How long did it take to become bitter?

[grayce79]

I am one of those annoying optimistic people who generally tries to have a good attitude about things.
It took me about 2 years of active duty to dislike military medicine. The 3 year mark is when I became extremely bitter and angry. I love my patients and that is the only thing that keeps me going. But the bureaucracy of it all has killed it for me. Nothing makes sense and nobody cares to fix it.
I used to be a nice person. But I have also learned that if you are nice, no one will help you.
I usually try being nice as my first approach. However, I now know how to throw a temper tantrum as that is what works most of the time. It is "learned bitchiness".
For example, if my computer isn't working while I am trying to see clinic, I call the HELP line and nicely ask for help. They then explain that they will place a work order and that it will be several weeks before anyone can help me. I try to explain the circumstances and they just say sorry, that's how it works here. I then transition to bitch mode and talk about how it impacts patient care, blah, blah, blah and all of the sudden- oh, we can fix it right now for you!
Meanwhile, my patient is waiting to find out her lab results or whatever. Then I get behind and my next patient complains which makes me feel stressed out despite the fact that it is not my fault. These are the typical annoyances.
What enraged me last night was that there is a new rule on base- if a patient has a family member who wants to come visit them at the hospital and they don't had an ID, a hospital employee must sponsor them on base by sending an encrypted email to the front gate. This is a pain but we all have been doing it. However, the nurses/techs decided that they are too busy to do this and they don't want to take the liability of sponsoring people on base so they made a rule saying that they won't do it anymore. Their solution...have the doctors send the email. (Because apparently we aren't busy and we don't mind the liability?!?). Fine, whatever! A nurse not wanting to work is not exactly a shocker for me.
However, last night my hospital email was down (not a shocker either). The gate would not accept an email from my gmail account. The other 2 doctors on were taking care of patients. So I ask nurses on the floor who aren't busy if anyone will sponsor this patient's family member on. They all refuse.
The patient is paraplegic. Her spouse is deployed. Her mother waited at the front gate for over an hour. I called management who refuse to help. I asked for suggestions on what to do. They suggested that the husband's unit could find a way to get the mother on base. The patient starts crying. She calls her deployed spouse who doesn't know what to do. He calls his commander who also does not know what to do.
Finally, one of the nurses decides to sponsor the patient's mother on base. I talk to management in the morning. They don't care and have no solutions for me. Not even my classic temper tantrum trick worked. They just said the doctors have to do it. I asked what their back-up plan is if we are all busy operating, etc (which happens frequently). Their answer was: "Well, I guess they just won't be able to come on base then". WTF? Why did you even go into medicine? Use some common sense and have a heart! I am embarrassed to even work in this kind of situation.
I used to think that when spouses were deployed we took great care of their families! But seriously? This is how we treat their families?
And so... I am angry, bitter and powerless to change the situation. Which is why I am counting down the days until I am OTD!

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[a1qwerty55]

