Essential Questions for DO Graduates Seeking Plastic Surgery Residency

As a DO graduate applying to plastic surgery, you’re navigating one of the most competitive specialties while also managing unique osteopathic considerations. One of your best tools on the interview trail is not just how you answer questions—but what you ask. Thoughtful, targeted questions show maturity, insight, and that you understand the realities of an integrated plastics match as a DO.

This guide focuses specifically on questions to ask programs—including attendings, residents, and program leadership—so you can evaluate fit and advocate for yourself strategically.

---

Why Your Questions Matter So Much as a DO in Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery residency interviews are not just about programs choosing you—they’re also about you assessing whether the training environment will support your goals as a DO graduate.

For a DO candidate, your questions should help you:

• Clarify how the program views and supports DO residents
• Understand case volume and operative exposure in a highly technical specialty
• Gauge board preparation for both USMLE and COMLEX (if relevant)
• Assess how competitive fellowships and jobs have been for prior DO graduates
• Identify red flags in culture, workload, or mentorship

Programs fully expect you to ask questions. Coming with a prepared but flexible list:

• Demonstrates you’ve researched them
• Signals professionalism and maturity
• Helps you distinguish one integrated plastic surgery residency from another in a crowded season
• Gives you concrete data to compare offers if you match more than one listable program in your rank order

Use the categories below as a framework. You don’t need to ask everything—prioritize what matters most to you and adjust based on each conversation.

---

Core Questions About Program Structure and Training

These questions help you understand the foundation of your training: rotations, case mix, call, and what daily life is actually like.

For the Program Director or Associate PD

1. Training structure and philosophy

• “How would you describe the overall philosophy of training here—more graduated autonomy, or early responsibility with close supervision?”
• “What do you see as this program’s greatest strengths in preparing residents for independent practice in plastic surgery?”
• “Have there been any recent or upcoming changes to the program structure or curriculum, and what prompted those changes?”

Why this matters (especially for DOs):
You want a program that’s intentional about training surgeons, not just service coverage. DO graduates often appreciate mentorship-rich environments where faculty invest in developing operative judgment and technical skill.

2. Case mix and operative exposure

• “What is the typical case mix for residents—reconstruction vs. cosmetic vs. hand vs. craniofacial?”
• “By the end of training, do most residents exceed ACGME minimum case requirements? In which areas are they particularly strong?”
• “How is operative autonomy assessed and increased over the years?”

Look for tangible responses, not vague reassurance. You can follow up with:

• “At what point does a typical resident start performing entire cases primarily, with attending supervision?”

3. Early years and off-service rotations

• “How are the first 1–3 years structured for integrated residents, and how much of that time is on plastic surgery versus off-service?”
• “Are off-service rotations—like general surgery, ENT, ortho, burn—tailored to skills that truly help plastics training?”
• “How much interaction do junior residents have with plastics attendings early on?”

4. Call structure and workload

• “What does call look like at each level—home vs. in-house, frequency, and typical overnight responsibilities?”
• “Is call shared with other services, such as ENT or hand, or is it plastics-only?”
• “How does the program support residents when workloads are unusually heavy—backup systems, cross-coverage, moonlighting restrictions?”

Red flag tip:
If answers about call, hours, or coverage feel evasive, probe gently:

• “How often do residents hit or exceed the 80-hour work week, and how is that monitored?”

You don’t want a program that regularly skirts duty-hour rules.

---

Specific Questions for DO Graduates: Culture, Support, and Boards

As a DO graduate pursuing a plastic surgery residency, you need to explicitly understand how the program integrates osteopathic residents and what their outcomes look like.

For Program Leadership (PD, Chair, or APD)

1. Program’s experience with DO graduates

• “How many DO residents have you had in the program over the past 5–10 years?”
• “What have been the fellowship or job placement outcomes for your DO graduates compared with MD graduates?”
• “Have you made any specific efforts to attract or support DO applicants in the integrated plastics match?”

