Residency Question

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whatnow

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Hi All...

I'm not having too much success on the MD side...but more and more, I think i may be better suited for DO...I'm very into the patient-centererdness and the holistic whole body approach. I think a lot of this has come from my training for my MPH (which I will receive in April).

I do have two questions...and didnt see it in the previous posts...if It was there I apoligize.

Can D.O.'s apply for regular residencies? I'm sure the answer must be yes...just need to know. Does anyone know any resources on this? Or can you link me to a forum?

With a DO you can still specialize, correct? I want to do pediatric (either oncology or PM&R)...

Thanks for anything.
 
Hi All...

I'm not having too much success on the MD side...but more and more, I think i may be better suited for DO...I'm very into the patient-centererdness and the holistic whole body approach. I think a lot of this has come from my training for my MPH (which I will receive in April).

I do have two questions...and didnt see it in the previous posts...if It was there I apoligize.

Can D.O.'s apply for regular residencies? I'm sure the answer must be yes...just need to know. Does anyone know any resources on this? Or can you link me to a forum?

With a DO you can still specialize, correct? I want to do pediatric (either oncology or PM&R)...

Thanks for anything.

From what I know, DO=MD, DOs can do anything MDs can do and even compete for MD residencies. However DOs have thier own residencies to which MDs can''t apply. So in a way, DO gives you some latitude that MD won't give.
 
I followed the same path and found that my MPH program jived well with the philosophy of osteopathic medicine.

The answer to your questions are yes and yes. Do a quick search and you will find loads of information on this topic.
 
Hi All...

I'm not having too much success on the MD side...but more and more, I think i may be better suited for DO...I'm very into the patient-centererdness and the holistic whole body approach. I think a lot of this has come from my training for my MPH (which I will receive in April).

I do have two questions...and didnt see it in the previous posts...if It was there I apoligize.

Can D.O.'s apply for regular residencies? I'm sure the answer must be yes...just need to know. Does anyone know any resources on this? Or can you link me to a forum?

With a DO you can still specialize, correct? I want to do pediatric (either oncology or PM&R)...

Thanks for anything.

D.O.s are fully licensed to practice medicine in the United states and are eligible to sit for both the osteopathic COMLEX and Allopathic USMLE exams for licensure. They can participate in the same residency programs as MDs and be licensed in any of the specialties or subspecialties as well. 😳
 
Hi All...

I'm not having too much success on the MD side...but more and more, I think i may be better suited for DO...I'm very into the patient-centererdness and the holistic whole body approach. I think a lot of this has come from my training for my MPH (which I will receive in April).

I do have two questions...and didnt see it in the previous posts...if It was there I apoligize.

Can D.O.'s apply for regular residencies? I'm sure the answer must be yes...just need to know. Does anyone know any resources on this? Or can you link me to a forum?

With a DO you can still specialize, correct? I want to do pediatric (either oncology or PM&R)...

Thanks for anything.

Yes - DO's can apply for regular residencies. If you get a chance, you should shadow a DO or two. From the ones that I've talked to, there are plenty of DO's that get into the top residency programs...it's all about how you shine during medical school and how well you can perform when you're applying for residency. HOWEVER, the DO's that I've talked to said there are certain residencies that, due to the way the "system works," will only take MDs. I'm assuming its some sort of a tradition thing. There are also a few DO's at the hospital I work at that said there were many instances where they felt mistreated among the MDs during their residency. They also said that they felt they had a lot more to prove going into their residency program.

I'm not sure if you could quote me on this, but something like 30% of DOs are placed in the scramble. . . can anyone back this up or refute it? I'm going to try and find where I read that.

Oh and yes, DO's can do whatever MDs can do...that means speacilize in whatever your heart desires.
 
Hi All...

I'm not having too much success on the MD side...but more and more, I think i may be better suited for DO...I'm very into the patient-centererdness and the holistic whole body approach. I think a lot of this has come from my training for my MPH (which I will receive in April).

I do have two questions...and didnt see it in the previous posts...if It was there I apoligize.