I am one of those annoying optimistic people who generally tries to have a good attitude about things.
It took me about 2 years of active duty to dislike military medicine. The 3 year mark is when I became extremely bitter and angry. I love my patients and that is the only thing that keeps me going. But the bureaucracy of it all has killed it for me. Nothing makes sense and nobody cares to fix it.
I used to be a nice person. But I have also learned that if you are nice, no one will help you.
I usually try being nice as my first approach. However, I now know how to throw a temper tantrum as that is what works most of the time. It is "learned bitchiness".
For example, if my computer isn't working while I am trying to see clinic, I call the HELP line and nicely ask for help. They then explain that they will place a work order and that it will be several weeks before anyone can help me. I try to explain the circumstances and they just say sorry, that's how it works here. I then transition to bitch mode and talk about how it impacts patient care, blah, blah, blah and all of the sudden- oh, we can fix it right now for you!
Meanwhile, my patient is waiting to find out her lab results or whatever. Then I get behind and my next patient complains which makes me feel stressed out despite the fact that it is not my fault. These are the typical annoyances.
What enraged me last night was that there is a new rule on base- if a patient has a family member who wants to come visit them at the hospital and they don't had an ID, a hospital employee must sponsor them on base by sending an encrypted email to the front gate. This is a pain but we all have been doing it. However, the nurses/techs decided that they are too busy to do this and they don't want to take the liability of sponsoring people on base so they made a rule saying that they won't do it anymore. Their solution...have the doctors send the email. (Because apparently we aren't busy and we don't mind the liability?!?). Fine, whatever! A nurse not wanting to work is not exactly a shocker for me.
However, last night my hospital email was down (not a shocker either). The gate would not accept an email from my gmail account. The other 2 doctors on were taking care of patients. So I ask nurses on the floor who aren't busy if anyone will sponsor this patient's family member on. They all refuse.
The patient is paraplegic. Her spouse is deployed. Her mother waited at the front gate for over an hour. I called management who refuse to help. I asked for suggestions on what to do. They suggested that the husband's unit could find a way to get the mother on base. The patient starts crying. She calls her deployed spouse who doesn't know what to do. He calls his commander who also does not know what to do.
Finally, one of the nurses decides to sponsor the patient's mother on base. I talk to management in the morning. They don't care and have no solutions for me. Not even my classic temper tantrum trick worked. They just said the doctors have to do it. I asked what their back-up plan is if we are all busy operating, etc (which happens frequently). Their answer was: "Well, I guess they just won't be able to come on base then". WTF? Why did you even go into medicine? Use some common sense and have a heart! I am embarrassed to even work in this kind of situation.
I used to think that when spouses were deployed we took great care of their families! But seriously? This is how we treat their families?
And so... I am angry, bitter and powerless to change the situation. Which is why I am counting down the days until I am OTD!

Do you mind sharing what service you are in?

If it is Army someone has to get relieved -

 

[AF M4]

Do you mind sharing what service you are in?

If it is Army someone has to get relieved -

I've been to Vegas again.

Odds on service:

10-1 (least likely) Army
3-1 (middle) Navy
9-5 (most likely by far) Air Force

If it is Air Force, I will bet a month's salary that this went down at Wilford Hall.

Come on baby, daddy needs a new pair of shoes!!!

 

[crazybrancato]

I've been to Vegas again.

Odds on service:

10-1 (least likely) Army
3-1 (middle) Navy
9-5 (most likely by far) Air Force

If it is Air Force, I will bet a month's salary that this went down at Wilford Hall.

Come on baby, daddy needs a new pair of shoes!!!

Did you cheat and look at her previous posts??? Looks like shes a OB at Wilford Hall. If no, then you should be a betting man

 

[AF M4]

Did you cheat and look at her previous posts??? Looks like shes a OB at Wilford Hall. If no, then you should be a betting man

Really??? Confirmed? Booyah!!!

I have been a GMO for awhile now, plus I did some rotations at WH as a med stud. This is like shooting fish in a barrel.

 

[IgD]

Finally, one of the nurses decides to sponsor the patient's mother on base. I talk to management in the morning. They don't care and have no solutions for me. Not even my classic temper tantrum trick worked. They just said the doctors have to do it. I asked what their back-up plan is if we are all busy operating, etc (which happens frequently). Their answer was: "Well, I guess they just won't be able to come on base then". WTF? Why did you even go into medicine? Use some common sense and have a heart! I am embarrassed to even work in this kind of situation.

The situation you described is B.S. and a leadership failure. What is worse is it is causing harm to the patient and family. You are right to get upset about it. I probably would have driven out to the front gate, signed for the patient and then sent an objective, concise, non-inflammatory e-mail to my department head explaining the situation. The other thing I would have done is ask to speak to the command duty officer at the quarterdeck (not sure what the AF equiv. is), explained the situation without getting upset just as you described and asked for help.

I think you have to do everything you can to advocate for your patients but have a realization of what you can and can't accomplish. It would be worse for the patients if you got burned out, put your head in the sand and lost your professional identity over these types of situations.

