Has anyone here ever done the PHS Costep program? If so where did you go? Can you go anywhere? How long of a committment is it? And what year of school did you do it? What was the experience like? What did you gain from the experience.

No one has done this?

Also is anyone thinking of joining the PHS/IHS after they graduate? I would do the health scholars program but I fear being obligated to the program and then having being assigned to some far off remote place. I figure by just working for the IHS when I finish residency that at least a benefit is that they pay back I think something like 30000/year in loans. I know its not as good a deal as being a health scholar but still this way you are not obligated...Any thoughts from someone out there? Please?

I am seriously considering doing the PHS/IHS thing - perhaps even getting in while I'm in school. I see a number of benefits to the program, but I'm not sure about the commitment that they require and how easy it is to choose your location. I also am confused over what type of role pharmacists play in the PHS - is it purely dispensary or are there clinical elements?

So I second ZAZA - anyone here participated in these programs?

Well, I guess no one has done it? Maybe someone will eventually see this who has done it before. I guess my main reason to be hesitant about doing the PHS/IHS is my assumption that there will be a lot of bureaucratic stuff to come along with it too. Otherwise I think it would awesome to work in underpriveliged sites and really help those whom need healthcare the most. Hopefully someone will have some insight eventually for us?

Wow! It's great to see there's interest in PHS (and the first time I've felt compelled to write). I currently work for USDA but would love to get back into the PHS some day - I only see advantages. I participated in the JrCostep program for my graduate school internship (MS-Industrial Hygiene) the summer of 2002, which to date, was unequivocally the best summer of my life. I worked in Fairbanks, Alaska for IHS Office of Environmental Health. (I essentially got to pick from about 5 locations where IHS is active.) It was a small office of 2 environmental engineers and 2 environmental health specialists. They worked with Native Alaskans in sanitation issues, drinking water and sewage and general compliance. I travelled to remote villages in the interior (by small plane) and provided training on how to write drinking water reports for EPA. Plus I worked as a lay vaccinator in their rabies control program (imagine all the sled dogs). The highlight was a week-long trip down the Yukon River visiting summer residents along the fish camps (think big salmon). I have only the BEST things to say about my experience, the program, the philosophy, the Native Alaskans, and co-workers. Two of the guys in the office had been Peace Corps Volunteers (one currently living in Saipan still with PHS) and another girl later volunteered with IRC in the Congo and is now at Johns Hopkins - the point is they are humanitarian-oriented, and just phenomenally cool people. The only drawback is while visiting the military base (to get ID & physical exam) there was a lot of unfamiliarity with PHS and realizing it is part of the Uniformed Services and thus entitled to all of those military privileges. And see? That's nothing. I'm happy to answer more specific questions or get you in touch with people who have a career in PHS. Best of luck!

I did the Jr Costep in the summer between 1st and 2nd years of medical school. Maybe the previous poster had some connections? Or other people in the grad program had done Costep? I had a good experience but finding a position was certainly a do-it-yourself operation. I don't know where the general application goes but I heard absolutely nothing from anyone after submitting it. I e-mailed assorted IHS offices and found someone in Montana who needed a summer research assistant. After everything had been settled in Montana, I needed to re-submit everything to both Montana and Washington, DC. But besides the bureacracy, it was a good experience- the IHS staff were interested in getting some work out of me but also showing how the system worked, getting familiar with some of the local culture, what the major health issues were. And it paid extremely well for a brief summer job. Take note, though, that the USPHS makes you an inactive member (read: draftable) by default after you finish. They haven't called anyone up since Korea but with the current situation...
As far as financing medical school, I would not recommend the NHSC. I think it's probably a better deal to take out the loans and then look for repayment options after residency. The NHSC reserves the right to change the rules after you've signed the contract and I will probably end up working in a position that 1) isn't at all why I signed up and 2) doesn't help with my career goals.