Can D.O.'s apply for regular residencies? I'm sure the answer must be yes...just need to know. Does anyone know any resources on this? Or can you link me to a forum?

With a DO you can still specialize, correct? I want to do pediatric (either oncology or PM&R)...

Thanks for anything.

Yes. You can do everything that you want to do as a DO. Plus, you get to hang out with all of us wonderful, helpful people.😀 😉

In all seriousness, you may find that osteopathic medicine is more suited to your interests and personality. I did. Your MPH will be a nice compliment to a DO degree. I suggest you do a lot of research about osteopathic medicine and then spend some time shadowing a DO to learn more. There is a lot of good info in the FAQs at the top of this forum. Good luck with everything! :luck: 😀

http://www.osteopathic.org/
 
Hi All...

I'm not having too much success on the MD side...but more and more, I think i may be better suited for DO...I'm very into the patient-centererdness and the holistic whole body approach. I think a lot of this has come from my training for my MPH (which I will receive in April).

I do have two questions...and didnt see it in the previous posts...if It was there I apoligize.

Can D.O.'s apply for regular residencies? I'm sure the answer must be yes...just need to know. Does anyone know any resources on this? Or can you link me to a forum?

With a DO you can still specialize, correct? I want to do pediatric (either oncology or PM&R)...

Thanks for anything.

DOs can apply to both osteopathic and allopathic residencies. You might have to take both the COMLEX and USMLE depending on the particular residency program. Most osteopathic students take both boards. Landing a very good allopathic residency may be a challenge, however, since you may have to do better than your MD counterparts. Additionally, many of these programs are "shutting their doors" to osteopathic applicants. Concerning the fields you would like to specialize in, I would say both Peds and PM&R are not difficult to obtain. Oncology, however, is a competitive fellowship in IM.
 
in addition, if you would like a competitive fellowship like cards,gi, or hem/onc, you would either have to do it in the hospital you do your residency or youd have to come from a good IM university program, i would imagine, of course with stellar recs.
 
Hi All...

I'm not having too much success on the MD side...but more and more, I think i may be better suited for DO...I'm very into the patient-centererdness and the holistic whole body approach. I think a lot of this has come from my training for my MPH (which I will receive in April).

I do have two questions...and didnt see it in the previous posts...if It was there I apoligize.

Can D.O.'s apply for regular residencies? I'm sure the answer must be yes...just need to know. Does anyone know any resources on this? Or can you link me to a forum?

With a DO you can still specialize, correct? I want to do pediatric (either oncology or PM&R)...

Thanks for anything.

I'm surprised for someone interested in this field you haven't yet realized the amazing number of DO's in PM&R. If you look at percentages, DO's are actually over-represented in this field & looked very highly upon b/c of our backgroud and training in muscloskeletal medicine. Having the letters DO behind your name when applying to PM&R certainly isn't going to hurt you.
 
DOs can apply to both osteopathic and allopathic residencies. You might have to take both the COMLEX and USMLE depending on the particular residency program. Most osteopathic students take both boards. Landing a very good allopathic residency may be a challenge, however, since you may have to do better than your MD counterparts. Additionally, many of these programs are "shutting their doors" to osteopathic applicants. Concerning the fields you would like to specialize in, I would say both Peds and PM&R are not difficult to obtain. Oncology, however, is a competitive fellowship in IM.

Care to provide evidence for it?
 
Having the letters DO behind your name when applying to PM&R certainly isn't going to hurt you.

Agree. 👍

Care to provide evidence for it?

I don't know that concrete evidence exists for this.

What I can say, however, is that many allo schools (miine included) are expanding their classes to meet the challenge of the AAMC, yet specialty (or primary care for that matter) allo residency slots are not being created at near this rate. This means that there will soon be more allo grads competing for allo residency spots. What impact this will have on DO's applying for allo (what posters are calling "regular") slots is anybody's guess, but it does suggest greater competition. I don't see anybody "closing their doors" to DO's though.