 

[IgD]

The other question is (as I put in the other post): You are a new O3 medical officer, fresh out of residency. You arrive at your first command and discover this situation. Your department head is a non-physician, doesn't care and is happy with physicians being tasked with this type of thing. The Director of Medical Services has personal relationship/problems that can't be mentioned in this thread. The XO comes across as an irritable paranoid guy who questions the validity of everything. The CO has a reputation for being mentored by Darth Vader. What do you do?

 

[pgg]

What do you do?

Even if you think the DMS, XO, and CO will blow you off, you take it to them anyway. You're obligated to make the attempt.

I probably would have driven out to the front gate, signed for the patient

Not me. Assuming this was not the first time this had happened, and that I had already appropriately and respectfully brought the problem to the attention of the chain of command, I would have truthfully explained to the patient exactly how the command had failed them and why their family members were stranded outside the gate, and encouraged them to write directly to the hospital CO, with copies to their Senator, Representative, and local newspaper.

The kind of beaurocrat who would deliberately inflict this kind of abusive absurdity on patients and their families might respond to outside pressure. (Probably not, but there's only so much you can do.)

 

[BigNavyPedsGuy]

Not me. Assuming this was not the first time this had happened, and that I had already appropriately and respectfully brought the problem to the attention of the chain of command, I would have truthfully explained to the patient exactly how the command had failed them and why their family members were stranded outside the gate, and encouraged them to write directly to the hospital CO, with copies to their Senator, Representative, and local newspaper.

And if the family didn't get a reply, write another, and another, and another . . . .

 

[DrMetal]

What enraged me last night was that there is a new rule on base- if a patient has a family member who wants to come visit them at the hospital and they don't had an ID, a hospital employee must sponsor them on base by sending an encrypted email to the front gate

About 5 years ago, a punkass kid snuck onto Naval Air Station North Island (without an ID), under the guise that he was visiting/picking up someone at the branch medical clinic (go figure, stupid MP allowed him through). Turns out he was looking to jack some cars from one of the carrier long-term parking lots (where some park while they're underway). When confronted, he tried to pull a gun on the MPs, was shot and killed on site.

So I hope you can appreciate that this rule is probably in effect for your safety, and that they allow you to email a request in is pretty generous, IMO. The MPs on base could justifiably require in-person escorts for all family members.

In this regard, the real travesty is that your email went down and you had no support to fix it in a timely manner, and there was no alternative plan. That's something that bears looking into.

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

About 5 years ago, a punkass kid snuck onto Naval Air Station North Island (without an ID), under the guise that he was visiting/picking up someone at the branch medical clinic (go figure, stupid MP allowed him through). Turns out he was looking to jack some cars from one of the carrier long-term parking lots (where some park while they're underway). When confronted, he tried to pull a gun on the MPs, was shot and killed on site.

So I hope you can appreciate that this rule is probably in effect for your safety, and that they allow you to email a request in is pretty generous, IMO. The MPs on base could justifiably require in-person escorts for all family members.

In this regard, the real travesty is that your email went down and you had no support to fix it in a timely manner, and there was no alternative plan. That's something that bears looking into.

I think you're missing the point that it isn't necessarily the gate policy that is the problem. It's the implementation (milmed physicians being dumped on again to both take responsibility for and actually do the legwork getting visitors through the gate) and lack of recourse/support/empathy from command and the 'support' staff.

It's also frustrating that although much lip service is paid to supporting our deployed folks and their families, when it comes down to it some people revert to 'it's not my job' if they can't somehow turn it into a bullet or otherwise get something in return.

Regardless, it's unlikely this one incident you mentioned caused the initiation of the policy in question described. And even if it did because that happened 5 years ago at another base it's appropriate to prophylactically institute base/service/military-wide policy in response 'for our safety'?

The real travesty is the email going down? Get real dude...

 

[rotatores]

About 5 years ago, a punkass kid snuck onto Naval Air Station North Island (without an ID), under the guise that he was visiting/picking up someone at the branch medical clinic (go figure, stupid MP allowed him through). Turns out he was looking to jack some cars from one of the carrier long-term parking lots (where some park while they're underway). When confronted, he tried to pull a gun on the MPs, was shot and killed on site.

