Hi,
Whenever questions are posted about whether a DO can specialize in this or that, people always reply with the whole you can practice any specialty as a DO and can get into MD residencies still, etc. The thing is, I'm pretty sure that most people already know that, but are more curious about whether their goals of getting into a particular residency/fellowship IS PROBABLE from the osteopathic school.
This is why I was wondering if maybe we can rank specialties like the following so that some of those threads will end:
DISCLAIMER: I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH THIS AT ALL SO PLEASE AMEND THIS/ADD ON TO IT. THESE ARE JUST GUESSES BASED ON WHAT I'VE READ
Very likely: Most of the primary care specialties
Likely: Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine
Possible: (insert here because I have no clue)
Stretch: (insert here because I have no clue)
Don't count on it at all: Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Neurosurgery, General Surgery, otolaryngology
So does anyone want to fill in the rest of the specialties (and even fellowships)?
People might jump on you for this ... but I can see you have legit questions and I'll do my best to answer as an SDN addict/match list sleuth ...
First off ... everything is possible if you are determined, intelligent, and driven, go for it. I mean that seriously, that's not one of those throw around SDN phrases. With that said ... things like Derm and Plastics aren't just difficult for DOs. It's really funny when pre-meds say things like 'oh man go DO you can never do derm and plastics' because I honestly think that in their minds they assume that getting into the MD school is the end all and after that you can breeze by, apply for integrated plastics and be matched the next day. Most people - myself included - have NO idea how difficult it is to match derm and plastics for BOTH MD and DO. You have to be top, top, top, with research, AOA, great LORs, perfect clincials etc. People throw those around as the desired residencies because they are coveted all around.
Now, is it HARDER to become a plastic surgeon or dermatologist as a DO compared to an MD?? I'm not really sure. I once read a derm thread where a poster - now a DO dermatologist resident - was saying he crunched numbers and that he believes it's not harder to match derm as a DO through the AOA residencies. However, you still have to bust your ass, you'll probably have to complete the residency in a different state, and in some cases (few) there are a couple derm residencies with funding issues where you aren't paid.
Does this sound glamorous ... no. Will you be a dermatologist 3 years later ... yes. It's all about the end result. Same thing with plastics ... there are 6 (I think) AOA fellowships that produce plastic surgeons each year. These are gen surg applicants who are on the top of their game, but at the end of the day ... they are still plastic surgeons. In reality it is PROBABLY easier to get their as an MD, but that famous 'DO closes doors' phrases is BS. I'm sorry ... it's just not true. If you're accepted to a DO school and you have the drive to match derm ... make it happen, end of discussion.
As far as some of the other things you listed ... DOs match wonderfully into AOA and ACGME gas, well represented in Rads, and there are around 20 ENT programs, and a few of the ones in MI are world class. Also, as far as gen surg goes ... this is becoming more competitive, but from what I can gather, matching through the AOA residencies is all about audition rotations, so do well there and you should be okay. I actually hear a lot of these residencies want you to rotate, so if you are zoning in on a program, do a rotation there.
In closing ... I'm not trying to sound like the dumb pre-med who tells you that if you work real hard and eat your vegetables you can match integrated plastics as UCSF ... because you won't, but neither will any of the pre-allo posters over in the dark side of SDN who are super stressed about their 3.8 and 42. If you want it ... be prepared to fight for it and simply be the best. Western, for example, has a derm program at it's affiliated long beach hospital and states that you need to be top 15 in class, AOA, and rotate there to be considered ... so, like I said, be flawless and make it happen. Good luck. Apply broadly, if you get into MD and feel more comfortable matching with that ... go for it, no one will judge you. If you get accepted DO and want to be a doctor, go, work hard, keep in mind that almost everyone changes their mind of what they want to do while in med school, and do whatever it takes.
check out this link:
http://opportunities.osteopathic.org for more info on AOA residencies.