Residency

[dah]

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Hi everyone,

I just wanted to see if anyone has any info with regard to allopathic residency programs in a specialty. In particular Urology. I know that Urology is one of the most competitive programs out there......
I know my chances are slim. However, I found a somewhat reliable statistic that said, there are five DO's in the US to date that finished allopathic Urology residency programs. And NO I am not trying to "jump ship" to an MD program...but I think I speak for a lot of us (DO students)...when I say that we hope the discrimination would stop.
Is any one out there that is trying to research allopathic residency programs in a highly competitive specialty?

 

[CoolDOguy]

If you are a DO student and are sincerely interested in the field of Urology then do everything that any student (MD or DO) would do to be competative for that speciality. Also, if you could partcipate in some research on the subject then I would recomend that. And don't listen to people who say it can't be done.

 

[Diane L. Evans]

Good reply!
I would also conatct a urologist in your area and ask them about societal magazines and meeting and also maybe their advice. Choose a younger graduate who is more likely to be up to date on newer trends.
You can also search www.yahoo.com for urology residencies
🙂 diane

 

[psa03]

It can be done.

I participated in the Urology match this year and I successfully matched at Ohio State. On the interview trail I met approx 5 other DO students trying to match Urology. In addition, I met 5 DO residents currently in Urology residencies. Don't worry about "jumping ship." There are only 4 DO urology programs( some vary from taking 1/yr to 3/yr... depends on which year you are applying) vs. 111 MD urology programs.

My advice would be:
1. Take USMLE Step 1 (study hard because this will get your foot in the door, not matter what letters are behind your name.)
2. LOR from people known throughout Urology (i.e. allopathic program directors) helps tremendously. A letter from a community Urologist will help locally, but nationally it won't cut it (unless they are well connected).
3. Do as many elective rotations in urology as possible. I did 4 elective rotations in urology. Not because I wasn't sure, but because as a DO you need to be seen in person, not paper, as some of the program directors told me.
4. Research always helps. Doesn't have to be ground breaking. Fortunately, I had a MS, so I gambled and didn't do any urology research, but do it if you can.

Go to www.urologymatch.com for more info.
I hope this helps. If you need any detailed info, send a PM/email.

Good Luck

 

[mcataz]

How did you get a Letter of Recommendation from an Allopathic Residency Director of Urology?

 

[psa03]

The hardest part about getting the letter was asking. Depending on where you do your elective, you are likely to work or interact with the chair. If you know you want a letter, try and spend more time with him/her.

From one elective site that I got the LOR from the chair, I didn't get an interview there. However, I didn't do the elective at the center for an interview--they weren't going to interview a DO-hurts but its the truth-, I did it for the LORs- which was commented on by almost all of my interviewers.
I also did an oral presentation, which the program director included in the LOR.

The second site I was able to work closely with the former chairman for two weeks.