So I hope you can appreciate that this rule is probably in effect for your safety, and that they allow you to email a request in is pretty generous, IMO. The MPs on base could justifiably require in-person escorts for all family members.

In this regard, the real travesty is that your email went down and you had no support to fix it in a timely manner, and there was no alternative plan. That's something that bears looking into.

Did you really just say that? Don't worry Tic...DrMetal surely has not practiced yet as a physician to understand your concern. We all share your pain.

 

[DrMetal]

Did you really just say that? Don't worry Tic...DrMetal surely has not practiced yet as a physician to understand your concern. We all share your pain.

I get it i get. Was making a comment about THAT particular part of her post, hence my quoting ...

 

[The White Coat Investor]

How long to get bitter? About 6 threads on here. Seriously, I found this site sometime as an MSI or MSII and learned what the HPSP scholarship was really about and I've been bitter ever since. Well, not really bitter. I'm still not bitter. But I'm pretty cynical and consider my decision a mistake.

 

[grayce79]

Yes, Wilford Hall. It is kind of scary that you guys could figure out all that about me- I guess I should be careful as I have so many posts on here. I am not really anonymous anymore!
But, good news... my learned bitchiness and temper tantrums paid off again! It wasn't as fast as what I'm used to but after a couple days, the policy has been changed. Now when family members are trying to get on base, they call the hospital administration division who verifies that the patient is truly admitted here and they take care of sponsoring them on.
In other bitter news, I haven't been able to use AHLTA in 2 days because it has been down. I love the email I got that said "Don't worry, we are working on short term fixes". In then specified that the short term fixes will take 1-2 years.
Under frequent asked questions, it says "Can we just return to paper notes in the meantime?" They answer by essentially saying that they fired all the people who could process paper notes and charts and so this is no longer an option. Lol, nice!
Only 1 person answered the "how long" question... am I behind or ahead of the curve?

 

[jabreal00]

The OP is very kind. I don't know if I would have gone through all that rigmarole. It is pretty ridiculous that nursing has that much lobby to pawn that off on Doctors. Usually it's nursing that dictates family visitation. I just wouldn't get into that scenario that I am sending emails to sponsor people who don't have ID to get on base.

 

[crazybrancato]

Yes, Wilford Hall. It is kind of scary that you guys could figure out all that about me- I guess I should be careful as I have so many posts on here. I am not really anonymous anymore!
But, good news... my learned bitchiness and temper tantrums paid off again! It wasn't as fast as what I'm used to but after a couple days, the policy has been changed. Now when family members are trying to get on base, they call the hospital administration division who verifies that the patient is truly admitted here and they take care of sponsoring them on.
In other bitter news, I haven't been able to use AHLTA in 2 days because it has been down. I love the email I got that said "Don't worry, we are working on short term fixes". In then specified that the short term fixes will take 1-2 years.
Under frequent asked questions, it says "Can we just return to paper notes in the meantime?" They answer by essentially saying that they fired all the people who could process paper notes and charts and so this is no longer an option. Lol, nice!
Only 1 person answered the "how long" question... am I behind or ahead of the curve?

well cmon, its not that hard to figure out who you are when you post in one place about an opening in your OB program, then come here to rant. further, judging by your SDN username, we could infer that your first or last name is 'grace', 'gracey', or some deviation, and if the '79' is indicative of a year, that puts you near 30, meaning you're either a resident or junior staff!

considering the track record of your service (AF) in eating their own, i'd be careful . . .

 

[AF M4]

Yes, Wilford Hall. It is kind of scary that you guys could figure out all that about me- I guess I should be careful as I have so many posts on here. I am not really anonymous anymore!
But, good news... my learned bitchiness and temper tantrums paid off again! It wasn't as fast as what I'm used to but after a couple days, the policy has been changed. Now when family members are trying to get on base, they call the hospital administration division who verifies that the patient is truly admitted here and they take care of sponsoring them on.
In other bitter news, I haven't been able to use AHLTA in 2 days because it has been down. I love the email I got that said "Don't worry, we are working on short term fixes". In then specified that the short term fixes will take 1-2 years.
Under frequent asked questions, it says "Can we just return to paper notes in the meantime?" They answer by essentially saying that they fired all the people who could process paper notes and charts and so this is no longer an option. Lol, nice!
Only 1 person answered the "how long" question... am I behind or ahead of the curve?

