Steps to becoming an Orth surgeon.

[Round4]

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Ok, I'm a long way for this to even be a decision for me to make but I'm a fixture in the ortho's office I break a lot of bones especially since I quit playing ball. I actually went today for a check-up I fractured the radial head in both arms 11 weeks ago. I was wondering if any of you could help me by telling me and explaining the steps from undergrad to become a an actual Ortho. I really appreciate the help and guidance that any of you can provide.

 

[PenguinHead]

I'll bite.

Undergrad - do well on MCAT, have good gpa, get accepted to med school

med school - make good grades, do well on step 1, honor your 3rd and 4th year rotations, get accepted to ortho

ortho residency - do 5 years of training, and 13 years from now...you're an orthopod.

 

[Round4]

Lol, I appreciate it. If you have any words of wisdom about this particular field please fill me in. i'm getting a taste of the Dental school process right now my wife is in the middle of it. Complicated at times is Medical school the same or is it like night and day?

 

[ddmo]

Lol, I appreciate it. If you have any words of wisdom about this particular field please fill me in. i'm getting a taste of the Dental school process right now my wife is in the middle of it. Complicated at times is Medical school the same or is it like night and day?

Medical school is similar to dental school, maybe a little more intense. This is especially true if you want to do ortho as you need to be at the head of your class.

 

[maxheadroom]

OK, pet peeve alert . . .

You'll never hear an Orthopedic Surgeon refer to himself as an "Ortho" or and "Ortho Surgeon". They're either an Orthopedic Surgeon, an Orthopod, or any number of "Bone" doctor variations.

For the other boys and girls out there, an ENT is either an ENT, an Otolaryngologist, or a Head & Neck Surgeon. He is not an "ENT Surgeon".

An Ophthomalogist is not an "Ophtho Surgeon".

Rant over. Max out.

 

[ChiDO]

Lol, I appreciate it. If you have any words of wisdom about this particular field please fill me in. i'm getting a taste of the Dental school process right now my wife is in the middle of it. Complicated at times is Medical school the same or is it like night and day?

This is me assuming a lot or reading very carefully. You say you have a wife, yet are in high school. So either you are an older individual going back to school, or married very very young.

On a side note, do ortho residency programs have any bias against older graduates? I've heard that some programs would rather take the 27 y/o then a 40 y/o med school graduate.

 

[Round4]

Well I married at 19 i'm now 22 my wife is 20 and will graduate next summer with her undergrad and beginning dental school next fall. Smart girl will be done in 3 years. So if all goes well i'll be 26 or 27 when or if I get into med school. Thats not terribly old is it?

 

[Round4]

OK, pet peeve alert . . .

You'll never hear an Orthopedic Surgeon refer to himself as an "Ortho" or and "Ortho Surgeon". They're either an Orthopedic Surgeon, an Orthopod, or any number of "Bone" doctor variations.

For the other boys and girls out there, an ENT is either an ENT, an Otolaryngologist, or a Head & Neck Surgeon. He is not an "ENT Surgeon".

An Ophthomalogist is not an "Ophtho Surgeon".

Rant over. Max out.

LOL sorry about that didn't think nothing of it. I'll be sure to call the title by what it is thanks for the headsup.

 

[ChiDO]

Well I married at 19 i'm now 22 my wife is 20 and will graduate next summer with her undergrad and beginning dental school next fall. Smart girl will be done in 3 years. So if all goes well i'll be 26 or 27 when or if I get into med school. Thats not terribly old is it?

Nope, that's probably average.

 

[ORSbird]

OK, pet peeve alert . . .

You'll never hear an Orthopedic Surgeon refer to himself as an "Ortho" or and "Ortho Surgeon". They're either an Orthopedic Surgeon, an Orthopod, or any number of "Bone" doctor variations.

For the other boys and girls out there, an ENT is either an ENT, an Otolaryngologist, or a Head & Neck Surgeon. He is not an "ENT Surgeon".

An Ophthomalogist is not an "Ophtho Surgeon".

Rant over. Max out.

Just curious, Max, how do you feel about the spelling of Orthopedics/Orthopaedics? I prefer it with an 'a'.