Many do believe that in the highly structure-oriented fields of radiology and orthopedic surgery (which are quite competative for allo PGY's), DO's are at an advantage because their tradition has created more DO residencies relative to the number of DO grads. In other words, I think that statistics might show that a DO is more likely to become an orthopod or a radiologist. This could be due to increased interest, however, and I can't really speculate beyond conjecture as far as that is concerned. I do know DO's now, though, who went the DO route because they couldn't get into my state's allo school and are now radiology or orthopod residents. In the end, my opinion is that the DO route turned out to be better for them.

Here's my advice to the OP. Go into osteopathic medicine because you believe in the philosophy that it teaches. If you do, then you will be proud to apply to DO residencies and consider MD residencies as back-ups. If you really are allo-minded, then go that route instead. Either way, accept no back-up when it comes to your career. Life is too precious to wonder "what-if?" You can divorce a spouse, but your education will define you forever.
 
Care to provide evidence for it?

a friend of mine is a 3rd yr resident at a very good IM program and informed me about his. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unfortunately there is discrimination out there.
 
a friend of mine is a 3rd yr resident at a very good IM program and informed me about his. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unfortunately there is discrimination out there.
to deny that it exists is foolish

HOWEVER...and fortunately....it exists in some geographic locations and specialties more then others and there are enough places that are open to us + DO spots to make it all work out. Your friend in IM is in the exception of IM programs....its IM for god sakes....not ortho or rad onc....
 
Thank you all so much. I'm learning a lot about the D.O. programs. I am a little bummed that I've missed the Primary App deadlines for MSUCOM and CCOM.

I'm a student at the University of Michigan...so I've contacted some D.O.'s to talk with.

Thanks to all for reassuring me that DO's can do everything MD's can do.

I think when it all comes down to it...i don't care what two letters follow my name, but rather that someday I get to work in a children's hospital...

Thanks and :luck: to all!
 
sadly, I think that in the south especially, there is discrimination against DO's. I think for the simple fact that there are not many D.O. schools in the south in comparison to the north. This sucks for me seeing as I'd like to do oncology at MUSC. Does anyone else know about D.O's getting residencies in the south and any difficulties?
 
sadly, I think that in the south especially, there is discrimination against DO's. I think for the simple fact that there are not many D.O. schools in the south in comparison to the north. This sucks for me seeing as I'd like to do oncology at MUSC. Does anyone else know about D.O's getting residencies in the south and any difficulties?
"the south" is a big area.....take a look at the distribution of DO's in each state...that should give you somewhat of an idea where a decent amt of DO's practice...also you can try taking a look at the lists of residents from the last few years at a place that you are interested in....
 
to deny that it exists is foolish

HOWEVER...and fortunately....it exists in some geographic locations and specialties more then others and there are enough places that are open to us + DO spots to make it all work out. Your friend in IM is in the exception of IM programs....its IM for god sakes....not ortho or rad onc....

agreed.. but it is IM in NJ, how do you think comp. specialties like the ones you've mentioned will fare? it just seems as though the stronger allo programs that want to be on par with the IVYs are limiting the amt. of DOs they accept. this has been the trend at my friend's residency program.
 
agreed.. but it is IM in NJ, how do you think comp. specialties like the ones you've mentioned will fare? it just seems as though the stronger allo programs that want to be on par with the IVYs are limiting the amt. of DOs they accept. this has been the trend at my friend's residency program.

I always love it when pre-meds start throwing around generalizations to which they have absolutely no way of knowing.🙄

Bottomline for residency is this...To be considered for competitive residencies, you need to be one thing...A COMPETITIVE APPLICANT. That means taking the USMLE & blowing it out of the water, kicking a$$ on your AI/Sub-I rotations, great LOR's, research. This isn't just what a DO needs, but anyone applying to a competitive & prestigious residency.

Please stop trying to scare people w/ the limiting of taking the number of DO's they accept. You have absolutely no way of knowing this unless you conducted a survey of all PD's in all programs.
 
agreed.. but it is IM in NJ, how do you think comp. specialties like the ones you've mentioned will fare? it just seems as though the stronger allo programs that want to be on par with the IVYs are limiting the amt. of DOs they accept. this has been the trend at my friend's residency program.