Heh, don't worry too much about the guessing game - a lot of the active duty folk (esp AF) have been there, know the story and how it goes down.

Excellent work in correcting this problem; this is how it should have been done in the first place, but everyone's default is "make the doctor do it." Lot of slackers out there who are only interested in passing off work and hiding in their offices.

In response to your question, my first tinge of bitterness came as a med stud when they told me that I wouldn't be getting a residency despite a CV that would be a lock to match in the civilian world because AFPC didn't project out their GMO numbers to accommodate the fact that ALMOST EVERY DOC IN THE AF LEAVES AS SOON AS THEY CAN. My time on active duty has been a gradual learning experience, with the most recent capstone being an inside look on how skeevy things really are on the admin side. There are a lot of people out there who are not out for the patients and are not out for the Air Force or the providers. They are out for their own careers and making rank only.

So intellectually I've understood it for awhile, but to really understand it in my gut? A little over a year.

 

[met19]

i understand the point of having this clearane system. however, it shouldn't be a healthcare prvoider doing it. the MP should be calling the "front desk" of the hosp and asking someone there if the pt is in hops. that is how it works at civ hospitals.

About 5 years ago, a punkass kid snuck onto Naval Air Station North Island (without an ID), under the guise that he was visiting/picking up someone at the branch medical clinic (go figure, stupid MP allowed him through). Turns out he was looking to jack some cars from one of the carrier long-term parking lots (where some park while they're underway). When confronted, he tried to pull a gun on the MPs, was shot and killed on site.

So I hope you can appreciate that this rule is probably in effect for your safety, and that they allow you to email a request in is pretty generous, IMO. The MPs on base could justifiably require in-person escorts for all family members.

In this regard, the real travesty is that your email went down and you had no support to fix it in a timely manner, and there was no alternative plan. That's something that bears looking into.

 

[DrMetal]

i understand the point of having this clearane system. however, it shouldn't be a healthcare prvoider doing it. the MP should be calling the "front desk" of the hosp and asking someone there if the pt is in hops. that is how it works at civ hospitals.

Agree! Or have some backup policy that allows you to phone in a request. I said something to that effect in my post, that it "bears looking into" . . .

And again, I was just commenting on a particular part of the OP. That's allowed, right? When someone posts on SDN, you're allowed to comment on a part of it, using the quotes function, right right??? (Note: I didn't comment on any of her 'clinically-related' complaints, which I'm sure are very valid).

I felt compelled to do so just in case some bonehead reading this thinks we should start letting people on base with no security measures. It's bad enough that at some bases a flashy Amex card is enough to wave you by at a distance!

 

[ToeCutter]

I can honestly say I have absolutely no plans to follow through with milmed as a patient of any kind ever...no way.

 

[militarymd]

bitter about the 3 year mark for me...in 1996....came here to warn folks in 2003....

I doubt anyone listened...and now they are finding out for themselves....

and the military machine rolls on....providing poor care....while senior leadership dislocates their own shoulders patting themselves on their backs.

 

[faith2]

I know that everyone is going to criticize me and point out my ignorance but here goes... I wanted to be a doctor in the military because my primary goal as a doctor is to treat patients. I have never been interested in having my own practice and deal with payroll, insurance, profit, and malpractice. I also wanted to serve my country and do medical missions around the world helping those that can not get medical care. I want my daughter to travel with me and learn at a young age what makes this country great. I planned on doining this until I retire. Since I am inexperienced and I am trying to learn from those already serving am I really stupid for joining for these reasons? For me its not just the scholarship money because 1 my school is offering about 3/4 scholarship, and 2. I am a disadvantage minority single mother and have been offered other scholarships because of this. Is there any upside for me to look forward to being a doctor in the military?

