dually accredited programs (AOA & ACGME)

[kanapen]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So today I had my first interview for residency, and it was to be for a preliminary year (PGY1) that was dually accredited. I show up at 3:10 for my 3:30 interview, am seated in the conference room. Within a few minutes they call my name out for the interview. Butterflies are in my stomach, but I remind myself to stay calm, and I enter the room. An intern identifies herself, and the program director does the same. He opens up my file and starts mentioning a couple things from my file. Then he stops, and looks up, and asks, "You're applying for neurology?" I nod my head yes. This is where the confusion began.

For those looking for dually accredited programs, don't get these confused with the rotating internship. I was informed at this interview that the hospital I was at, Maimonides in Brooklyn, does offer a prelim year, but it's with the department of medicine, not through osteopathic education. The way that it seemed was like it was a medicine prelim year that was AOA approved, rather than an osteopathic rotating year that was ACGME approved. Since I'd already rotated at a place where somebody didn't have the right type of internship under his belt and got booted out of the program months before he was to start, I cut my losses there, and was out of my interview at 3:25. Yes, five minutes before the interview was actually scheduled to begin. I guess I could re-apply to the program for the prelim year as the program director was saying, but at this point, I'm not exactly feeling brooklyn. And as another word of advice to those applying- to be sure about if you're applying to the right program, call in the people and find out. I was pretty lazy about that, and well, it cost me a day out of my rotation, which I'll have to make up during my vacation during the next block.

 

[melmc]

Man, this whole AOA vs ACGME stuff gives me a headache!

My initial thought was to forgo the DO match all together to avoid the confusion/expense of trying to balance both, but now I'm afraid that not participating in the NMS match may put my future licensure in jeopardy!

Here is a quote from an email my Dean’s office just sent out:

“Nonparticipation in the [NMS, aka osteopathic] Match
The importance of participating in the [NMS] Match cannot be overstated, because of its impact on students' future credentialing and practice options. Some states deny licensure to osteopathic physicians who have not completed AOA-approved postdoctoral training. All AOA-approved residency training programs require satisfactory completion of OGME-1 training. Completion of AOA-approved postdoctoral training is also required to sit for osteopathic specialty certification board examinations. As the medical profession moves increasingly to managed care and healthcare rationing, decisions students make now regarding their postdoctoral training will have great impact on their future credentials and potential for reimbursement and staff privileges.”