 

[maxheadroom]

As I'm not an Orthopod, I don't split hairs on the use of an "a" in Orthopedics. It seems to be the common American practice to delete the "a" and the British practice to include it. I'd say either one is appropriate as long as the user is consistent in usage.

 

[ddmo]

http://www.aaos.org/

Most of us use the A, just like the Academy. I've heard of programs not taking applications seriously when they don't use the A, because, "they can't even spell the word orthopaedic correctly." Can't say whether this is truth or hearsay.

 

[PenguinHead]

When spelling it for a specific document for a specific school, I'd spell it however they do on their website. Not that I think it actually matters..

 

[ptelefus]

Becoming an Orthopaedic Surgeon has always been a dream and I am well aware of the chances to become one. Either way, I have a dilemma as I've received acceptances from Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine and St. George's University (MD) in the Caribbean. I am equally excited about both opportunities but can not firmly decide on either school. If orthopaedic surgery is my speciality of desire, is one school really better than the other?? I understand people do not like discussing DO vs. MD, but I know the value of each and am trying to evaluate if one choice gives me an advantage for future opportunities. Any advice is greatly appreciated...

 

[Sarcoidosis]

Becoming an Orthopaedic Surgeon has always been a dream and I am well aware of the chances to become one. Either way, I have a dilemma as I've received acceptances from Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine and St. George's University (MD) in the Caribbean. I am equally excited about both opportunities but can not firmly decide on either school. If orthopaedic surgery is my speciality of desire, is one school really better than the other?? I understand people do not like discussing DO vs. MD, but I know the value of each and am trying to evaluate if one choice gives me an advantage for future opportunities. Any advice is greatly appreciated...

That is a good pickle you are in...

Two issues here... MD vs DO and Foreign School vs US School.
Your goal Ortho.... any backup?

Ortho is difficult, no matter where you go... Foreign MD or US DO.

St. George is as american a medschool as a foreign med school can get.
Find out about the DO school placement statistics...

What it boils down to for me personally is, forget ortho...be negative and say you will not get ortho...
then what do you want an MD or DO?

 

[darkmansaad]

i think sarc is onto something. You can easily change your mind in 4 years of med school, not to mention you may not do as well with your boards as you expect. In which case ortho might be ruled out due to desire/scores.....at that point do you want an MD or DO? If you are the most motivated man on earth you can get it both ways, will be tough regardless....but make the best overall choice

 

[Dimoak]

Another thing you may want to consider are DO residencies. If you do decide to go into Orthopaedics and have exceptional numbers, you can be competitive for Allopathic, as well as Osteopathic, residencies. But even if your numbers aren't competitive for MD programs, you may still be competitive enough, and match into a DO residency, after which you'll still become a Bonedoc. If you go with SGU, you'll essentially have to be exceptionally competitive as your only options will be the Allopathic residencies.

 

[stretch210]

No question about it...whether you want to be an orthopedic surgeon or not, go to AZCOM.

As others have mentioned...getting into Ortho from a foreign grad school is near impossible. Also, going DO will allow you a shot at both MD and DO programs.

Not to mention...AZCOM is a good school and will help you make yourself into a competitive candidate for any field and good doctor. So, if you do decide not to go into Ortho, it is not as if you will have shorted yourself by going to AZCOM...on the other hand if you go the foreign MD route, I promise you there will be MANY more obstacles to break through.

 

[gdk]

you can go to the nrmp website and see how many FMG's got into ortho. i'm not sure if it shows DO vs MD.
http://www.nrmp.org/data/index.html

good points above. it's hard to enter med school and already know what you want to do - before any clerkships, grades and step 1. you always need to think about a backup plan. how would md, do or FMG affect your backup besides ortho?

on age - you don't have to be young but i'm sure some programs don't like older applicants. i got into residency in my mid/late 30's and only got asked about my age in a few interviews.

on spelling, i think most academic programs use the "a"

 

[DH78]

For what it's worth, 5 WVSOM grads matched into ortho this year. I agree with the other posters, in that going to a DO school gives you a shot at the allo and osteo residencies, so perhaps more opportunity than the carib. Just kick butt on your boards/classes/rotations, and hope for the best!

Of course, your 1st choice may change in the 4 years of medical school...