SDN's Military Medicine

I am an FMG. For ACGME residency, I did 10 months of surgery and 6 months of IM...8 months of nonACMGE surgery..and i am able to get licensed in some states with this combined experience. My question is, can combine this experience into PGY1 so that I qualify to get into military as an FMG?

Also, how do I sign up for the military match?

Thanks!

Has anyone found a place to lease a mac that is covered by our computer reimbursement? I am looking at apple.com right now but having trouble finding any leasing options for students. I know a few places to get a PC, but would really like to switch to an apple.

Did you guys see this story about decentralization of medical care in the UK posted in the NYT? http://www.militarymedicine.com/node/247

It really struck a chord with me. Seems like in the Navy decisions were made so far disconnected from what was going on at the local level that it impaired the ability to get the mission done. Not only that, the money used to pay the people making the decisions at the top was taking away from resources that could have been used to get the mission done!

I'm AF HPSP. Is it tougher to compete for AF residencies as a DO compared to MD? How does AFIT compare a DO to an MD?

Thanks!!

Has anyone been to the National Trauma Training Center (NTTC) at USC Emergency Dept? Its a 21-day TAD opportunity that is offered every month, and its sponsored by BUMED. I am going for the August class, and had a couple of questions. I heard about a year ago everyone berthed in trailers, but now they have us up at some swanky apt complex. How do we get from the apt complex to the ED? Do we have roommates, or do we have our own rooms? Is the apt complex nice? It says on the website there there are no opportunities for leave, but is that a hard and fast rule, or bendable? Finally, and most importantly, how is the experience? I assume there is a lot of trauma, and thats what I'm looking for.

thanks.

Quick question - can anyone tell me which version of the khaki uniform to wear at NMCSD? Unclear if I should wear wash khakis (safe for shipboard wear/no ribbons) or service khakis (more polyester/wear ribbons).

Thank you in advance.

For all the Navy docs out there, what do y'all know about the strength of the Navy's surgical residency programs? I've heard some pretty concerning things about other branches programs, all of which seemed to highlight the fact that residents aren't getting the necessary experience--mainly b/c there's just not enough cases. Is this true for the Navy as well? Do you think I could get a hold of current surgical residents to get their assessment?

With that, I have my sights set on Cardiothoracic surgery, but I'm not sure if Navy GME is the way to go anymore. My absolute top priority is getting the best training that I can. Considering that, I see my options as follows:

1) Apply for Civilian deferment. If APPROVED-->train civilian and then serve out my ADO as a board certified CT surgeon.

2) If DENIED-->complete a Surgical PGY-1, then probably fulfill my ADO as a GMO, then resign my commission in order to attend a Civilian residency. (*If I serve my time as a GMO, would it be better to do a medicine or transitional internship in order to be more prepared for GMO assignments, or should I still do a Surgical internship so that it might count towards my civilian residency training?)

3) Apply for Navy Surgery PGY-1, then apply for Navy General Surgery PGY2-5 (if I find out it's good training at the time), then request Civilian CT fellowship & serve ADO as CT surgeon. (If not granted permission for civilian fellowship-->serve out ADO as a General Surgeon and then head to Civilian fellowship.)

What do y'all think about all of this? Thanks in advance for any insight.

Below is a link to an article that is a few years old. However, I just read it today. A sinking, nauseous feeling remains.

http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/ar...p/t-27239.html

I'm just a one year HPSP wonder trying to do my best with operational forces, but also planning to go back for civilian residency. Despite some misgivings about military medicine, I've always been proud to serve in the medical corps, even if only for four years. However, the cases cited in this article subtantially erode that pride.

The most eggregious case, in my opinion, is the story of the eight month old boy, Michael (pasted below). His story bothers me the most because it's wasn't a technical mistake made by an unskilled surgeon. The doctors were probably average Navy doctors. I say that because I see my patients getting that kind of care all the time. I think that the big three still offer quality care, but elsewhere and in general, Navy medicine is a system in which doctors too often do not take ownership of patients.

"one link between the cases is a lack of continuity of care - that is, patients being handed off from doctor to doctor for the same problem. Over a four-day span during the first week of February 2004, nine different Jacksonville caregivers saw or provided advice over the phone about the care of 8-month-old Michael Hugaboom. Their diagnoses ranged from a viral upper respiratory infection to bronchitis to chicken pox. Within a week of first being seen, Michael Hugaboom was dead from severe sepsis, an overwhelming bacterial infection of the bloodstream, and meningitis. "

Heartbreaking. Shameful. Criminal. and increasingly I'm becoming embarrassed to be associated with this whole system.

I'm currently in my second year of the Navy Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP) for medical students, and I just found out from my CO that apparently as of DEC '09 HSCP participants are no longer eligible for advancement to E7 based on academic achievements ("Dean's list for one semester or two consecutive quarters"). Apparently we're only eligible for promotion now if we recruit somebody into the program...

