OB/GYN fellowships D.O. friendly?

[strawberryfield]

I am starting my 3rd year at the end of the month, and so far, not completely decided on different residency options. I am really interested in OB/GYN, and after shadowing a reproductive endocrinologist when I was in undergrad (one of my profs was his embryologist), I have since been interested in this option. My sister also recently had a difficult pregnancy and I had a wonderful experience with her MFM specialist. And also, in general, I have also always loved genetics, but I have relatively limited research experience aside from one semester in undergrad (in the field of plant genetics, nothing published or anything.) Most of my medical experience prior to med school was "real life" and not in the laboratory (and not ob-related).

From what I can find, most RI fellowships tend to have at least a year devoted to research (I really haven't done much to research the details of MFM fellowships.) And also, many of these fellowships are at huge coastal highly academic research institutions. Needless to say I feel more than intimidated in even thinking about this possibility...does anyone out there know how DO friendly these institutions are? I just took step 1 COMLEX (scored 589/88) and will take USMLE step 1 in about 2 weeks. Is there anything more I can do besides do my best to do well on the USMLE (step 1 and 2), and do well in rotations where I can get a chance to see these specialties in practice during 4th year electives?

I guess I just don't know what I need to do to get me going down this path... thank you so much for any information!

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[community]

I sent you a PM

 

[medmom]

I am starting my second year but I would also like to know. PM me too please?

 

[OBandWifey]

I'm in my fourth year...3 days to be exact . And I too am very very interested in MFM. Could you please PM me. Oh and I'm at a DO school also. Have some research in genetics that was done in undergrad. Did some research while in med school but the professor left and took the project with him. I would love some info. Please and Thank you.

 

[Diane L. Evans]

Too many PMs for me.

Almost all the allopathic residencies are DO friendly. I would start by looking at the rosters if a DO is a resident you will generally not have a problem. This goes for the faculty list as well. More DO's are pursuing fellowships in the last 5 yrs hence a generalize trend toward acceptance has been seen.

The only road block I have heard of is the older physicians who remember the 1960's and DO's not being allowed into the military etc.

Good luck feel free to PM c specifics

 

[community]

Strawberryfield….here are the answers to your questions. I hope this helps others:

Did you take both sets of boards?

I did not take both sets of boards but did match in an allopathic program. I rec'd almost 20 interviews with just the COMLEX. It cannot hurt you to take the USMLE though (if you feel like you will do well). Use Qbank as a gauge to assess your future score before taking the exam.

If I apply for allopathic residencies only, will they also look at my COMLEX scores in addition to USMLE?

When I applied 2+ yrs ago DO applicants did not have to release their USMLE score to allopathic programs. That may have changed. I would contact ERAS for that info.

Should I apply to only allopathic residencies?

I felt that allopathic residency was the only route for me to go since I knew that I would be applying for fellowship and there were are limited DO fellowships in REI. I applied to the AOA (via Resolution 42 ) for approval of my intern year in an allopathic residency as a DO rotating year and was approved. (see do-online.org for details regarding the resolution)

How many programs did you apply to and did you get one of your top choices for residency spots?

I got my 1st choice in terms of residency programs and went on approx 16 – 17 interviews. I did apply widely to programs on the east coast which I would also recommend to you. It is well worth the investment, and very easy via Eras.

Do you know of good programs to do away rotations at during 4th year, ones with good opportunities to see MFM/REI?

It depends on where you want to be geographically in the long run. That is how you should decide where to do your elective. If you are already an outstanding applicant (look good on paper), you may not need to do an away rotation. I did an elective at a competitive institution in MFM and worked my butt off (working 75+ hrs per week) and was able to get a letter of recommendation at the end. At the end of the elective I was burnt out and decided not to do anymore hard core elective rotations away from my institution. I did however to an OB anesthesia elective and REI elective at more low key institutions.

Do you know about any international programs that emphasize OBGYN and would be open to 4th yr med students?

I did an elective in Guatemala for 5 weeks through the program Mundo Guatemala. I worked at a women's health clinic for a couple of weeks while taking Spanish. I then met a cool group of nurses at my Spanish school and traveled with them for 2 wks to another part of the country to do GYN surgery with a OBGYN group out of California. It was a great experience. I recommend an international experience for as many months as you are able to afford. The program I used ran me approx $900 (included meals, room, Spanish classes, clinic experience) for a 5 wk program but that did not include my change of plans the last 2 weeks. If you decide to do the same program let me know.

One thing I often wonder about is how the lifestyle is for an OBGYN resident. Do you have time for yourself, and do you have a family?

I am married. No kids yet though…would love to have some. The time you have for yourself as a resident varies with the rotation. You just need to make the time for yourself a priority and you will be fine. It is an adjustment though. You will work harder than you can imagine.

I hope this helps all of you!!!!

