Ponce or DO?

[Dr. Stalker]

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Don't be foolish and make a career decision on the stupid letters you put after your name. MD from Caribbean or US DO is what you're asking. The answer is US DO. DO schools are getting stronger and stronger and most residency program directors don't care if you went to a real US MD (Non-foreign) vs a DO. "But wait, at Stanford Med they do!!!" you might be proclaiming. You won't get into Stanford EM from Ponce, DO, or even a low-tier MD. Go to Stanford med if you care that much about program rankings and "name." Be smart. Go with the DO school. Get a solid step 1 score to match into EM. Look up DO match lists, you'll see plenty of students doing into EM at relatively good programs.

If you care about the letters after your name that much, at a hospital I volunteer and shadow in, about half the staff is DO, but they all get badges that say MD, and so do their online physician profiles. Only an extremely astute person will go out of their way to "figure out" where he/she was educated. Nobody cares.

 

[Lawpy]

Don't be foolish and make a career decision on the stupid letters you put after your name. MD from Caribbean or US DO is what you're asking. The answer is US DO. DO schools are getting stronger and stronger and most residency program directors don't care if you went to a real US MD (Non-foreign) vs a DO. "But wait, at Stanford Med they do!!!" you might be proclaiming. You won't get into Stanford EM from Ponce, DO, or even a low-tier MD. Go to Stanford med if you care that much about program rankings and "name." Be smart. Go with the DO school. Get a solid step 1 score to match into EM. Look up DO match lists, you'll see plenty of students doing into EM at relatively good programs.

If you care about the letters after your name that much, at a hospital I volunteer and shadow in, about half the staff is DO, but they all get badges that say MD, and so do their online physician profiles. Only an extremely astute person will go out of their way to "figure out" where he/she was educated. Nobody cares.

Dude Puerto Rico MD is US MD. This has been mentioned and clarified several times in this thread.

 

[Dr. Stalker]

Dude Puerto Rico MD is US MD. This has been mentioned and clarified several times in this thread.

While it is accredited by LCME, Ponce certainly doesn't hold the same ranking as a non-foreign US MD school, is the argument I was trying to make. Btw long time no talk, hows it hangin @Lawper

 

[Lawpy]

While it is accredited by LCME, Ponce certainly doesn't hold the same ranking as a non-foreign US MD school, is the argument I was trying to make. Btw long time no talk, hows it hangin @Lawper

But it does.

Puerto Rico is part of the US and the LCME accredits its. It is an accredited US allopathic medical school

I know many PD's in many specialties. Not one of them considers Ponce a Caribbean school.

You have zero idea about the clinical rotations in puerto rico so you are basically speaking out your A*s. Ponce and UPR in particular train really good doctors and you won't have the DO bias hanging over you

They are US MD's, with all the rights and privileges of a graduate of an LCME accredited school.

Are you serious? First of all, a Puerto Rican MD is a USMD. Period. It is not the Carib, and lumping it in there is a premed mistake.

Second, I admit that I haven't been there in a while, but I loved both times I went to Puerto Rico and would gladly go to school there.

Third, the DO bias is still very real in some specialties. I would never advocate going Carib or foreign MD over DO, but Ponce does not fall into that category.

@Medic741
Go to the interview. Don't be afraid to choose DO over Ponce if you like the program better, but don't close the door just because it's Ponce.

You realize Puerto Rico is part of the US, right? I hope I'm misreading this post.

 

[OnlyOneZlatan]

Don't be foolish and make a career decision on the stupid letters you put after your name. MD from Caribbean or US DO is what you're asking. The answer is US DO. DO schools are getting stronger and stronger and most residency program directors don't care if you went to a real US MD (Non-foreign) vs a DO. "But wait, at Stanford Med they do!!!" you might be proclaiming. You won't get into Stanford EM from Ponce, DO, or even a low-tier MD. Go to Stanford med if you care that much about program rankings and "name." Be smart. Go with the DO school. Get a solid step 1 score to match into EM. Look up DO match lists, you'll see plenty of students doing into EM at relatively good programs.

If you care about the letters after your name that much, at a hospital I volunteer and shadow in, about half the staff is DO, but they all get badges that say MD, and so do their online physician profiles. Only an extremely astute person will go out of their way to "figure out" where he/she was educated. Nobody cares.

