Postdoctoral Matching presentation

[tehdude]

---

Members don't see this ad.

We had a presentation today about matching strategies.

Apparently 27% of students from my school who participated in the osteopathic match 2010 failed to match.

A larger percent likely failed to match in the NRMP.

24% of DOs nationwide had to scramble.

This isn't very encouraging.

 

[wannabeOBGYN]

24% of DOs nationwide had to scramble, but what is this referring to? DOs who only participated in the osteopathic match? Those who only did the MD match? Those who did both? This could make a big difference. I'd also like to know what specialties those people applied to. I was just looking at information posted on the site for the osteopathic match and a lot of specialties had open spots. Other than FP-EM, otolaryngology & facial plastics, and PM&R, every specialty had at least 1 open spot.

 

[Flushot]

I remember talking to some 4th years now who ranked only a few AOA programs that they would like to go to, but that usually only amounted to 2-3. The allo match that they prepared for as well has at least 10, which they recommended to have in order to ensure a spot.

I can see the possibility that many people ranked a few programs but didn't count on matching AOA. So, if that were the case, would they be considered as scrambling when they really didn't?

 

[bonsaipalmtree]

We had a presentation today about matching strategies.

Apparently 27% of students from my school who participated in the osteopathic match 2010 failed to match.

A larger percent likely failed to match in the NRMP.

24% of DOs nationwide had to scramble.

This isn't very encouraging.

Define "likely," please?

I really wish they had some kind of hard data about the caliber of DO that makes it in the allopathic match. It would make life so much easier to have a more concrete idea of what it takes to be a "desirable" osteopathic applicant!

 

[DocEspana]

24% of DOs nationwide had to scramble, but what is this referring to? DOs who only participated in the osteopathic match? Those who only did the MD match? Those who did both? This could make a big difference. I'd also like to know what specialties those people applied to. I was just looking at information posted on the site for the osteopathic match and a lot of specialties had open spots. Other than FP-EM, otolaryngology & facial plastics, and PM&R, every specialty had at least 1 open spot.

If you look at the 2010 match statistics released by the AMA they list a certain percentage of students (51% if i remember right) who apply for AOA match. There really isnt such a thing as applying for "both" since if you do match for the AOA you are removed from the ACGME match. This elimination is done right at the ACGME matching service level. Even scramblers who do not initially match are significantly lowered on the ACGME match list by the matching service. The ACGME admits freely to this.

but anyway, back to my point: something like 51% of DO students go with the AOA match. Of that 51%, 40% dont match and have to scramble. There are more than enough spots for them, they just chose the more competitive spots that filled by other applicants. thats math means that 20.5% of all DO students have to scramble solely because of the AOA match. But as I said before, they really should only have to compromise on *where* they want to be, not what they want to do. There are plenty of spots out there to be had. That has to be where your 24% figure came from. It's the only thing that makes sense to me, that they are citing the pre-scramble results for the subset of AOA match applicants.

side not: despite what you hear, there are MORE aoa spots than there are applicants. significantly more. even if you remove the rotating internship year. The problem is that there are not enough spots for every student if every student applied for the AOA match, but since only 51% do, there are plenty of spots.

 

[tehdude]

The problem is that there are not enough spots for every student if every student applied for the AOA match, but since only 51% do, there are plenty of spots.

Too bad most of the empty spots are in family medicine. 😡

 

[DocEspana]

Too bad most of the empty spots are in family medicine. 😡

true. 58% of the remaining unfilled spots are in family medicine, while the family med slots only represent 38% of the total spots pre-match.

still, there is 42% that isn't family med. Clearly the 20% representation jump between pre-match and post-match remaining means that its a less preferred option for most people. But: there is still enough other options out there. just shy of 250 other options. 620 open spots if you count the (egads!) internship (aka "sort of wait a year") options. I didn't count those internship spots in any of the calculations before, but it does seem relevant to mention that it is an option for those in scramble situations and is a required part of certain residencies and/or people who want to practice in PA/WV/FL/MI (i think i remembered those right).

 

[wannabeOBGYN]

true. 58% of the remaining unfilled spots are in family medicine, while the family med slots only represent 38% of the total spots pre-match.

still, there is 42% that isn't family med. Clearly the 20% representation jump between pre-match and post-match remaining means that its a less preferred option for most people. But: there is still enough other options out there. just shy of 250 other options. 620 open spots if you count the (egads!) internship (aka "sort of wait a year") options. I didn't count those internship spots in any of the calculations before, but it does seem relevant to mention that it is an option for those in scramble situations and is a required part of certain residencies and/or people who want to practice in PA/WV/FL/MI (i think i remembered those right).

From the way it was explained to my class, for those states you have to do a DO-approved first year of residency. Traditional rotating internships count, as well as the Option I residencies (http://opportunities.osteopathic.org/search/Attention_Students-Match_Information.pdf). The only problem is if you want to do an MD residency, in which case you have to either do an AOA TRI first or fill out some paperwork to have the PGY-I year of your residency approved by AOA. I don't think PA allows this anymore though. Somebody please correct me if I am wrong, but I'm almost positive this is how it works.

 

[DocEspana]

From the way it was explained to my class, for those states you have to do a DO-approved first year of residency. Traditional rotating internships count, as well as the Option I residencies (http://opportunities.osteopathic.org/search/Attention_Students-Match_Information.pdf). The only problem is if you want to do an MD residency, in which case you have to either do an AOA TRI first or fill out some paperwork to have the PGY-I year of your residency approved by AOA. I don't think PA allows this anymore though. Somebody please correct me if I am wrong, but I'm almost positive this is how it works.

oh totally correct. I was just saying that those internship years, even if they are (generally) unpopular are required for specialty (non option I) residencies everywhere and required for (I didnt specify) access to ACGME residencies in those states. For those who are scrambling, especially in those states, they should be really considering those internships if only as a way to pass the year and try again since i imagine there will almost certainly be open internship spots wherever you may want to be. No need to travel across the country to practice.