Question about AOA Intern year

[Mike MacKinnon]

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Hi all

It is my understanding that the AOA wants all DO students to take a general AOA intern year prior to your actualy residency. I also understand that you can bypass this and goto an allopathic residency but there could be AOA issues in the future?

Am i understanding this correctly? Whats it all mean exactly?

 

[DeLaughterDO]

Hi all

It is my understanding that the AOA wants all DO students to take a general AOA intern year prior to your actualy residency. I also understand that you can bypass this and goto an allopathic residency but there could be AOA issues in the future?

Am i understanding this correctly? Whats it all mean exactly?

Mike;

Yes, according to the AOA, every osteopathic medical student is required to complete an internship year to be recognized and licensed by the AOA. In reality, there are only 5 states that actually require the internship for licensure (PA, OK, MI, FL, WV). The other states will license you regardless, but you will not be recognized by the AOA (and will be unable to get a license in those 5 states later or become program director at an AOA residency).

Resolution 42 is a "back-door" to allow a resident to obtain AOA accreditation of ACGME residency. However, this is not guaranteed - I've heard that it is basically a non-issue (something like 4 applications denied in the past 3-4 years). This is a huge topic of debate right now at the AOA, though. Look at almost any JAOA for the past year and you'll find editorials for and against the resolution.

Bottom line, if you don't want to practice in those 5 states or become a PD, I wouldn't worry about the internship. Just go for an ACGME program and don't look back. If you do want one of the above, that is when you need to consider the issue further.

good luck;

jd

 

[Mike MacKinnon]

Hey

thanks for the info. It seems to me that the smartest thing to do is the AOA internship. At least then if things come up in the future I wont be left out due to a bad choice. Extra is good! In anycase, I wonder what the stats are of people who do not do the internship. As a Non-Trad myself i can see the allure of cutting a year, however, experience has taugh me you never know what could happen.

Any other quirks i should know about?

 

[DeLaughterDO]

Actually, most DO grads do not do an internship, as most go into ACGME residencies. I am doing an internship for a couple of reasons:

First, I want to eventually practice in PA, so I know I will either have to do an internship or apply for res 42. With the current state of the debate over res 42, I don't trust the AOA not to screw me over if I go directly into an ACGME residency.

Secondly, I am couples matching, so I want to be sure we are placed together and I don't have to worry about us being halfway across the country from each other.

You're right, doing the internship is probably the easier thing; however, it requires an extra year (essentially). An extra intern year is nothing to smirk about - that's a lot of work, again. However, my opinion is that once you've done it, the second time will be much easier because you will already be experienced and have your **** together.

I'm assuming you're looking at EM (as am I - us old EM nurses gotta stick to our own, right?), so in all actuality the general year is great exposure to all fields again, since we will be seeing everything in the ED every day. Just look for internships that are dually accredited (there are 30 or more) and go with it.

best of luck!

jd

 

[Mike MacKinnon]

Hehe

Yup im interested in EM. One of the good things about going into med school as a long time RN is knowing what you want! This internship year is an interesting thing. I am somewhat torn about it (even though im not even in med school yet!). While I do believe in the DO route and associated with that is following their rules, I am somewhat concerned about adding another year of being "poor" to the mix. hehe

Ill have to consider it more when the time comes!

Actually, most DO grads do not do an internship, as most go into ACGME residencies. I am doing an internship for a couple of reasons:

First, I want to eventually practice in PA, so I know I will either have to do an internship or apply for res 42. With the current state of the debate over res 42, I don't trust the AOA not to screw me over if I go directly into an ACGME residency.

Secondly, I am couples matching, so I want to be sure we are placed together and I don't have to worry about us being halfway across the country from each other.

You're right, doing the internship is probably the easier thing; however, it requires an extra year (essentially). An extra intern year is nothing to smirk about - that's a lot of work, again. However, my opinion is that once you've done it, the second time will be much easier because you will already be experienced and have your **** together.

I'm assuming you're looking at EM (as am I - us old EM nurses gotta stick to our own, right?), so in all actuality the general year is great exposure to all fields again, since we will be seeing everything in the ED every day. Just look for internships that are dually accredited (there are 30 or more) and go with it.

best of luck!

jd