Please do not make generalizations like this unless you're either in medical school and applying for residencies yourself or you've spoken to 100 alumni from your school and they assure you this is a fact. You're giving the OP false information based not only hearsay, but the hearsay of one person. UMDNJ-SOM has a huge hospital system in NJ, and NYCOM (and now Touro) has a ton of hospitals affiliated with it as well in NY. Just because your friend tells you his internal medicine residency doesn't like DOs doesn't say anything about other residencies regardless of specialty. For all you know, your friend might not see DOs in his program, came to his own conclusion that the program is anti-DO, told you, and now you pass it on as fact. For every residency in NY that supposedly doesn't like DOs I can name 10 hospitals that are "DO friendly" (a program affiliated with Columbia supposedly is anti-DO, but that's just what I heard, please do not take it as fact). In fact, this one residency associated with Columbia is the only residency in NY that I've heard is anti DO (however there might be others). Stony Brook, Downstate, NYMC, Upstate, Buffalo, Cornell, all MD schools and the residencies affiliated with them are DO friendly. Not to mention other hospitals such as North Shore/LIJ (and it's branches), Beth Israel, Einstein/Jacobi, St. Lukes, and many others with primarily allopathic residencies have multiple DOs from NYCOM doing their residency there.

I'm not going to sugar coat everything though. While I can't comment about many other residencies around the country, from what I hear (and again, this is only what I hear from students now applying for residency/alumni from my school) there are a few that are anti-DO but on the whole if you work hard and make yourself competitive you stand a chance.

If you're a pre-med, please do not hand out advice to other pre-meds based on what somebody else told you. It will only lead them in the wrong direction and then they'll tell their friends what they heard and it will spread the false information like a wild fire.
 
agreed.. but it is IM in NJ, how do you think comp. specialties like the ones you've mentioned will fare? it just seems as though the stronger allo programs that want to be on par with the IVYs are limiting the amt. of DOs they accept. this has been the trend at my friend's residency program.

This is certainly not the case. I find it a bit irresponsible to spread misinformation that is gathered from a "friend" who happens to be in one of the most DO friendly states in the US.

Residency programs are always in a state of flux. One year they have more applicants than they can handle and the next year they dont even fill. Some years no DOs apply and other years 10% or more of the applicants can be DOs. Some years have no DO residents while other years are mostly DO residents. This is particularly true of the primary care fields.

I would be interested in knowing which program your "friend" is in.
 
I always love it when pre-meds start throwing around generalizations to which they have absolutely no way of knowing.🙄

Bottomline for residency is this...To be considered for competitive residencies, you need to be one thing...A COMPETITIVE APPLICANT. That means taking the USMLE & blowing it out of the water, kicking a$$ on your AI/Sub-I rotations, great LOR's, research. This isn't just what a DO needs, but anyone applying to a competitive & prestigious residency.

Please stop trying to scare people w/ the limiting of taking the number of DO's they accept. You have absolutely no way of knowing this unless you conducted a survey of all PD's in all programs.

Well put. The two letters after your name won't make a difference if your performance is not comparable to the standards of the residency to which you apply. Want to cover your bases? WORK HARD, LEARN FAST, TRAIN WELL, STAND OUT. Social networking (in all aspects of personal and professional life) is usually not a bad idea either.
 
I agree with all of you that pre-meds are wrong to spead hersay and generalize it. However each residency program has their own director with their own biases. I work in a department with a very competative residency program... when I spoke with the director he told me that they have never and proably will not accept any DOs in the future ... it is a very traditional university. They do interview DO applicants that have rotated with them, but have yet to match one. I guess my point is that this is ONE program and that this particular specialty is very accepting of DOs on the whole - so one program is not representative. They have recently had their first DO in the fellowship program and have hired them as a faculty member...so my feeling is that is only a matter of time before the residency opens up.
 
lmao, you guys get so defensive. I apologize if appeared to be a generalization. I was merely refering to one particular program and the actual trend at that program. I am not in any way trying to discourage anyone. you guys need to lighten up.
 
lmao, you guys get so defensive. I apologize if appeared to be a generalization. I was merely refering to one particular program and the actual trend at that program. I am not in any way trying to discourage anyone. you guys need to lighten up.

