Internship Requirement

Four States (Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma) still require that the osteopathic internship be completed before DOs are permitted full practice rights. (West Virginia removed this requirement in 2009.)  If you plan to practice in one of these states, and have an opinion regarding this requirement, make sure that your both your state osteopathic leaders and state legislators are aware of your position.  Pennsylvania recently enacted legislation, sponsored by DO groups within the state, designed to block osteopathic physician usage of resolution 42.  DOs use resolution 42 to fulfill the osteopathic internship requirement when they are graduates of an allopathic residency.  This change to Pennsylvania law will virtually prohibit DOs trained in allopathic GME programs from obtaining a license to practice in Pennsylvania.

Student Debt

Many programs, whether state based or through the National Health Service Corps, have been enacted to help with student debt.  Most residency programs are run by either nonprofit or government hospitals, meaning that students working for these types of 501(c)(3) nonprofit or government entities for a ten year period (including residency) will be free of debt!  For many students, this debt forgiveness is likely to occur before they have even paid off what amounts to the original principle on the loan.  Here is a link.