What is up with this DO letter of rec requirement!?

[Pewl]

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I am really perplexed by this requirement that all these DO Schools have where they want a letter of rec from a DO. I mean, in my graduate program all I work with are Phd's and MD's and a veterniary oncologist. How often does a college student or even a graduate student come across a DO? One can get equally meaningful letters from non DO's too. I just feel this requirement is ridiculous.

How are you guys getting DO letters of rec?

 

[dr.z]

If you look for schools carefully, there are schools that do not require letter from DO. I applied without one, and it was fine. Goto www.aacom.org and look into schools that you are interested.

 

[MoosePilot]

You primarily aiming at allo schools?

If you allow that DOs might actually be different in some way than MDs, then it seems like it would be useful to a perspective student to have actually seen the difference in the real world before deciding to pursue an osteopathic education. It is also a quick test to see if you're really interested or just backing up your allo apps.

 

[mstann]

I work with a couple. I think you should probably shadow one to see what the difference is before you apply. Either that or read up on the differences. Then decide if you want to go allo or osteo.

 

[Pewl]

I work with a couple. I think you should probably shadow one to see what the difference is before you apply. Either that or read up on the differences. Then decide if you want to go allo or osteo.

Well I'm interested in radiation oncology haha. That's what my graduate work is all about and whichever way lends me a path to pursue that goal I will take it. Quite frankly it shouldn't be any of their business whether they are considered a "backup" or what not. There are people out there amazing enough who may use Yale as their "backup." Does this mean that Yale should take it badly? No, of course not!

Bah, haha, anyway, how often does a student come across a DO in an ACADEMIC setting?? =P
I guess I'll go look in a directory or something and start chatting up some DO's
Ugh.

 

[laboholic]

Well I'm interested in radiation oncology haha. That's what my graduate work is all about and whichever way lends me a path to pursue that goal I will take it. Quite frankly it shouldn't be any of their business whether they are considered a "backup" or what not.
Ugh.

Best of luck getting a residency in Rad Onc as a DO.. That is a field I am interested in and I have found very few DOs getting a Rad Onc residency in the match lists. Most of those residency programs take MDs or MD-PhD... Maybe you are getting your PhD and that will help you get a residency?.. In that case you may have a better shot.

 

[goinverted]

I think the only school I applied to that actually required a DO letter was OSU, the others just said it was a recommendation. I have shadowed DO's, but mainly in the OR and most of the clinical time was with an MD, so my MD is submitting my letter of rec. to the DO schools. I've heard if you have decent enough stats, and you've shadowed a DO, then you should be fine.

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

Rad-onc is hard to get into regardless of degree.

 

[Pewl]

Best of luck getting a residency in Rad Onc as a DO.. That is a field I am interested in and I have found very few DOs getting a Rad Onc residency in the match lists. Most of those residency programs take MDs or MD-PhD... Maybe you are getting your PhD and that will help you get a residency?.. In that case you may have a better shot.

I agree, radiation oncology is very competitive to get into now. It is such a cushy job though. The rad oncs at all of the clinics I've been to pretty much have everyone else do the work for them. The dosimetrist or medical physicist (me, haha) does all the treatment planning, the therapists and techs run the treatments. The rac onc just sits there outlining gtv's and ctv's on the ct scans! I'm hoping that my graduate degree in biomedical physics/radiation oncology will push me over the edge.

I know of a DO who is a neurosurgeon so I imagine it isn't impossible for DO's to get MD residencies.

 

[Nate]

Don’t forget that relatively more DOs go into primary care than MDs do, there are many more MDs than DOs, and that DOs have their own residencies that MDs cannot apply to. Just keep those factors in mind when you “don’t see many DOs in X specialty”.