Another pre-med spewing alternative facts. Plenty of my classmates at my DO school were offered interviews at Stanford EM, but chose to rank other programs higher because of their preferences. "Be smart. Go with the DO school. Get a solid step 1 score to match into EM" LOL - you will get a Stanford interview at a US MD program like Ponce as long as you're above average with good SLOEs, but you will need to be like my classmates with 250+ Step 1s (+/- a rotation, +/- Cali resident) there to get an interview at Stanford EM. If you are a US MD student, you will be offered interviews with lower scores with similar apps, that's just typically how it goes and that won't be changing very quickly.

 

[DNC127]

Don't be foolish and make a career decision on the stupid letters you put after your name. MD from Caribbean or US DO is what you're asking. The answer is US DO. DO schools are getting stronger and stronger and most residency program directors don't care if you went to a real US MD (Non-foreign) vs a DO. "But wait, at Stanford Med they do!!!" you might be proclaiming. You won't get into Stanford EM from Ponce, DO, or even a low-tier MD. Go to Stanford med if you care that much about program rankings and "name." Be smart. Go with the DO school. Get a solid step 1 score to match into EM. Look up DO match lists, you'll see plenty of students doing into EM at relatively good programs.

If you care about the letters after your name that much, at a hospital I volunteer and shadow in, about half the staff is DO, but they all get badges that say MD, and so do their online physician profiles. Only an extremely astute person will go out of their way to "figure out" where he/she was educated. Nobody cares.

Oklahoma state matched Stanford EM last year lol.

 

[Dr. Stalker]

Another pre-med spewing alternative facts. Plenty of my classmates at my DO school were offered interviews at Stanford EM, but chose to rank other programs higher because of their preferences. "Be smart. Go with the DO school. Get a solid step 1 score to match into EM" LOL - you will get a Stanford interview at a US MD program like Ponce as long as you're above average with good SLOEs, but you will need to be like my classmates with 250+ Step 1s (+/- a rotation, +/- Cali resident) there to get an interview at Stanford EM. If you are a US MD student, you will be offered interviews with lower scores with similar apps, that's just typically how it goes and that won't be changing very quickly.

You're right. Foreign schools in fact are better than non-foreign schools. The guide to top tier residencies is clearly going to the Caribbean.

 

[Dr. Stalker]

Oklahoma state matched Stanford EM last year lol.

Can't say I've investigated Stanford EM but dam that's awesome lol

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

While it is accredited by LCME, Ponce certainly doesn't hold the same ranking as a non-foreign US MD school, is the argument I was trying to make. Btw long time no talk, hows it hangin @Lawper

You're right. Because it IS a non-foreign USMD school. Puerto Rico is part of the US. Not sure how people are not getting this. PDs don't say to themselves, oh wait. This school is in PR, so we shouldn't treat it like other US schools. Just because it is an island doesn't make it a foreign school. Do you consider UHawaii a foreign school?

 

[Princeton Medical Student]

You're right. Foreign schools in fact are better than non-foreign schools. The guide to top tier residencies is clearly going to the Caribbean.

Puerto
Rico
Is
United
States

 

[Dr. Stalker]

You're right. Because it IS a non-foreign USMD school. Puerto Rico is part of the US. Not sure how people are not getting this. PDs don't say to themselves, oh wait. This school is in PR, so we shouldn't treat it like other US schools. Just because it is an island doesn't make it a foreign school. Do you consider UHawaii a foreign school?

SO what you're telling me is Ponce is 100% legit? If so I'll gladly admit i'm wrong. I'm well aware of PR being considered a state however, unlike Hawaii, PR is also its own country...?

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

SO what you're telling me is Ponce is 100% legit? If so I'll gladly admit i'm wrong. I'm well aware of PR being considered a state however, unlike Hawaii, PR is also its own country...?

No it isn't??? It's a US territory. And careful saying that around some native Hawaiians...

 

[Princeton Medical Student]

SO what you're telling me is Ponce is 100% legit? If so I'll gladly admit i'm wrong. I'm well aware of PR being considered a state however, unlike Hawaii, PR is also its own country...?

Yes. Ponce is LCME approved making it in all definitions of the word, a US MD school.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

SO what you're telling me is Ponce is 100% legit? If so I'll gladly admit i'm wrong. I'm well aware of PR being considered a state however, unlike Hawaii, PR is also its own country...?

