Concerning Students at Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine And Graduate Medical Education: Responding to proposed rule changes by the ACGME
1. As a DO student, are there any limitations on the residency training that I can pursue?
Graduates at osteopathic medical schools can pursue specialty training in either AOA-Accredited or ACGME-accredited residency programs. There are no limitations on the training that can be pursued.
2. How does the residency program I choose affect future career choices?
Currently, when you complete a residency, board certification typically is pursued through the certification board according to the certification (AOA or ACGME) of the program chosen. DOs who train in an ACGME residency, however, can ask for AOA approval of the residency program so that they can be certified by the AOA specialty board.
3. Does this mean that AOA residencies may not be recognized by hospitals?
There is no change in the recognition by hospitals or other entities concerning osteopathic training. AOA- and ACGME-certified residencies are equally recognized by hospitals. The rule change concerns entry into training programs.
4. Will Fellowship opportunities be affected by a student’s choice of residency?
Possibly. Currently, graduates of AOA or ACGME programs can both pursue Fellowship programs, with eligibility rules determined by the hospital and specialty. The ACGME is considering a rule change that would restrict ACGME fellowships to physicians (DOs and MDs) who have completed an ACGME residency.
5. What are the proposals mentioned?
The ACGME has proposed a focused change to the rules that govern ALL ACGME training programs for physicians. If adopted, DO graduates from osteopathic medical school will need to have completed training in an ACGME training program after graduation from the COM in order to enter an ACGME fellowship program or obtain advanced standing in an ACGME residency program (currently first-year OGME internship training is recognized for advanced standing by ACGME family medicine, radiology, anesthesiology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation programs). The rule changes can be accessed at http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/reviewComment/CommonPRs_R&C.pdf, and the impact statement concerning those changes can be accessed at http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/reviewComment/Common_Impact.pdf.
6. If a DO student enters an AOA internship, can he/she get credit for the internship and enter an ACGME residency as a PGY2?
Currently, it is up to each specialty’s residency review committee to decide if specific training meets its requirements specific to each year of training. Some ACGME programs (family medicine, radiology, anesthesiology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation) will give graduates of a DO internship advanced standing, but not full credit for the internship. The current ACGME proposed rule changes would make it necessary for a student who does an AOA internship to repeat that internship in an ACGME program in order to complete the ACGME residency.
7. If I train in a dually accredited or parallel program, will I get ACGME credit for that training?
If you are in a dually accredited program, you should receive ACGME credit for that residency program. If it is a parallel accredited program, you may or may not receive ACGME credit for the residency program. Until a decision is made on the ACGME common rule, this is a question that is difficult to answer.
8. If I am a Fellow in an ACGME residency, and completed an AOA residency, how will this affect me?
The proposed rule changes would not go into effect until July 2014. Board eligibility would not change because of this rule.
Questions?
If there are questions relating to graduate medical education that you have, feel free to send the question in an email to TCymet@aacom.org and we will add questions to the FAQ accordingly.