a pediatric surgeon.

As for the other fellowships I think they are all pretty reasonable for DOs, even peds cards.

 

[stickgirl390]

It’s the kind of field where residency prestige and heavy research play a massive role. Very academic. I think on a pure numbers level it’s the most competitive field in medicine because there aren’t very many spots on top of that it’s also a super long route as it basically mandates a 7 year Gen Surg program and then is a 2-3 year fellowship I believe, so add all this up and basically it means maybe one DO will get there once or twice a decade. So OP long story short you most likely have better odds of becoming a neurosurgeon than a pediatric surgeon.

As for the other fellowships I think they are all pretty reasonable for DOs, even peds cards.

I guess it’s lucky that ped surgery is on the bottom of my list at the moment. I didn’t realize the fellowship+residency was THAT long! I’ll be 42 when I’m done!

 

[JMilo]

I know that going into pediatrics is very DO friendly, but what about subspecialties like pediatric oncology, or pediatric surgery, neonatal, etc? I’m assuming these paths are done by completing a fellowship after a pediatric residency. How is the competitveness for such programs for those with a DO degree? Thanks!

Why would you want to limit your options now? Per your sig you have an MD acceptance...

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Yeah if you have an MD acceptance than take it. Like now.

 

[stickgirl390]

Why would you want to limit your options now? Per your sig you have an MD acceptance...

Timeline: I made this thread before my MD acceptance.

 

[JMilo]

Timeline: I made this thread before my MD acceptance.

I see. Congrats!

 

[stickgirl390]

I see. Congrats!

Thanks, I was just accepted last night!

 

[fldoctorgirl]

Thanks, I was just accepted last night!

Congrats stat doppleganger!!! I've been rooting for you all cycle!