Yes. PR is a US territory. It's residents are US citizens by birth. The school is LCME accredited. It is a US school.

PR has a group of separatists that want independence, but that doesn't change its status. Hawaii is a state and has the same thing. So do Texas and California. Considering your home a separate country and being a separate country are different.

It is 100% a USMD school and PD's view it as such.

 

[MakeLifeHappen13]

If your goal is Emergency Medicine then either school will get you there, as I'm sure you know that many DO's match into EM all the time. I think the important thing to consider is convenience and quality of life during those four grueling years of med school.

Do you think you will be happier and more comfortable living in Puerto Rico? Do you care about the two letters after your name or do you simply want to practice medicine? Do you see yourself speaking Spanish with all of your patients and staff members during clinicals? Remember that Puerto Rico, despite being a U.S. territory, is separate from the U.S. in many ways and it is known as a place with rampant poverty and crime. Use your common sense. This is about the only US MD school that I would choose DO over.

Go to the interview and experience it for yourself.

 

[jcorpsmanMD]

Yes. PR is a US territory. It's residents are US citizens by birth. The school is LCME accredited. It is a US school.

PR has a group of separatists that want independence, but that doesn't change its status. Hawaii is a state and has the same thing. So do Texas and California. Considering your home a separate country and being a separate country are different.

It is 100% a USMD school and PD's view it as such.

I'm from Texas. I can attest to that, we are our own country.

P.S. Texas is bigger than France.

 

[Dr. Stalker]

You are dumb. Go away

Thanks for the poignant response.

 

[Goro]

Go back to your middle and high schools, get a good lawyer, and sue the crap out of them, because you obviously learned nothing in your Social Studies classes.

SO what you're telling me is Ponce is 100% legit? If so I'll gladly admit i'm wrong. I'm well aware of PR being considered a state however, unlike Hawaii, PR is also its own country...?

 

[Lexdiamondz]

Another pre-med spewing alternative facts. Plenty of my classmates at my DO school were offered interviews at Stanford EM, but chose to rank other programs higher because of their preferences. "Be smart. Go with the DO school. Get a solid step 1 score to match into EM" LOL - you will get a Stanford interview at a US MD program like Ponce as long as you're above average with good SLOEs, but you will need to be like my classmates with 250+ Step 1s (+/- a rotation, +/- Cali resident) there to get an interview at Stanford EM. If you are a US MD student, you will be offered interviews with lower scores with similar apps, that's just typically how it goes and that won't be changing very quickly.

You aren't wrong. Stanford EM has a DO PGY-1 but look at his accomplishments:

- Former US Navy Flight Surgeon
- Research in U/S in the pre-hospital and tactival environment.
- Research in use of IO in the tactical, wilderness, pre-hospital and other austere environments.
- Expansion of tactical medicine training to military and law enforcement officers.
- Expansion of PHTLS training in the wilderness and park medic community.
- Oklahoma State University - Mosel Award top GPA senior

Compared to one of his co-interns who was a summer camp counsellor. Otherwise, zero pubs, awards, nothing haha.

Seriously. The deck is absolutely stacked against you as a DO. Doesn't mean you can't break through, but the odds are certainly not in your favour even if you are exceptional.

SO what you're telling me is Ponce is 100% legit? If so I'll gladly admit i'm wrong. I'm well aware of PR being considered a state however, unlike Hawaii, PR is also its own country...?

Oh dear....

 

[altblue]

SO what you're telling me is Ponce is 100% legit? If so I'll gladly admit i'm wrong. I'm well aware of PR being considered a state however, unlike Hawaii, PR is also its own country...?

Jesus Christ...

 

[Lucca]

Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. It is not an independent coutnry -- its head of state is the POTUS. Puerto Rico is not one of the 50 states of the United States and is not treated as such by constitutional law. That being said, all Puerto Ricans are full U.S. citizens. All Puerto Rican medical schools are LCME accredited and are not "international" or "foreign" medical schools. Puerto Rican schools are "legit". Puerto Rican representatives in our Congress are non-voting members. Puerto Rico has its own governing bodies like a state might have and, likewise, its own laws, customs, etc. While the official languages of Puerto Rico are Spanish and English, the primary language of Puerto Rico is Spanish, including for matters related to education, healthcare, business, and law.


/discussion.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I'm from Texas. I can attest to that, we are our own country.