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

I just took step 1 COMLEX (scored 589/88) and will take USMLE step 1 in about 2 weeks. Is there anything more I can do besides do my best to do well on the USMLE (step 1 and 2), and do well in rotations where I can get a chance to see these specialties in practice during 4th year electives?

I'm not an Ob/Gyn resident.

I'm just here to tell you that USMLE Step 2 may not be required if you do well on Step 1. If you're NBME's are predicting > 220 you're in good shape for Ob/Gyn. G'luck!

 

[Momentum70]

I know this is older thread but i noticed some people asking were 3rd years. Im at loma linda and 2/6 people they took last year were DO, i dont hink that is the norm, but it at least mean DOs have a chance with the MDs here

 

[Diane L. Evans]

Thanks for the update... To what fellowship did you match?

 

[hopefulfuturedo]

Thanks for the update... To what fellowship did you match?

What is a good comlex score for OBGYN (D.O. programs vs. M.D. programs)

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Just don't assume a program is DO friendly because they have a lot of DOs. The ob/gyn program at my school is close to half DO, but the new program director specifically doesn't like that and is pretty crappy to them. A lot of the DOs in the program are actually jumping ship because it's so bad. I wouldn't recommend that anyone go to the program at my school (it's on probation anyway), but it's especially bad for DOs.

 

[strawberryfield]

Just don't assume a program is DO friendly because they have a lot of DOs. The ob/gyn program at my school is close to half DO, but the new program director specifically doesn't like that and is pretty crappy to them. A lot of the DOs in the program are actually jumping ship because it's so bad. I wouldn't recommend that anyone go to the program at my school (it's on probation anyway), but it's especially bad for DOs.

That stinks. What school are you at? so I can avoid it... I am already getting a sense of some of that in my neck of the woods here in AZ at a program in town, which has DOs, but I will not be applying to.

So here's an update...USMLE step 1 of 213/88 (not >220 as Doctor Saib recommended). However, that seems to be in line with the published avgs of many programs I am looking at (where they are actually published, that is.) I am thinking I might need to take step 2 to increase my chances and get a better avg, although COMLEX was above average, USMLE is just about avg. I have been doing well on NBME shelf exams, and I think I could do relatively well on step 2. thoughts anyone? thanks!

 

[wvshootr]

It seems the answers have gotten off track and more towards residency issues.

As for REI, the fellowship is open to DO residents. It is a very competitive fellowship, with only 34-35 spots each year, and in the range of 200-300 applicants usually. I'm about to start my third year in my program, and when we interview people, we never look at USMLE scores and such. Much more attention is paid to CREOG scores (the yearly obgyn exam). This shows us who the stars are. I can't recall us ever mentioning USMLE scores. We would not frown on a person because of a DO, if they are otherwise suitably competitive. I am in a midwestern program, where it's less uncommon to see DOs as opposed to the coastal programs. The same opinions likely wouldn't be held in the northeast and west coast. Research is very important, as more than anything it shows how hard a person has worked. What they researched isn't important really, just that they had the drive to go the extra mile to get to the fellowship. REI fellows are required to do 18 months of research, which is a full 1/2 of the three year fellowship. So a strong research background is very important. The best info I could give for anyone is to work extra hard the first three years of residency, do as much research as possible, and talk to people. Knowing people is still very very important. Scoring the top in your class on CREOGS is a must, and even then, all the other applicants will be just as competitive as you. A lot of it is luck, no doubt. Good luck.


Travis McCoy, MD FACOG
REI fellow

 

[RGMSU]

The DO issue is almost irrelevant now folks. It's all about grades and scores. I'm surprised osteopathic students still worry about it. You can find at least one DO in a department at almost any major medical center - University of Chicago, Scott & White, wherever.

 

[ocean77]

This might be a little off topic, but I would really like to have some feedback from the people who have been through or going through the whole process.

When applying to the top notch residency programs (like UCLA) are DO US given more preference than Caribbean MD or vice verse (assuming that other stats are same)?

Thank You!!

 

[hilseb]

I am not sure if the DO aspect is completely irrelevant.

I am a 3rd year, and I am looking at residency programs and trying to decide where to do my elective rotations. A few of the programs I am interested in have no DO residents and no DOs on faculty. One program, Asheville (MAHEC) in NC has a director of the ob/gyn dept who went to an osteopathic medical school, did an allopathic residency, and then apparently did two more years of medical school to get an MD. (All on his CV on their website. He did this in the 80's.) I have heard from at least one program (Northwestern) that they charge DO students to rotate there, since their students cannot rotate at DO programs and they feel there is a lack of a reciprocal relationship.

With a limited amount of slots to do elective rotations, this concerns me. I don't want to waste a spot on a program that seems to be not DO friendly, and I certainly don't want to pay for a spot.

Sorry, I continued the non fellowship derail. But, we have to get into residency first, right?

 

[moondoggy]

I am familiar with the Northwestern program and assure you that no student is charged to do an elective.