How will the MD-DO residency merger affect students seeking an MD and students seeking a DO, particularly those students interesting in pursuing ophthalmology?

Question

I've has a passion for medicine for as long as I can remember. Due to my medical history and having read up on various conditions and diseases, I've found ophthalmology to be the field, that I would like to pursue, so that I can give other individuals a shot at living an uninhibited life. I know that ophthalmology is a difficult residency to place into, often granted to the top 10% of medical school classes. I was hoping to know what would happen during the merger, so that I could be better informed as to how attending either an MD or DO school would affect my chances of getting the residency that I'd like. #medicine -school -education #residency #ophthalmology

Ryan Nolte, MD Vascular surgery 9 Answers Atlanta, Georgia · Answer 1 · Dec 22, 2023

Updated Dec 22, 2023

Ryan’s Answer

Opthalmology is one of the most competitive residencies to match into from medical school. The affect of the DO-MD merger is going to be negligible on you. Your STEP 1 score, STEP 2 score, grades, and letters of recommendation from professors are what matters, in that order.

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Jared Cox Optometrist 11 Answers · Answer 2 · 2021-03-03T13:06

Updated Feb 10, 2018

Jared’s Answer

If eyecare is truly your calling, you should consider Optometry. Optometric Physicians are the primary care providers within eyecare and handle all of a patient's care outside of a surgical suite. Ophthalmologists are typically only the surgeons. There are also multiple subspecialties within Optometry beyond primary eye care to consider if your interests are so inclined.

Jared recommends the following next steps:

Visit the American Optometric Association website for more information.

Hi! I am also interested in ophthalmology for very similar reasons. When I researched, I found out the ophtalmologists aren't actually only the "eye surgeons". They are known to have a very unique blend of surgical and clinical practices. Most ophthalmologists usually work in clinics and do 2-3 surgeries a week. I may be incorrect, but that's what I've found in the past. Thanks, Samruddhi Samruddhi Mar 03, 2021

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How will the MD-DO residency merger affect students seeking an MD and students seeking a DO, particularly those students interesting in pursuing ophthalmology?

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