P.S. Texas is bigger than France.

Not far from the truth. Texas has much of its infrastructure and state systems setup so they are the least integrated with rest of the country. It has its own medical school admissions system (TMDSAS) and it has its own electric grid that is not attached to either of the two US grids (east and west). Its seems that Texas could secede in 48 hours if they wanted to

My wife and I lived in Texas for some years, so I've experienced it first hand. The only things keeping them from seceding are 1) the fact that the Texas currency was **** when they joined and would be **** again if they seceded, and 2) that being a proud American has become just as much part of Texan culture as being Texan. More SEALs are from Texas than any other state, ffs.

 

[sammiesings]

Wait. Seriously? There are people in medical school/about to enter medical school who don't understand Puerto Rico is a US territory and what that means? Seriously?

 

[NonTradtnlMD]

accteped to a DO program that I love, want to do EM, just got II to Ponce, but tight on cash... would an LCME MD from Ponce be a leg up professionally? Any thoughts welcome! Trying to figure out if I should go. Not committed to either MD or DO, just want to be a doc and have a strong post-grad career

UPR and Ponce are not only accredited US MD programs but also receive NIH funding and grants for research. Granted UPR does approximately 80% of the science/medical research. Also, PRican medical schools have agreements with schools in the mainland. UPR has agreements with Mayo Clinic and Yale for combined MD/PhD paths. This is a testament that education in PR, whether it be Ponce or any other med school (4 in total), is of a good caliber.

If you look at the match list of each school, most students choose to stay in the island. However, those who go abroad have matched into reputable programs in the US, particularly from Ponce and UPR. I work with an ObGyn oncologist at Columbia who told me that students from PR also have very strong clinical skills and good bedside manners, something she attributed to the culture of the island.

 

[jcorpsmanMD]

Wait. Seriously? There are people in medical school/about to enter medical school who don't understand Puerto Rico is a US territory and what that means? Seriously?

I understand that they're pre-med.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

If you look at the match list of each school, most students choose to stay in the island. However, those who go to the mainland have matched into reputable programs across the continental US, particularly from Ponce and UPR

FTFY. I know what you were trying to say, but saying things like "those who go abroad" and "in the US" don't really jibe with your point.

And yes, I know an accepted definition of "abroad" is just over a wide area, but that's not the common meaning that people associate with the word, particularly when accompanied by the phrase "in the US."

 

[Lucca]

Yes. PR is a US territory. It's residents are US citizens by birth. The school is LCME accredited. It is a US school.

PR has a group of separatists that want independence, but that doesn't change its status. Hawaii is a state and has the same thing. So do Texas and California. Considering your home a separate country and being a separate country are different.

It is 100% a USMD school and PD's view it as such.

I would not consider the Texan movements for secession to be comparable to that of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is not a state and exists in a quasi-colonial relationship with the United States and has essentially no material vote in the national Congress. The rights given to California and Texas as states in the Constitution are not available to Puerto Rico. This is a fundamentally different relationship to the federal government of the U.S which, consequently, makes comparing Texan secession and Puerto Rican independence a category mistake. Being essentially different types of political entities means that declaring "independence" mean two very different things.

One important consequence of this manifests itself in PR's ongoing massive debt crisis. The U.S does not assume the debt of the Puerto Rico like it might the debt of any state. Further, PR's commonwealth status basically made it a tax shelter for a really long time (PR can issue debt tax free, so investors want to own that debt for obvious reasons). That means that most of Puerto Rico debt is held privately not publicly. Therefore, while PR obviously has to come out of this debt crisis somehow, there is no national public stake in their debt -- hence, the U.S federal government essentially not giving a crap about how much money PR does or does not owe. Unlike a state, PR is not protected by U.S. bankruptcy provisions.

