DO/MD residency programs merge starting 2020. With this in mind, what is better option to do caribbean med school or Podiatry in US ?
Will it be harder now for IMGs to find residency in US?
Will it be harder now for IMGs to find residency in US?
Your question is a bit difficult to answer, but I will try my best. It depends on what you want to become: an MD, or a DPM? I think it is acceptable to consider Caribbean schools after applying to mainland schools twice, with a gap year in between to remediate any known shortcomings. You may also want to come to terms with yourself that you still want to become an MD and this is the last, but riskiest chance to get there. I also think it is acceptable to consider DPM as a healthy alternative to MD, but never as a replacement; you will not be satisfied and it may affect your performance in school.
To answer your second question, it may be harder for IMGs to find residency in the US after the merge. New MD and DO schools are being developed on the mainland and those students may take residency spots that could have been attained by IMGs if these new schools were not built.
My best advice would be to shadow more DPMs and get their opinions if you have not already. They really are invaluable and will definitely get you to your desired answer. If you still want to go the MD/DO route, consider retaking your MCAT. Many people retake their MCATs and acquire a seat in a future cycle, so you should not feel ashamed for not getting a favorable score the first time around; I would applaud someone who performs the former. I hope I was able to help!
Depends.. do you want to work with foot and ankle? Because succeeding at a Carib school puts you in contention for internal med, family med, psychiatry, etc.. You can do a lot more if you make it out of a carribean school with an MD degree. If you want to work with foot and ankle as a career, DPM is the way to go.
I personally have relatives that can not find residency spots in USA after Carib med schools.
Also one of my close friends can’t pass step 2 (she went to st.George).
She failed twice in a row (so now has a limited chance for residency)
MD>DPM/DO>Other health care careers>>>>>>>>>>>Caribbean
DO/MD residency programs merge starting 2020. With this in mind, what is better option to do caribbean med school or Podiatry in US ?
Will it be harder now for IMGs to find residency in US?
A lot of MD/Do’s just focus on one part of the body as well. I don’t think Optho or ortho are medically managing patients. I think you also need to look at debt. Carribean schools will put you 400k plus in debt. If you go in and kill podiatry school you can get scholarship money and get out and make 200 k plus.I have to be honest with you. Podiatry is a completely different profession than MD and DO. Yes, we are physicians but we do not focus on every aspect of medicine. Only the ankle and foot. That's it. If you are comfortable with that and enjoy the profession, then go right ahead. However, if you are using podiatry as a backup, DON'T DO IT! Podiatry school is a backup for a lot of upcoming students when they don't get any acceptances in MD/DO schools and that is sad to me.
We are a specialized profession just like optometry, dentistry, physical therapy, etc. I'm pretty sure you know this by know.
In conclusion, don't base your decision because of a backup.
A lot of MD/Do’s just focus on one part of the body as well. I don’t think Optho or ortho are medically managing patients. I think you also need to look at debt. Carribean schools will put you 400k plus in debt. If you go in and kill podiatry school you can get scholarship money and get out and make 200 k plus.
Going to Carib you have less than 40% chance of getting MD license. In addition, it might take significantly longer and more expensive to get there. Plus I would guess that 95-99% of US IMGs end up in worst IM/FM spots in undesirable locations.Still, the MD degree is much more marketable than a DPM, even if you go into something completely different from medicine, MD will help much more.
This is 100 percent correct. I personally would not want to work in primary care. That is why I like podiatry you get a mix of surgery and clinic. The majority of SDN always acts like an MD makes you Gods gift to humanity. Sure with a DPM you won’t be on Greys Anatomy but I think podiatry is a great field.Going to Carib you have less than 40% chance of getting MD license. In addition, it might take significantly longer and more expensive to get there. Plus I would guess that 95-99% of US IMGs end up in worst IM/FM spots in undesirable locations.
Sure but who is willingly going into 400k debt and dedicating seven plus years of their life to not work in medicine.Still, the MD degree is much more marketable than a DPM, even if you go into something completely different from medicine, MD will help much more.
Sure but who is willingly going into 400k debt and dedicating seven plus years of their life to not work in medicine.
There are people who got into med school, find out it’s not for them, but want to finish out. They can be researchers, reps, teachers, etc. the world is yours as an MD, not so much DDS, DPM, OD, etc.
Not to say there any alternative pathways for DPMs. You could always teach I suppose.
The ugly truth about Caribbean medical schools - Pamela Wible MD
Discover what really goes on behind the scenes at Caribbean med schools before making a huge mistake. Pros & cons from a student who knows what it's like.www.idealmedicalcare.org
Read this and hope it helps. I've considered the caribbean and quickly denied that notion after reading this. You go from 1.1k students to 450 by the end of med school. That means there is a possibility of going all the fourth year, saddled with over $200k in debt (in tuition alone) and come out with nothing. That's a reality that could happen. The risk is immense BUT if you feel like you're able to study harder than every other medical school student, that was smart as you, to make it this far, then go for it.
As far as DPM goes, be ready for wound care. Especially for a patient population that COULD manage it by controlling their diabetes with meds and diet, but actively dont. That means all this wound care, for the most part, is self caused. If you dont like the idea of that or dont like the idea of debriding/managing wounds, this field is not for you.
If you dont mind, not being in control of care, RN or PA route isn't too bad. Your quality of work/life ratio would be significantly better.
Hope that helps. Good luck!
MD > DO >> DPM >>>>> Carribean MD
MD > DO > DPM >>> Pharm > Optometry > PT >>>>>>> Carrib MDWhat about pharmacy, physical therapy, and optometry?
New US med schools will be fine - the sky is not falling.I am a fellow pre-med so take this with a barrel of sugar, but has the OP considered some of the newer U.S. medical schools? I read from around the vineyard that many of the more successful pre-med students may not want to take a chance at a newer school. That leaves a tiny amount of wiggle room for those of us who are circling the drain in terms of admissions statistics. For me, that will have to be after doing a special masters program (SMP).
I trust that eventually the powers that be, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education on one hand and the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation on the other, are going to put a stop to the accrediting of new U.S. medical schools so that physician pay doesn't get sunk. When that occurs, those of us on the lower end of the pre-med spectrum, if you will, will be out of luck. While I respect that many excellent physicians graduate from the Caribbean, knowing my own weaknesses I am not willing to gamble that I will be a better student than others who were unsuccessful in gaining a U.S. residency.
MD > DO > DPM >>> Pharm > Optometry > PT >>>>>>> Carrib MD
Just my personal thoughts.
Honestly I wouldn't go into this field for any other than the top 3Im surprised you put Optometry under Pharm and DPM. 4 years of school for a 120K salary with doctoral autonomy with no threat of NP/PA encroachment seems pretty good.
Im surprised you put Optometry under Pharm and DPM. 4 years of school for a 120K salary with doctoral autonomy with no threat of NP/PA encroachment seems pretty good.
But who gets higher pay?I'd prob say DDS >> DPM, just bc it's got less of the "dirty work" associated with it
Honestly prob dentist if you become an orthodontistBut who gets higher pay?
Oh ok thanks! But if general dentist vs DPM?Honestly prob dentist if you become an orthodontist
But who gets higher pay?
Oh ok thanks! But if general dentist vs DPM?