Which program? Thats all I asked.
 
anyone know how strong the following NY IM programs are: St. Lukes, Beth Israel, Lenox Hill, N Shore Manhassat, and Einstein/Jacobi. thanks.
 
anyone know how strong the following NY IM programs are: St. Lukes, Beth Israel, Lenox Hill, N Shore Manhassat, and Einstein/Jacobi. thanks.

I would suggest asking this question in the IM forum.
 
anyone know how strong the following NY IM programs are: St. Lukes, Beth Israel, Lenox Hill, N Shore Manhassat, and Einstein/Jacobi. thanks.

St. Lukes can bench press about 200 lbs on a good day and Lenox Hill can squat about 350.

How exactly would you like someone to say how "strong" a residency is? What would you like it to be based on? Stop worrying about things 5 years down the line. Pick a DO school that has a fair amount of matches in the specialty you THINK you want to go into and/or is in the area you think you want to practice (although it will change, trust me) and enjoy your last few months of freedom. Stop listening to what your friend's uncle's barber tells you about DOs, stop listening to other pre-meds, and just worry about doing your best.
 
St. Lukes can bench press about 200 lbs on a good day and Lenox Hill can squat about 350.

How exactly would you like someone to say how "strong" a residency is? What would you like it to be based on? Stop worrying about things 5 years down the line. Pick a DO school that has a fair amount of matches in the specialty you THINK you want to go into and/or is in the area you think you want to practice (although it will change, trust me) and enjoy your last few months of freedom. Stop listening to what your friend's uncle's barber tells you about DOs, stop listening to other pre-meds, and just worry about doing your best.

👍
 
I know this one guy who has a friend that is married to someone that just happens to have met the sister of some girls boyfriend who's 2nd grad teacher is now a doc. This guy told me that the only way to get a good residency is to go to Hopkins and be a neurosurgeon.

The bad news is I didn't apply there last year...or this year...😡
 
I think if you guys beat this thread just a little more...blood will likely seep out my anus.
 
wow, you guys find it that difficult to answer a question that you resort to humorless sarcasm. you're probably having the most fun you've ever had. well then, live it up!
 
wow, you guys find it that difficult to answer a question that you resort to humorless sarcasm. you're probably having the most fun you've ever had. well then, live it up!
its been answered in all the detail you could ever want in this thread and the hundred others just like it over the years...doesn't look like anyones having difficulty w/ anything.....
 
wow, you guys find it that difficult to answer a question that you resort to humorless sarcasm. you're probably having the most fun you've ever had. well then, live it up!

What makes a residency "strong" in your eyes? Whether or not it has a name attached to it that the whole world has heard of?
 
wow, you guys find it that difficult to answer a question that you resort to humorless sarcasm. you're probably having the most fun you've ever had. well then, live it up!

Perhaps more people would be willing to help if you werent a nuisance poster.
 
Thank you all so much. I'm learning a lot about the D.O. programs. I am a little bummed that I've missed the Primary App deadlines for MSUCOM and CCOM.

I'm a student at the University of Michigan...so I've contacted some D.O.'s to talk with.

Thanks to all for reassuring me that DO's can do everything MD's can do.

I think when it all comes down to it...i don't care what two letters follow my name, but rather that someday I get to work in a children's hospital...

Thanks and :luck: to all!

If you are from Michigan you should think about that piece of legislature that exists that forces DO students to do an extra year in a rotating internship after your fourth year in order to be licensed and eligible to apply to allopathic residencies.

This legislature applies to 5 states, Michigan and Florida are two of them.
 
If you are from Michigan you should think about that piece of legislature that exists that forces DO students to do an extra year in a rotating internship after your fourth year in order to be licensed and eligible to apply to allopathic residencies.

