All Branch Topic (ABT) Civilian to .mil for second residency?

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DeadCactus

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Was approached by someone with no previous military experience who was interested in doing a second residency and curious if going from civilian to military resident was a viable route. Anyone heard of someone doing this?

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What residency would he do?
 
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It is possible. A post-residency physician can join the military and train in a new field. But, that person won't be eligible for an inservice residency immediately - application via the GME selection board is necessary, which takes time, and additionally requires endorsement from the command. This may or may not be given before that first staff tour is up. (The CO is certainly not obligated to endorse an application to leave early for training ... and they know that if they do let someone go early, they probably won't get a replacement.) Then, there may or may not be training slots available in the desired specialty, and the person may or may not be competitive for a slot. In the military, there's more to being "competitive" than just grades and board scores and LORs. This is a fairly complex process.

If the stars aligned just right a physician could join, apply in September for residency the following year, and conceivably get a spot. More likely, that physician will spend 2-3 years practicing the first specialty before having a realistic shot at a second residency in the military.
 
You used to be able to apply for GME as a civilian and get commissioned if accepted. As a practical matter it only would happen if a spot was otherwise unfilled. Not sure if that's still true.
 
You used to be able to apply for GME as a civilian and get commissioned if accepted. As a practical matter it only would happen if a spot was otherwise unfilled. Not sure if that's still true.

I've heard that too, but I've never met anyone who did it. Could be like ECISP ... theoretically allowed but never in the history of the armed forces ever done?
 
Person's interested in doing one of the surgical sub-specialties. No idea what kind of applicant they are, let's assume average. How would they even proceed? Cold-call a PD?

Edit: It's interesting that it's so difficult. Assuming a reasonable applicant, you'd think the military would jump at the chance to snag a physician without paying for HPSP or FAP.
 
Edit: It's interesting that it's so difficult. Assuming a reasonable applicant, you'd think the military would jump at the chance to snag a physician without paying for HPSP or FAP.

It's the same thing as trying to become an officer without having gone through ROTC or a Service Academy. It can be quite difficult at times.

The military is all about manning levels, they already have X physicians, do they need X+1 or is there somebody already in who is just as good.

The surgical sub specialties tend to be quite competitive. If they are thinking ENT or ophtho or neurosurg etc I can't imagine an "outsider" being accepted without "doing their time" first.
 
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