Residency Process for MDs and DOs

[sailo1994]

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I have an upcoming interview, and I am trying to ensure I understand the residency processes and importance post-graduate differences between MDs and DOs. From what I understand, there are two main organizations that accredit physician training programs (the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the American Osteopathic Association). MDs are only permitted to pursue ACGME residencies after completing the USMLE but not those accredited by the AOA as they are not taught the osteopathic manipulative medicine content required of the COMLEX. On the flip side, DOs can pursue
such ACGME programs after completing both the COMLEX and USMLE.

Is this a correct understanding?

Furthermore, is it fair to say that there are no such things as "MD residencies" if they are available to any DO and MD that completes the USMLE?I know ACGME programs like neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery have very little to no DO matches according to the NRMP annual match results, but it doesn't seem like its non-permissible for a DO to match with one of those residencies, just highly unlike due to various reason that have already been throughly discussed on SDN.

Secondly, if DOs can obtain residencies of the same specialties through the AOA as they can through ACGME, how do these exactly differ? Of course in an AOA program, OMM will be involved, but are there any other significant technical or practical differences, limitations compared to ACGME programs?

Thirdly, from what I can discern, there are considerably less residency programs governed by the AOA than there are through the ACGME (for 2018, there were 582 AOA programs and 2,473 positions compared to 5,314 ACGME programs and 33,167 positions).

Most importanly, if asked why MD over DO in an interview, is it fair to say that I want to have the best possible chance to secure a residency statistically, while having more flexibility on where I want to practice and what I want to specialize in? Furthermore, is it worth noting that I have no interests in OMM? I mean, its nothing that I have been exposed to, but then again, there's a lot I haven't been exposed to as I haven't been in medical school. Thanks.

Sources


ACGME data - "https://mk0nrmpcikgb8jxyd19h.kinsta...s/2018/04/Main-Match-Result-and-Data-2018.pdf"

AOA data - "2018 Summary by Program Type"

 

[cantankerous]

They wouldn't ask why MD over DO. Just divert the answer to why you want to go to that school in particular if asked, don't say something negative or offensive.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

No MD school would ask you "why MD."

 

[sailo1994]

No MD school would ask you "why MD."

I have read numerous anecdotes of people saying they were asked why MD over DO, specifically for the school I will be interviewing at. In fact, my girlfriend's sister said she was asked this very same question. They might not say "Why MD", but it seems they ask if the interviewee considered DO. But I could be wrong.

 

[sailo1994]

They wouldn't ask why MD over DO. Just divert the answer to why you want to go to that school in particular if asked, don't say something negative or offensive.

I like that. I think say how this specific institution that is coincidentally an MD program will secure my career objectives.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

I have read numerous anecdotes of people saying they were asked why MD over DO, specifically for the school I will be interviewing at. In fact, my girlfriend's sister said she was asked this very same question. They might not say "Why MD", but it seems they ask if the interviewee considered DO. But I could be wrong.

I can tell you that's not what they are getting at. MD schools largely act as if DO schools don't exist.

 

[Med Ed]

I have an upcoming interview, and I am trying to ensure I understand the residency processes and importance post-graduate differences between MDs and DOs. From what I understand, there are two main organizations that accredit physician training programs (the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the American Osteopathic Association). MDs are only permitted to pursue ACGME residencies after completing the USMLE but not those accredited by the AOA as they are not taught the osteopathic manipulative medicine content required of the COMLEX. On the flip side, DOs can pursue such ACGME programs after completing both the COMLEX and USMLE.

Is this a correct understanding?

Close, but obsolete. The ACGME and AOA are "merging," and by 2020 all residency programs in the country will be accredited by the ACGME and open to graduates of both MD and DO programs.

 

[Lucca]

Close, but obsolete. The ACGME and AOA are "merging," and by 2020 all residency programs in the country will be accredited by the ACGME and open to graduates of both MD and DO programs.

Until the great DO uprising of the 2030s after which DOs will force all MDs to go back and repeat medical school for the DO.