This legislature applies to 5 states, Michigan and Florida are two of them.
I agree...that is a consideration..and it could suck...but remember that Michigan has a ton of solid DO residency programs and dually accreditted internships
 
At the same time that I agree that all DOs can go into any field. We must acknowledge that certain competitive programs just do not usually accept many DOs. I'm not just talking about radiology, etc. If you look at MGH, NYHospital, UMICH, UCLA etc. programs, you'll see that >90% of their residents are MD. Do not flame me, since this is the truth. Just go onto any allopathic medical school with a decent/competitive reputation. Look at their residencies and residents.
But u know what? If you want to be a anesthesiologist or w/e, who cares which program you goto. In the end its the same thing. 👍
 
At the same time that I agree that all DOs can go into any field. We must acknowledge that certain competitive programs just do not usually accept many DOs. I'm not just talking about radiology, etc. If you look at MGH, NYHospital, UMICH, UCLA etc. programs, you'll see that >90% of their residents are MD. Do not flame me, since this is the truth. Just go onto any allopathic medical school with a decent/competitive reputation. Look at their residencies and residents.
But u know what? If you want to be a anesthesiologist or w/e, who cares which program you goto. In the end its the same thing. 👍
I def agree w/ you....but still don't forget that DO's only make up around 5% of all Physicians...so if you were seeing even 5 out of 100 docs being DO's at a hospital then that is equal representation (don't get me wrong though...you'd have to be a fool to think that there is 0% discrimination at some of the more old-school/prestigious programs)
 
At the same time that I agree that all DOs can go into any field. We must acknowledge that certain competitive programs just do not usually accept many DOs. I'm not just talking about radiology, etc. If you look at MGH, NYHospital, UMICH, UCLA etc. programs, you'll see that >90% of their residents are MD. Do not flame me, since this is the truth. Just go onto any allopathic medical school with a decent/competitive reputation. Look at their residencies and residents.
But u know what? If you want to be a anesthesiologist or w/e, who cares which program you goto. In the end its the same thing. 👍

🙄

It's pointless...
 
If you look at MGH, NYHospital, UMICH, UCLA etc. programs, you'll see that >90% of their residents are MD.

>90% of their applicants are MDs.

I wonder if that could have anything to do with it. 🙄
 
>90% of their applicants are MDs.

I wonder if that could have anything to do with it. 🙄

I'm just saying that it is more difficult for a DO to get a spot there. Maybe more applicants are MDs but that is a self-selective bunch, just like you can't say, "80% match radiology, so I might as well apply even if i scored a 200 on Step 1". I'm just trying to bring into light that there is bias in the world and not have pre-meds believe that DOs can get into (ie. MGH) the same as MDs and then get all bitter when they realize the truth. I'm not trying to assign superiority or anything. Just the way things are. Same as it may not be fair for carribean students to not be as competitive for most US residencies when compared to DOs and U.S. MDs, but that's the way it is.
 
I'm just saying that it is more difficult for a DO to get a spot there. Maybe more applicants are MDs but that is a self-selective bunch, just like you can't say, "80% match radiology, so I might as well apply even if i scored a 200 on Step 1". I'm just trying to bring into light that there is bias in the world and not have pre-meds believe that DOs can get into (ie. MGH) the same as MDs and then get all bitter when they realize the truth. I'm not trying to assign superiority or anything. Just the way things are. Same as it may not be fair for carribean students to not be as competitive for most US residencies when compared to DOs and U.S. MDs, but that's the way it is.

Another way to say this is that given an MD student and a DO student with identical applications/board scores, the MD applicant will have an advantage applying for an allo residency. So realistically the DO applicant would have to do better on the USMLE to compensate for the difference in degrees. I don't think that it is realistic to argue against this point.

Perhaps what is also being said is that this gap between board scores of such applicants would have to be even greater for the more competative allo specialties.

Regarding rads, if you are a DO, there are plenty of DO PGY programs to apply to (I've been told more than allo on a per-applicant basis), so why mess with an allo one? I'd think that your first choice would be to move toward training in a program that specifically sponsors the osteopathic philosophy if that's how you chose to get your medical education.
 
😴

This is one of the worst MD vs DO threads. Come on! We need more gross generalizations, and more "I know someone who knows someone that says..." stuff.
 
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