No its not DO unfriendly but the kicker is most allergy programs are at big academic centers so coming from a community IM or peds program can make it more challenging than being a DO at an academic program. However, coming from a community program does not in any way shape or form preclude you from matching Allergy. I would suggest DOs who want to match Allergy prepare an app in med school that will be competitive enough for an academic program in peds or IM to maximize chances of matching. Allergy is middle competitiveness of all the subspecialties-in order of competitiveness I would say:
1. GI
2. Cards
3. H/O
4. PCCM
5. Allergy
6. Rheum
7. ID
8. Endo
9. Nephro
Regardless, the match rate for Allergy is actually quite high at around 80%
Would like to chime in and put a plug for Allergy/Immunology as others have already stated and stress how important it is to set yourself up for A/I (and any specialty for that matter) by going to the best residency you can.
A/I is easily the best IM lifestyle specialty and actually more competitive than people tend to think.
Allergy’s competitiveness is reflected in this year’s NRMP match data:
GI - 65.5% (57.3% US MD, 99.7% filled)
Cards - 66.8% (51.8% US MD, 99.7%)
A/I - 72.0% (67.3% US MD, 99.4% filled)
H/O - 77.5% (54.9% US MD, 99.3% filled)
Rheum - 77.9% (42.9% US MD, 98.9% filled)
Pulm/Crit - 78.9% (45.5 US MD, 98.5% filled)
Endo - 90.6% (31.1% US MD, 92.3% filled)
Palli - 91.2% (63.7% US MD, 83.1% filled)
Sleep - 91.5% (40.4% US MD, 88.3% filled)
Nephro - 93.9% (25.5% US MD, 65.8% filled)
Geri - 96.0% (40.6% US MD, 44.5% filled)
ID - 96.7% (54.5% US MD, 67.3% filled)
Allergy is the third most competitive specialty in IM right behind GI and Cards (although IM + peds apply and there’s no way to differentiate between the match rate for IM or peds only) and has the highest percentage of US MD’s matching into the specialty.
People are realizing it’s a sweet gig for the money you make and amount you work. It’s not as “sexy” as GI or cards but I highly recommend that IM residents consider this field.