The other problem is "national identity". In another post you readily admit that any Texan considers themselves an American and that state pride and national pride go hand-in-hand. After 12 years in Texas, I would agree with this assessment. However, Puerto Ricans have a separate national identity from the United States. They are "Americans" and "U.S citizens" yes, but in addition to that they are also "Puerto Ricans" in a much richer sense than a Floridian is a Floridian or even a Texan is a Texan. To use three trivial examples of how this national identity is separate from that of the rest of the U.S, Puerto Ricans speak Spanish primarily, exist in a modern colonial society as opposed to a fully autonomous member of a federalized republic, and are largely Roman Catholic instead of Protestant. None of this makes PR a separate country, to be sure, since that is a political definition but all of these factors and more make it so that one could argue that PR is its own nation with an identity more closely resembling that of the rest of the Caribbean than of the mainland U.S.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I would not consider the Texan movements for secession to be comparable to that of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is not a state and exists in a quasi-colonial relationship with the United States and has essentially no material vote in the national Congress. The rights given to California and Texas as states in the Constitution are not available to Puerto Rico. This is a fundamentally different relationship to the federal government of the U.S which, consequently, makes comparing Texan secession and Puerto Rican independence a category mistake. Being essentially different types of political entities means that declaring "independence" mean two very different things.

One important consequence of this manifests itself in PR's ongoing massive debt crisis. The U.S does not assume the debt of the Puerto Rico like it might the debt of any state. Further, PR's commonwealth status basically made it a tax shelter for a really long time (PR can issue debt tax free, so investors want to own that debt for obvious reasons). That means that most of Puerto Rico debt is held privately not publicly. Therefore, while PR obviously has to come out of this debt crisis somehow, there is no national public stake in their debt -- hence, the U.S federal government essentially not giving a crap about how much money PR does or does not owe. Unlike a state, PR is not protected by U.S. bankruptcy provisions.

The other problem is "national identity". In another post you readily admit that any Texan considers themselves an American and that state pride and national pride go hand-in-hand. After 12 years in Texas, I would agree with this assessment. However, Puerto Ricans have a separate national identity from the United States. They are "Americans" and "U.S citizens" yes, but in addition to that they are also "Puerto Ricans" in a much richer sense than a Floridian is a Floridian or even a Texan is a Texan. To use three trivial examples of how this national identity is separate from that of the rest of the U.S, Puerto Ricans speak Spanish primarily, exist in a modern colonial society as opposed to a fully autonomous member of a federalized republic, and are largely Roman Catholic instead of Protestant. None of this makes PR a separate country, to be sure, since that is a political definition but all of these factors and more make it so that one could argue that PR is its own nation with an identity more closely resembling that of the rest of the Caribbean than of the mainland U.S.

I didn't read the whole thing because I thought it was pretty clear that the purpose of comparing them was that having a PRican identity doesn't make you a separate country. If it wasn't, I apologize. I would've used Guam as an example, but they don't have a med school.

Also, Texas may be a state, but as @gonnif pointed out, it is pretty independent even down to med school admissions.

Edit: and lol at California separatists. I know I listed them, but Californians have to be some of the dumbest, most entitled SJWers in this country. Only Californians would threaten to secede and then ask for millions of dollars in federal aid a week later.

 

[Lawpy]

I didn't read the whole thing because I thought it was pretty clear that the purpose of comparing them was that having a PRican identity doesn't make you a separate country. If it wasn't, I apologize. I would've used Guam as an example, but they don't have a med school.

Also, Texas may be a state, but as @gonnif pointed out, it is pretty independent even down to med school admissions.

You have too many strong and unique experiences. Just crush the MCAT and apply straight Top 20 and enjoy the cycle 😎

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

You have too many strong and unique experiences. Just crush the MCAT and apply straight Top 20 and enjoy the cycle 😎

I have to get into my combined program first. I swear, my hair is going to grow back grey.

 

[Endoxifen]

what about those who think we have to stop the illegal immigrants from New Mexico

In this case, I actually wouldn't mind building a wall.

 

[Chelsea FC]

If your goal is Emergency Medicine then either school will get you there, as I'm sure you know that many DO's match into EM all the time. I think the important thing to consider is convenience and quality of life during those four grueling years of med school.

Do you think you will be happier and more comfortable living in Puerto Rico? Do you care about the two letters after your name or do you simply want to practice medicine? Do you see yourself speaking Spanish with all of your patients and staff members during clinicals? Remember that Puerto Rico, despite being a U.S. territory, is separate from the U.S. in many ways and it is known as a place with rampant poverty and crime. Use your common sense. This is about the only US MD school that I would choose DO over.

Go to the interview and experience it for yourself.

Would you advise people not to go to Chicago schools or SUNY Downstate? Because those areas have alot of crime and poverty. . ??you're speaking rubbish

 

[Goro]

Read the novel Texas by James Michener, and I guarantee that you will understand Texas and Texans!

