Specializing in D.O.

[mj42]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I was wondering how feasible it is to want to go D.O. tract and also specialize. I hear that D.O. is more geared towards family practice and when the D.O. I'm shadowing graduated, he said most of the alumni went into primary care. Is it still the same way? Is it realistic to expect to specialize if you choose osteopathic and how likely is it? Lets say you want to go into neurosurgery or gastroenterology for example.

Thanks

 

[edrunner27]

I was wondering how feasible it is to want to go D.O. tract and also specialize. I hear that D.O. is more geared towards family practice and when the D.O. I'm shadowing graduated, he said most of the alumni went into primary care. Is it still the same way? Is it realistic to expect to specialize if you choose osteopathic and how likely is it? Lets say you want to go into neurosurgery or gastroenterology for example.

Thanks

You can find DOs in every specialty. The Osteopathic philosophy lends itself well to primary care because of its holistic approach, something that allopathic schools are trying to impart more to their students nowadays. The only big difference between curriculums of a MD and DO program is the OMM class. Otherwise DOs can take the USMLE in addition to the COMLEX and apply for both allopathic and osteopathic residencies. Because of the OMM component, it doesn't work the other way around for our MD counterparts. The competitiveness of a residency program depends on what it is (derm, ortho, radiology, anesthesia, EM are more popular). The important thing is to study hard and do well on boards whether you decide to go MD or DO.

 

[kassy]

The nice part, esp if you specialize, is that there are D.O. residencies that M.D.s can't apply for.

Check out some of the residencies here
http://opportunities.osteopathic.or...essionid=f0302ecc7290bde2bc605f7d5f292f335c4d

For neurosurgery or gastroenterology, specifically, they have separate specialty residency application services in Jan/Feb, so you won't find them in the link above.

 

[DrWBD]

Here are links to the NRMP Fellowship Match Data 2009 and the Main Residency Match Data 2009. This doesn't include osteopathic residents who sign outside the match (very few), those fellowships and residencies that don't participate in the Match, and obviously none of the training programs from the AOA match, but it will give you an approximate idea of how many DOs are able to obtain specialty training.

It is true that a larger proportion of osteopathic students, compared to MD students, choose primary care. However, it is also true is that an ever-growing number of osteopathic students are choosing specialty training. Recent data suggests that osteopathic students pursuing primary care represent about 30% of the total osteopathic student population.

 

[Van Chowder]

I was wondering how feasible it is to want to go D.O. tract and also specialize. I hear that D.O. is more geared towards family practice and when the D.O. I'm shadowing graduated, he said most of the alumni went into primary care. Is it still the same way? Is it realistic to expect to specialize if you choose osteopathic and how likely is it? Lets say you want to go into neurosurgery or gastroenterology for example.

Thanks

Nothing is impossible. But from what it seems like ( on SDN at least ) is that it is much easier specializing as an MD than a DO. That is not to say it cant be done!!

( To make a point, the other day I was looking at DO residencies for the 'hey' of it, and found a Derm residency in the LA area that didn't pay..at all... During the entire residency program the resident would not make a penny..)

Ouch..😕