I was very surprised and upset by this so I went back and looked at the copy of my signed service agreement where it clearly states the terms for advancement. I've heard time and again "the needs of the navy" and all that jazz, but how often does that include going against a signed contract? If so, can I pretty much expect during my military career to never take anyones word, said or written, to the bank so to speak? I guess I just figured they would have at least phased in a new policy like this instead of just screwing all of us who already signed our contracts. This all just doesn't seem right.

Hi guys,

I am a cilivian, who is only few months away from finishing his PGY-3 year in Family Medicine. I have no military experience, but I am very interested in joining the military (any division, but preferably the Navy or Air Force). I am also interested in doing a second residency in a non-clinical specialty.

My questions are:

If I join the military (Army/Navy/or Air Force) as a new active duty officer in Family Medicine, can I later apply for a second residency in say, Pathology or Radiology?

I am a US Citizen who is a foreign medical graduate. Can I still apply for a second resideny if I am an active duty officer in Family Medicine? Do you have to be a graduate of a US school to apply for a military residency, even though you are an active duty officer?

If I joined as a new active duty officer in Family Medicine, for how long do I have to wait (work in my specialty - Family Medicine) before I can apply for a second residency in an another specialty?

Thank you very much for helping me answer some of these questions. I am interested in working in the military primarily because I like/want to serve my country. Also the benefits (student loan repayment, ect. ) seem to be wonderful. I am not sure how the pay is (compared to the civilian counterpart), but I think that the experience, the benefits, and privilege of serving this great country makes joining the military sound like a sweet deal, at least for me.

Again thank you very much for your help.

Has anyone done rotations at the community hospitals like at Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth, Fort Carson, etc.? I was just curious what the experience is like. I am scheduling rotations here soon and I want to do a bunch of NADTs but the only way I can do a majority of military rotations is to go to the community hospitals. I am just curious cause their websites have no info for med students wanting to rotate. Any help would be great!

I am in the middle of filling out my ERAS application to apply for Navy ortho. When I did a search for ortho program in DC, two military programs came up: National Capital Consortium Program - Categorical; and National Naval Medical Center Bethesda - Orthopedic Residency (Physican only). They both list the same PD (LTC Shawen).

Does anyone know which program Navy HPSP students should apply to? Does this even matter given that I have also filled out the Navy GME-1 application?

I know that there are random posts threaded throughout the forum saying that docs in the Navy no longer deploy on ships (I've always known that and knew that signing in with he Navy) but I've just completed ODS and everyone including some of the instructors seemed to talk as if we are deploying on ships and when I would mention otherwise people just didn't believe me. I mean was my class just completely clueless about deployments in the Navy or am I missing something?

Hey guys
I'm currently applying to medical school, and I was thinking about the Army HPSP. I'm actually interested in Preventive Medicine. Of course the best program in preventive medicine is at John Hopkins. How many people in HPSP have gone onto Preventive Medicine, or is the Army good about giving deferments for preventive medicine? I saw that if you are matched into the Army's preventive medicine program, they let you get your MPH at a civilian school. Just wanted to know how common this was? THanks!

I am a current Army HPSP student with a strong interest in neurosurgery. I assume that the Army can use more neurosurgeons, so what are the chances that the government would defer me if I match into a civilian NS residency? I heard that mainly West Point/USUHS students or Ivy-league students match into the military's only NS program.

Also, if there are any current/previous Army neurosurgeons out there who would like to give some advice to me please PM me or something. I would like to know where you did your residency and if/where you are still currently serving the Army. That would be great.

Is there any one here knows about DeWitt Army hospital FM residency. How expensive is to live in the area..not the military housing though.

Thanks

I have one more ADT to go, but I'm pretty sure I'm doin an intern year, Flight Doc tour, and waving bye bye to Uncle Sam and getting out to do a Family Medicine residency. I'd like to do a PGY-1 in the military so I can get used to AHLTA and all its glory, and it pays better anyway, so including approved/unfunded spots, we have:


12 Transitional spots available 8 in David Grant, 4 in San Antonio,
12 PreLim Medicine spots between SAMMC and WP
and 17 or so PreLim surgery spots.

So how I'm not doin ADTs at either David Grant or San Antonio, do I have a snowball's chance of matching Transitional at either of these locations? Any tips?


~Smiley

I was wondering if there were certain specialties that the army is supposed to be good at, and others where they suck.

For example:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=745940

^Army surgery might not be that great due to low case load and inadequate experience.

I'm specifically interested in emergency medicine or cardiology, but feel free to discuss any other specialties. Any feedback would be appreciated. :)

I know that there are a lot of docs in this forum who wish they had never enlisted in the military as a physician, there are some who love it, and then there are those who would sell their souls to get out....but with that said....

Generally, how are the military docs treated by the military staff and superiors? Is there a mutual respect amongst the officers? Do higher-ranked nurses take orders from lower-ranked physicians?

Please answer all questions.

I have heard that there is special leave for job hunting if you plan on getting out of the military. Is this correct? If so, can you take it at any point during your commitment? Thanks.