I didn't read the whole thing because I thought it was pretty clear that the purpose of comparing them was that having a PRican identity doesn't make you a separate country. If it wasn't, I apologize. I would've used Guam as an example, but they don't have a med school.

Also, Texas may be a state, but as @gonnif pointed out, it is pretty independent even down to med school admissions.

Edit: and lol at California separatists. I know I listed them, but Californians have to be some of the dumbest, most entitled SJWers in this country. Only Californians would threaten to secede and then ask for millions of dollars in federal aid a week later.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Read the novel Texas by James Michener, and I guarantee that you will understand Texas and Texans!

My wife and I lived in Texas for years!

 

[Goro]

Then you know.

My wife and I lived in Texas for years!

 

[MakeLifeHappen13]

Yes, there are schools in the states with shady surrounding areas, take John Hopkins for example. The difference is that the quality of education and opportunities given to students at those institutions is far greater than what you will receive at a Puerto Rican school. So to answer your question no I would not.

Now back to the main point I was making, which you did not address. Why should OP inconvenience himself and move to a completely foreign place with high crime and poverty, and a foreign language population, when his goals (EM) can be achieved at a school that is safer and closer to home?

Would you advise people not to go to Chicago schools or SUNY Downstate? Because those areas have alot of crime and poverty. . ??you're speaking rubbish

 

[Chelsea FC]

Yes, there are schools in the states with shady surrounding areas, take John Hopkins for example. The difference is that the quality of education and opportunities given to students at those institutions is far greater than what you will receive at a Puerto Rican school. So to answer your question no I would not.

Now back to the main point I was making, which you did not address. Why should OP inconvenience himself and move to a completely foreign place with high crime and poverty, and a foreign language population, when his goals (EM) can be achieved at a school that is safer and closer to home?

Okay but you are still talking rubbish. He isnt choosing between a Puerto Rican school and a school that will give him a significantly better education or a better chance of becoming a EM doc. He is actually choosing between a MD (which will increase his chances of matching EM) and a DO school which will hinder him. Now back to the main point how do you know it is a huge inconvenience to the OP ? He already stated he is fluent in Spanish and its no greater of a change than moving from a rural area in the south to New York City(which students do all the time to achieve their goals.) . You need to get out of the special snowflake mentality that not being in mainland USA will be such a shock to OP that he will not perform well(after the fact OP stated he has s[ent extended time living outside of the US), actually living on a beautiful island with a unique culture can be a great distraction when needing a getaway from medical school

 

[sammiesings]

Yes, there are schools in the states with shady surrounding areas, take John Hopkins for example. The difference is that the quality of education and opportunities given to students at those institutions is far greater than what you will receive at a Puerto Rican school. So to answer your question no I would not.

Now back to the main point I was making, which you did not address. Why should OP inconvenience himself and move to a completely foreign place with high crime and poverty, and a foreign language population, when his goals (EM) can be achieved at a school that is safer and closer to home?

You're an accepted medical student. Why do you presume to know more than several adcom members here who say that Ponce is a lcme accredited US MD school which gives op more opportunities than a DO school ? Just as any other MD school would do?

 

[Frogger27]

what about those who think we have to stop the illegal immigrants from New Mexico

 

[MakeLifeHappen13]

You're an accepted medical student. Why do you presume to know more than several adcom members here who say that Ponce is a lcme accredited US MD school which gives op more opportunities than a DO school ? Just as any other MD school would do?

All I said is that OP is aiming for Emergency Medicine and I think both Ponce or a DO school can get him there. That is not "presuming" to know more than anybody, that is readily available information that can be looked up by simply searching for match lists. If both places can match you into EM than I would go to the one that would provide a safer, more convenient, and higher quality of life throughout the tough 4 years of medical school, which in my opinion is clearly not Puerto Rico.

 

[sammiesings]

All I said is that OP is aiming for Emergency Medicine and I think both Ponce or a DO school can get him there. That is not "presuming" to know more than anybody, that is readily available information that can be looked up by simply searching for match lists. If both places can match you into EM than I would go to the one that would provide a safer, more convenient, and higher quality of life throughout the tough 4 years of medical school, which in my opinion is clearly not Puerto Rico.

But you're wrong. It's significantly easier to match to EM as an MD than a DO. Also, EM is uptrending. Soooo...? Also, da eff is up your bumhole about Puerto Rico? Have you ever been?

