The ortho residencies are being filled almost entirely by MD students. I think there were 2 filled in 2012 by DOs in the recent NRMP report. In some earlier years, there were as many as 5.
Is it realistic to consider an MD residency, given the timing issues, even for those students with very high grades and scores?
Yes it very much is a possibility. You need to see what programs have had DO's in the past. Also, find out if programs are willing to have DO's. One of my friends said that LSU has ranked DO's in the past, but they never get to the rank list because they are all gone in the DO match. The problem is that is you are good enough to get into an MD ortho residency you are good enough for a DO residency. The problem is the timing of everything. I get very great feedback from an MD residency during auditions and interviews but when it came down to it I had a few "sure thing" DO spots and took that. Another person from my school the year after had killer stats and put in a lot of time at an MD program, but he ended up at a DO residency. Was he and I good enough for an MD spot...yes, could we have gotten in, Im almost positive. The key word is almost. It's hard to make that decision and think about it your entire TY year if you don't make it. Also, being on the other side now, I would pursue MD spot. The programs are just set up better, more structure, not neccessarily better experience but you also have a good name to back you up. Give it a shot, see if you have balls when it comes to decision time.