Accepted UCF 2014

 

[orbitsurgMD]

I know that everyone is going to criticize me and point out my ignorance but here goes... I wanted to be a doctor in the military because my primary goal as a doctor is to treat patients. I have never been interested in having my own practice and deal with payroll, insurance, profit, and malpractice. I also wanted to serve my country and do medical missions around the world helping those that can not get medical care. I want my daughter to travel with me and learn at a young age what makes this country great. I planned on doining this until I retire. Since I am inexperienced and I am trying to learn from those already serving am I really stupid for joining for these reasons? For me its not just the scholarship money because 1 my school is offering about 3/4 scholarship, and 2. I am a disadvantage minority single mother and have been offered other scholarships because of this. Is there any upside for me to look forward to being a doctor in the military?

Accepted UCF 2014

You should read the stickies first. You seem a little inexperienced with military and professional life. You should not assume that because someone somewhere was able to travel on a humanitarian medical mission sponsored by the military that you will be able to do the same thing during your service.

Are you aware that depending on the op tempo and your duties, you may be deployed and separated from your daughter during that deployment? You can't take your children with you on deployments; they will have to stay behind in the care of your family.

If you are being offered substantial scholarships without service obligations, you are in an especially fortunate position. I recommend you give careful thought before you turn away a scholarship without strings attached in favor of a military scholarship which has many strings attached, regardless your desire to give service. There is always FAP if you want support money later, and national guard and other service options besides HPSP.

 

[BigNavyPedsGuy]

I know that everyone is going to criticize me and point out my ignorance but here goes... I wanted to be a doctor in the military because my primary goal as a doctor is to treat patients. I have never been interested in having my own practice and deal with payroll, insurance, profit, and malpractice. I also wanted to serve my country and do medical missions around the world helping those that can not get medical care. I want my daughter to travel with me and learn at a young age what makes this country great. I planned on doining this until I retire. Since I am inexperienced and I am trying to learn from those already serving am I really stupid for joining for these reasons? For me its not just the scholarship money because 1 my school is offering about 3/4 scholarship, and 2. I am a disadvantage minority single mother and have been offered other scholarships because of this. Is there any upside for me to look forward to being a doctor in the military?

Accepted UCF 2014

I understand the desire to avoid the insurance side of things. Just know that the military has it's own share of administrative junk to do and often, doctors do more of it themselves, rather than having an office staff person do it.

While the Navy (and other branches) do some humanitarian stuff, it'll never ever be your primary job day in, day out. At most you might do a humanitarian deployment once every 2-3 years. The military is in the business of winning wars.

75% scholarship is a great opportunity. I wouldn't pass that up. It's always good to keep your options open early. Especially if you find out during medical school that you want to go into specialty X and the military won't let you. With scholarships, that's not going to happen.

 

[TheGoose]

agree with BNPG. If you know that you want to serve in the military to serve the troops and understand that the primary mission of the military is to win wars, then go for it. If you're looking for travel abroad and humanitarian missions (especially since you're going army), then you might want to look into the process more closely. With that much scholarship money and no commitment, there is no downside to going civilian throughout school, seeing where your life takes you, and then joining the military straight away when you're a doc if you still want to serve.

 

[faith2]

Thank You for the opinions there are some real eye openers. I am okay with being deployed I want to serve. I know I am turning away alot of free money...I know I am not the best military canidate... I knew my career would not be 100 percent humanitarium but I need to investigate how much of it will be... The only thing I can be in the army is a doctor and I with training and time I will be good. I just do not want to become bitter in my choice. I know there will be good and bad days I just want to be happy overall. When I picture me in my uniform I smile there are no officers in my family no doctors I am the first college graduate first person with my masters I just want to make the right decision. Thank You for your honesty, and help. the boards were cancelled this month so I will find out next month....