 

[Lawpy]

While I would not have be at all suprised if he had said this, but it is a fake story. There are more than enough real facts to attribute to that man in the Kremlin... White House, I meant White House

McCarthyist Republicans of the 1950s would be horrified. But I digress!

 

[cactusman]

While I would not have be at all suprised if he had said this, but it is a fake story. There are more than enough real facts to attribute to that man in the Kremlin... White House, I meant White House

I think it was just supposed to be a joke.

 

[MakeLifeHappen13]

But you're wrong. It's significantly easier to match to EM as an MD than a DO. Also, EM is uptrending. Soooo...? Also, da eff is up your bumhole about Puerto Rico? Have you ever been?

I don't have anything against it, I have been there and it is a beautiful place, and I'm sure it produces competent physicians, just don't go walking down the street by yourself or park your car on the wrong corner.

Of course as an MD you have an advantage over a DO when it comes to matching but that's not to say that DO's can't match into Emergency because they do very frequently. Also, I don't think Puerto Rican graduates will be looked at in the same light as mainland graduates which is why I think of them as more equal to DO graduates. I think OP should go to the interview and experience it for himself. If he thinks he will be happy there then go for it.

 

[Lawpy]

so whenever there's a discussion regarding US MD vs US DO, there's always a reference to matching into ____ specialty. don't get me wrong, matching is important and understanding the long-term career impact matters. but why are the structural differences between the two types of medical schools being ignored? COMLEX, DO shelf exams, DO rotation problems/preceptorships/shadowing, required OMM, often mandatory lecture attendance etc. are all critical factors that must be considered no matter what.

this is why if someone is deciding between US MD and US DO, it's always a smart move to go US MD to avoid dealing with the extra headaches involved in US DO. i would much rather worry and stress over only one type of exam (USMLEs and MD shelves) rather than having to worry about multiple exams on top of long-term career limitations.

 

[sammiesings]

Of course as an MD you have an advantage over a DO when it comes to matching but that's not to say that DO's can't match into Emergency because they do very frequently. Also, I don't think Puerto Rican graduates will be looked at in the same light as mainland graduates which is why I think of them as more equal to DO graduates. I think OP should go to the interview and experience it for himself. If he thinks he will be happy there then go for it.

No one cares how you view them. It's been confirmed by gyngyn, goro etc that PDs view them as us MDs. Because they are us MDs.

Not exactly sure what's so hard for you to grasp about that...

 

[darkeon]

Woah... Pure crazy here.

N=1 but a former claassmate of mine from college, born and raised in the northeast, went to one of the med schools in PR. Ended up being matched to Beth Israel in internal medicine in NYC. Based on the recent Facebook postings I've seen, the other classmates (friends) matched successfully in the states.

I think the choice just come down to whom OP wishes to serve in the future. It's not MD vs DO as it could also be mainland MD vs PR MD. If you wish to serve in highly Spanish-speaking communities, then go to PR. If not, stick to the mainland whether also MD or DO. If you wish to learn a portion of medicine in Spanish, go to PR. If not, stick to the mainland.

It's analogous to rural MD vs urban DO. End result: You still get matched...just decide if you're into rural or not.

 

[MakeLifeHappen13]

I never said they aren't US MDs. I said that they would be looked at differently because of the program they come from as that is one of the many factors that comes into play when matching. Is that to hard for you to understand?

It seems that you just came into this thread to argue with me and you have yet to actually provide the OP with any advice which was the whole point of this thread.

No one cares how you view them. It's been confirmed by gyngyn, goro etc that PDs view them as us MDs. Because they are us MDs.

Not exactly sure what's so hard for you to grasp about that...

 

[Pusheen]

This thread is so great....Caribbean school that is also a US school = SDN mind blown 🤣

 

[Lawpy]

This thread is so great....Caribbean school that is also a US school = SDN mind blown 🤣

yeah it's weird especially since the issue was clarified in the first few posts. and yet somehow SDN remains very confused 😕😕

If you get accepted to Ponce, you should go there. LCME accreditation makes them effectively US MD schools which are better than US DO schools. I think it's worth attending the Ponce interview.

Hopefully you are fluent in Spanish! That is key.

Puerto Rico is part of the US and the LCME accredits its. It is an accredited US allopathic medical school