You’re listening for whether DO residents are treated as full equals and whether they’ve been successful.

2. USMLE, COMLEX, and exam expectations

• “Do you have any preferences or requirements regarding USMLE versus COMLEX for DO residents once they’re here?”
• “How do you support residents preparing for written and oral boards, and do you track board pass rates by graduating class?”
• “Do DO graduates here have any unique needs with respect to board prep, and how do you address those?”

If you took only COMLEX or both COMLEX and USMLE, tailor your follow-up questions accordingly.

3. Integration within the team

• “How would you describe the culture around DO and MD residents here—are there any differences in opportunities, leadership roles, or evaluations?”
• “Have DO residents held chief positions or had leadership roles (education chief, research chief, committees)?”

Programs that have had successful, visible DO chiefs usually have fewer unspoken biases.

4. Support and advocacy

• “If a resident struggles—academically, clinically, or personally—what supports are available?”
• “Can you share an example of how the program has supported a trainee through a difficult time?”

This is crucial in a demanding field like plastic surgery where burnout and stress are real risks.

---

Questions to Ask Residents: Culture, Lifestyle, and Real-Life Experience

Residents are often your most valuable source of unfiltered information. Ask them questions you might phrase more cautiously with faculty.

Culture, collegiality, and wellness

• “How would you describe the culture among residents—collaborative, competitive, supportive?”
• “Do residents socialize together outside of work, or is it more of a strictly professional relationship?”
• “What are some examples of how the program has responded if residents raise concerns about workload, wellness, or mistreatment?”

Follow-up probe for DO concerns:

• “As a DO applying here, I’m curious—how have DO residents been integrated on team dynamics? Have they ever felt treated differently?”

Day-to-day life and workload

• “What does a ‘typical’ day look like for an PGY-1? For a mid-level? For a chief?”
• “Do you feel that your time in the OR, on the floor, and in clinic is balanced in a way that supports your learning?”
• “How often do you feel you’re pushed to or beyond 80 hours per week? Does the program respond when that happens?”

Gauge whether residents sound consistently exhausted or bitter, or tired but proud and supported.

Autonomy and attending relationships

• “How approachable are the attendings? Can you comfortably ask for help or admit when you don’t know something?”
• “Do you feel that your level of responsibility and autonomy is appropriate for your level of training?”
• “Have you ever felt you were used mainly as service coverage without adequate educational value?”

DO-specific questions for residents (especially DO residents, if present)

• “How has your experience been as a DO in this program? Any hurdles you didn’t expect?”
• “Did you feel you had to prove yourself differently compared with MD colleagues?”
• “Have you felt fully supported in research, case selection, and fellowship preparation as a DO?”

Answers here are often the most candid and informative for your situation.

---

Academic Environment, Research, and Career Outcomes

Plastic surgery is highly academic and fellowship-driven. As a DO graduate, demonstrating scholarly productivity can help counter any lingering bias, so it’s important to know how the program supports this.

Questions about research infrastructure

Ask the Program Director, Research Director, or interested faculty:

• “What research opportunities are available in plastic surgery—clinical, translational, basic science, outcomes, or quality improvement?”
• “Is there a formal research curriculum or protected research time built into the schedule?”
• “How many conference presentations or publications do your residents typically have by graduation?”
• “Are there ongoing projects that a motivated DO resident could plug into early on?”

If you’re highly research-oriented:

• “Are there options for a dedicated research year, or for integrating advanced degrees like MPH, MS, or PhD?”

Questions about mentorship and career development

• “How are mentors assigned—do residents choose, or are they paired with faculty?”
• “Are there formal career development meetings where you review residents’ CVs, goals, and fellowship plans?”
• “How do you support residents interested in competitive fellowships like craniofacial, hand, or microsurgery?”

For DO-specific advocacy:

• “Have DO graduates from this or similar programs successfully matched into competitive fellowships, and what helped them stand out?”

