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Graduating Osteopathic Physicians Get Results of DO Match DayToday 2,063 graduating osteopathic medical students successfully matched to osteopathic residencies, according to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). The other half of the Class of 2016 awaits the results of the MD Match, to be announced March 14. While new osteopathic physicians (DOs) and medical doctors (MDs) work and train together, DOs currently may choose between two systems for their post-graduate education. Those selecting the DO Match frequently pursue careers in primary care, as evidenced by today's results.
Osteopathic medicine is one of the fastest growing segments of health care, with one of every four incoming medical students attending an osteopathic medical school. To ensure the profession is helping meet the needs of rural and underserved areas, osteopathic medical schools are strategically located in areas where they can improve the overall health of the community. Over the past decade, 12 states have more than doubled the number of DOs practicing in their communities. Today's match results will further address the need for physicians in communities lacking specialists and primary care doctors , said John Becher, DO, president of the American Osteopathic Association. "These programs tend to attract young physicians who want to remain in the area after their residencies. Most physicians practice where they train, so ensuring that high-quality residencies are not centralized in well-served urban or academic areas is critical to providing access to care," Dr. Becher explained.
The American Osteopathic Association and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education are entering the second year of a five year transition to a single accreditation system for graduate medical education. During the transition, graduating DOs may choose to participate in either match and MD graduates may apply to ACGME programs that have received osteopathic recognition. By July 2020, most DO and MD residents will join in a unified match, in which all participants can choose residency programs with an osteopathic focus. About the AOA The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) represents more than 123,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and osteopathic medical students; promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for DOs; is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools; and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities. More information on DOs/osteopathic medicine can be found at www.osteopathic.org.
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