DO Student - Chance at ACGME Ortho Residency?

By Guest on Tuesday, 09 November 2010

Posted in Match Center

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Hi guys. I am a 3rd year DO Student, and I was wondering if I had a shot at matching into any ACGME Ortho Residencies. Here's a little about me:

I have decent board scores (USMLE 244). I am number 8 in my class (top 5%). I have won a couple of research awards for Orthopedic Research (just a poster, no pubs). I am currently in the process of setting up some 3rd year clinical research. I have also taken a research honors course, and another honors course in my medical school that basically amounted to at least 4 hours of extra class a week and lots of extra contact hours outside of school. We spent a lot of extra time with trained patients and learning procedures. (I don't want to name the program, because people in my school would automatically know that it's me on here). I won an award for volunteering 40+ hours in a year, and I went on a medical mission trip.

Which if any ACGME Ortho residencies would I have a shot at? Which residencies do you guys know of that DO students have matched into?

It's not that your scores, activities, and everything aren't good, they are great and make you competitive, but there are few DO's that match into allopathic orthopaedic residencies, maybe one or two a year out of what, like 680 or something?

Additionally, you are competing against allopathic students that are just as good on paper as you are, so the only thing that separates you two is where you went to school, and sometimes that's enough...

Also...you have to be prepared to answer the proverbial "why allopathic ortho...etc", b/c it will be asked and you must have a very good reason as to why?

Good luck and PM me if you have any other questions.

Guest

15 years ago

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#56863

Your chances are slim. Just to add to the thought process...DOs can apply to MD residencies, but MDs can't apply to DO residencies. If we already have too many qualified MDs for allopathic ortho spots, then why would we select DOs when they already have their own DO ortho residencies?

Guest

15 years ago

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#56864

I agree. You are really going to have to set yourself apart in the extras compartment. Your board scores are just average and your grades aren't going to mean quite as much just because they aren't directly comparable to an MD application. However, that being said, it doesn't mean it is impossible, it just means you are going to have to work harder. I would pick some strategic away rotations at less competitive programs and work your ass off.

Guest

15 years ago

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#56865

Here's a great link

http://www.nrmp.org/data/index.html

It has a bunch of PDFs with stats of the match results for the past several years, who matched, etc.

There were 3 in 2010 that matcched that were DOs... 0.2% ... the highest number in the past 5 years was 4 ... 0.3 % of all who matched.

I'd say it would be very difficult.

Just my 2 cents

TCBO1

Guest

15 years ago

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#56866

Thanks for all the responses. You guys make some really good and valid points. It's funny, because of all those small numbers you guys are talking about, I know 3 of those guys, lol.

Basically, there are a couple of programs that i know are DO friendly that I also have good contact with. I will probably rotate there, and focus the rest on AOA programs. You guys have made it really clear that if I want to do ortho (and I do), I may have to train at an AOA program.

I guess the answer to the why allopathic ortho question would be, I want to train at the place that will make me the best surgeon, whether it be MD or DO. I'm not a die hard osteopath. I'm one of the few that will admit the only reason I'm at a DO school is because I didn't get into an MD school, lol. I wasn't going to let that stop me from chasing my dream of becoming an orthopedic surgeon, though. Thanks for all the advice, and any more you guys have is much appreciated.

Guest

15 years ago

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#56867