Fellowship and job placement outcomes

• “What percentage of graduates pursue fellowship vs. go straight into practice?”
• “Can you share examples of recent graduates’ fellowships or job placements, especially any DO graduates?”
• “How involved are faculty when residents are applying for fellowships or first jobs—letters, networking, contacting mentors at other institutions?”

A strong track record of graduates landing good positions—regardless of degree—signals a program that truly invests in their trainees.

---

Strategic Questions for Pre-Interview, Interview Day, and Post-Interview

Not every question is appropriate at every stage. Here’s how to time and frame what to ask.

Before the interview: research-driven questions

Review the program’s website, FREIDA, and recent publications. This lets you ask more nuanced, individualized questions.

Examples:

• “I saw that your division is expanding its microsurgery program—how has that changed resident operative exposure?”
• “I noticed your residents presented at [specific conference]. How does the program support conference attendance and presentation?”

These show you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested.

On interview day: questions to ask program director

These are high-yield “what to ask program director” items that show maturity and insight:

• “From your perspective, what personal and professional qualities make a resident really thrive here?”
• “Where do you see the program in 5–10 years, and how do you see residents contributing to that growth?”
• “If you could change one thing about the program, what would it be, and what steps are being taken toward that?”

If you feel a strong interest in the program:

• “As a DO graduate pursuing plastic surgery, is there anything specific you’d recommend I focus on—skills, knowledge, or experiences—if I were fortunate enough to match here?”

On interview day: interview questions for them (residents)

These are ideal to ask in resident-only sessions or social events:

• “What surprised you most after starting residency—either positively or negatively?”
• “If you had to choose again, would you pick this program, and why or why not?”
• “How responsive is leadership when residents provide feedback or suggest changes?”

For DO-focused curiosity:

• “Have there been any DO residents before, and how have they done here in terms of leadership, research, or fellowships?”

Post-interview: follow-up and clarification

After your interviews, you may identify gaps in what you know about a program. It’s appropriate to send one concise, professional email for clarification, but avoid crossing into “post-interview communication” territory that programs may be sensitive about.

Possible clarification questions:

• “I realized I didn’t fully understand how elective time is structured—could you share how much elective time residents have and what they typically do with it?”
• “Could you clarify opportunities for DO residents to participate in leadership roles or resident committees?”

Avoid questions that could have easily been answered from the website; it can come across as lack of preparation.

---

Practical Tips for Using These Questions Effectively

1. Customize, don’t memorize

Rather than carrying a long printed list, create:

• A one-page sheet with 8–12 priority questions
• A few program-specific questions tailored from their website or publications
• A couple of backup questions if conversation lulls

Use the categories from this guide—program structure, DO support, culture, research, and outcomes—as your framework.

2. Match the question to the right person

• Program Director: Big-picture, policy, outcomes, philosophy, DO representation, and board performance
• Residents: Culture, day-to-day workload, call, how policies actually play out
• Research Director or faculty: Research structure, expectations, and mentorship
• Coordinator: Logistics, housing, benefits, scheduling details

You’ll get better answers when your question aligns with the person’s role.

3. Prioritize DO-relevant questions early

In a competitive integrated plastics match, you may only get a few chances to explicitly address your status as a DO graduate. Prioritize:

• “How have DO residents fared here?”
• “Are there any differences in expectations or support for DO and MD graduates?”
• “What advice do you have for a DO pursuing plastic surgery here in terms of standing out and succeeding?”

These give you critical information about whether this environment will support your long-term goals.

4. Watch how people answer, not just what they say

Pay attention to:

• Body language when you mention DO status
• Whether they can name DO graduates or give concrete examples
• The emotional tone when discussing hours, autonomy, or wellness
• Consistency between what residents and faculty say

If faculty emphasize “we treat everyone the same” but residents describe obvious hierarchy or bias, take note.