 

[sethco]

I know that everyone is going to criticize me and point out my ignorance but here goes... I wanted to be a doctor in the military because my primary goal as a doctor is to treat patients. I have never been interested in having my own practice and deal with payroll, insurance, profit, and malpractice. I also wanted to serve my country and do medical missions around the world helping those that can not get medical care. I want my daughter to travel with me and learn at a young age what makes this country great. I planned on doining this until I retire. Since I am inexperienced and I am trying to learn from those already serving am I really stupid for joining for these reasons? For me its not just the scholarship money because 1 my school is offering about 3/4 scholarship, and 2. I am a disadvantage minority single mother and have been offered other scholarships because of this. Is there any upside for me to look forward to being a doctor in the military?

Accepted UCF 2014

1) While you are not required to carry malpractice insurance, you can still be sued by dependents.
2) You still have to deal with coding issues because the government still has to make Tricare profitable.
3) Humanitarian missions are rare. Deployments are usually for 6-12 months to an undesirable location every 2-3 years. In 99% of cases, family can not come to even visit (nor would you probably want them to).
4) Being a single mother, joining the military is not advisable one bit (even if you have a strong support structure that is willing to move whereever you get stationed). Don't think for even one second that they won't deploy you for 6 months just because you are a single parent.
5) If you have the opportunity for "real" scholarships, why on earth would you sign up for HPSP? That doesn't make any sense at all! If you really want to serve as a military doc (and keep in mind, in your case I don't recommend it), why wouldn't you either sign up for the FAP or even better sign up after residency, where you could do the minimum Active Duty Service Commitment (ADSC) and then sign up for more if you are happy.

 

[sethco]

Oh yeah, and in answering the OP...

My bitterness started during my 4th year of med school (Before I even got on AD!!!). Was told for 4 years that 98% of military residency applicants (AF) get either their first or second choice for residency. Come to find out that it is more along the lines of ~70% and 2 year GMO tours are becoming even more common now.

Since then, have been dead set on just finishing my 4 year GMO tour and then GTFO to go into civilian residency.

 

[deuist]

I got bitter just before my second year of medical school when I discovered that flight surgery is mandatory and doesn't involve flying planes. Now that I might become a flight surgeon next year, my bitterness will likely become outright hostility.

As far as temper tantrums, I realized very early into internship that that's the way to get things accomplished in a bureaucratic hospital.

 

[AF M4]

Thank You for the opinions there are some real eye openers. I am okay with being deployed I want to serve. I know I am turning away alot of free money...I know I am not the best military canidate... I knew my career would not be 100 percent humanitarium but I need to investigate how much of it will be... The only thing I can be in the army is a doctor and I with training and time I will be good. I just do not want to become bitter in my choice. I know there will be good and bad days I just want to be happy overall. When I picture me in my uniform I smile there are no officers in my family no doctors I am the first college graduate first person with my masters I just want to make the right decision. Thank You for your honesty, and help. the boards were cancelled this month so I will find out next month....

Agree with sethco wholeheartedly. I am truly sorry that I can't tell you positive stories about being a physician in the military, but the good experiences are very few and far between.

 

[NavyFP]

I know that everyone is going to criticize me and point out my ignorance but here goes... I wanted to be a doctor in the military because my primary goal as a doctor is to treat patients. I have never been interested in having my own practice and deal with payroll, insurance, profit, and malpractice. I also wanted to serve my country and do medical missions around the world helping those that can not get medical care. I want my daughter to travel with me and learn at a young age what makes this country great. I planned on doining this until I retire. Since I am inexperienced and I am trying to learn from those already serving am I really stupid for joining for these reasons? For me its not just the scholarship money because 1 my school is offering about 3/4 scholarship, and 2. I am a disadvantage minority single mother and have been offered other scholarships because of this. Is there any upside for me to look forward to being a doctor in the military?

Accepted UCF 2014

First I am writing this as a big fan of the scholarship.

Take the other money first. You can join the military any time you want, you don't need to do it now. I agree with BNPG about keeping options open. As a single mother you have an obligation to your daughter and deployments could be very difficult. If at the end of med school you still want to join, you can. You can do FAP, you can join after residency, whatever. If circumstances change and you find another great opportunity, you have the flexiblity to pursue that.