Board Certification - is there a difference between doctors certified through different boards?

Question

Is there a difference if a plastic surgeon is board certified through the American Board of Plastic Surgery or through the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Board of Surgery Plastic & Reconstructive? I thought plastic surgeons could only be board certified through the American Board of Plastic Surgery, but I guess not. Is one more rigorous than the other?

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Generally physician and surgeons who attended Osteopathic School in the United States were not academically competitive enough to be accepted to Medical School. I say generally, because it is likely someone out there actually preferred to attend Osteopathic School. These are, on paper, parallel education systems that provide equal medical education. Osteopathic Schools also maintain a separate residency system so there is little mixing of so-called allopathic doctors and osteopathic doctors. The dual system is the result of a historic political compromise. About 7% of practicing physicians and surgeons are osteopaths. Generally students matriculating to osteopathic schools have lower MCAT scores and undergraduate grade point averages than students matriculating to medical school. That does not mean that a particular surgeon is better or worse than another. It very much depends on the individual. Good people are where you find them. Hope that helps,

Thomas Spalla, MD · Answer

The two boards to look for with regards to plastic surgery are:
The American Board of Plastic Surgery
&
The American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

These are both recognized by surgeons for the demands to achieve certification by either board as well as the rigors to even be in a position to become certified by these boards.
Training may vary between physicians would become board certified by one, or both, of these boards.
Depending on your specific areas of concern, you may feel more inclined to choose one over the other. I wouldn't let that be a sole deciding factor, however. Your surgeon's expertise, past results, and your relationship with your surgeon and their team is more important than which board they sat for.

Board Certification - is there a difference between doctors certified through different boards?

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