Current Barriers in Pursuing Otolaryngology as an Osteopathic Applicant and Proposed Goals for the Future

Abstract

The osteopathic (DO) medical profession has seen a substantial increase in popularity, evident by the drastic increase in the DO physician workforce and increasing number of DO graduates in the United States. Osteopathic medical schools have historically been primary care focused, resulting in a majority of their graduates pursuing practice in those specialties. This focus may be inadvertently creating a disadvantageous environment for DO students who aim to pursue specialized or traditionally competitive fields in medicine. Otolaryngology is a prime example of osteopathic underrepresentation, as there is currently a significantly low percentage of DO residents in otolaryngology residency programs and practicing DO otolaryngologists. Given the recent American Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and American Osteopathic Association (AOA) merger between osteopathic and allopathic (MD) residency programs, it is of great value to further discuss avenues for progress and mitigation of barriers.

Cross-Sectional Study of Osteopathic General Surgeons in University-Based General Surgery Departments

“…This discrepancy is further accentuated at the academic general surgery level, where osteopathic graduates are seldom represented as faculty, as noted in our results. While the barriers to entry to university-based surgical residency programs have been well established in previous literature, very little is known about osteopathic surgeons who serve as faculty at these institutions [ 4 , 5 ]. Our survey of 106 university-based general surgery departments identified 70 faculty who hold a DO degree.…”

“…Mentors encountered during medical school, residency, and fellowship play a significant role in fostering academic advancement [ 9 ]. For some osteopathic medical students and residents who undergo their training at non-university-based programs, access to available mentors is, at times, limited [ 4 , 5 , 10 ]. This limited access to academic institutions can create challenges for osteopathic students and residents in forging relationships and obtaining letters of recommendation from nationally recognized surgical leaders.…”

“…Furthermore, this lack of representation in academic residency programs manifests as fewer osteopathic surgeons joining academic surgery departments as faculty. While the barriers for DO students to enter surgical residency have previously been studied, there is a lack of literature describing osteopathic surgeons who eventually pursue careers in academic general surgery as attending physicians [ 4 , 5 ]. To fill this gap in knowledge and to serve as a guide for future academic osteopathic surgeons, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of osteopathic faculty at university-based academic surgery departments and characterized their academic credentials.…”

Development of the National Otolaryngology Interest Group: Conception to Implementation

“…In 2020, osteopathic and allopathic residency programs merged under a single accrediting body, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, with an aim to standardize training and increase graduate medical education positions 3 . In theory, the merger should encourage equity among applicants; however, there remains a sizable discrepancy in match rates among allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical students 4 . Disparity is also seen in match rates between MD students having a home otolaryngology program and those without an affiliated program 5 .…”

“…3 In theory, the merger should encourage equity among applicants; however, there remains a sizable discrepancy in match rates among allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical students. 4 Disparity is also seen in match rates between MD students having a home otolaryngology program and those without an affiliated program. 5 Last, otolaryngology continues to struggle in recruiting students who are traditionally underrepresented in medicine.…”