5. Take structured notes after each interview

Within an hour after leaving (or logging off a virtual interview):

• Jot down specific answers to key questions about:
  • DO support and representation
  • Case volume and autonomy
  • Culture and resident happiness
  • Research and fellowship placements
• Rate each program informally on:
  • Fit as a DO graduate
  • Operative training quality
  • Academic and career support
  • Personal lifestyle and geographic preference

These will be invaluable when you build your rank list.

---

Sample Question Sets You Can Adapt

To make this immediately usable, here are bundled question sets tailored to different people you’ll meet.

To ask a Program Director (5–7 questions)

1. “How would you describe the ideal resident who thrives in this plastic surgery program?”
2. “What do you see as this program’s main strengths and areas for ongoing improvement?”
3. “How have DO residents—or DO applicants more broadly—fit into the culture of your program?”
4. “What supports are in place for residents studying for written and oral boards, and how are pass rates tracked?”
5. “How strong is the operative experience in areas like microsurgery, hand, and craniofacial, and where do your graduates typically feel most confident?”
6. “How does the program support residents who are pursuing competitive fellowships or academic careers?”
7. “If I match here as a DO graduate, what would you recommend I focus on early to be successful?”

To ask Residents (6–8 questions)

1. “What does a typical week look like for you at your level of training?”
2. “How would you describe the overall resident culture—do people look out for each other?”
3. “How approachable are faculty when you need help or want feedback?”
4. “Do you feel you have enough operative experience to build your skills, especially in the junior years?”
5. “Have you worked with DO residents here? How has their experience been?”
6. “Have there been any residents who struggled, and how did the program respond?”
7. “What are the biggest strengths and weaknesses of this program from the resident perspective?”
8. “Knowing what you know now, would you choose this program again?”

To ask Research/Academic Faculty

1. “What ongoing projects could a motivated resident get involved with right away?”
2. “Do residents typically present at national meetings? How is that funded?”
3. “Is there protected research time, and if so, how is it structured?”
4. “Have DO residents been successful in producing scholarly work and matching into research-heavy fellowships?”

Use these as templates and personalize based on your own interests and each program’s profile.

---

FAQs: Questions to Ask Programs as a DO Graduate in Plastic Surgery

1. What are the most important questions to ask as a DO applying for plastic surgery?

Focus on:

• How many DO residents they’ve trained and how those DOs have performed (fellowships, jobs, leadership)
• Whether there are any differences in expectations or support for DO vs. MD residents
• Operative volume, autonomy, and breadth of exposure
• Culture and wellness—how residents are treated and supported
• Research and mentorship infrastructure

These topics directly affect your training experience and long-term career opportunities.

2. Is it okay to directly ask about how DOs are treated in the program?

Yes. It’s appropriate and wise to ask respectfully and straightforwardly. For example:

• “I’m a DO graduate and very invested in finding a supportive training environment. How have DO residents fit into your program in the past, and what have their outcomes looked like?”

A confident, inclusive program will answer this comfortably and concretely.

3. How many questions should I ask during an interview?

Aim for:

• 2–4 thoughtful questions per formal interview (PD, faculty, or senior resident)
• A handful during group or resident-only sessions

Depth matters more than quantity. Avoid rapid-fire questioning; instead, engage in genuine conversation.

4. Are there any questions I should avoid?

Avoid:

• Anything that sounds like trying to game the match (e.g., “Where will I be on your rank list?”)
• Overly aggressive questions about salary or moonlighting early in the day
• Questions that clearly show you haven’t read basic information on their website

Instead, use your questions to demonstrate insight, professionalism, and a genuine interest in whether this particular program is the right environment for you as a DO graduate pursuing plastic surgery.

---

By approaching each interview with a clear strategy—especially around questions to ask residency programs as a DO applicant in plastic surgery—you’ll not only leave a strong impression, but also gather the nuanced information you need to build a rank list that truly fits your goals, personality, and values.