Hello,
I've been doing some research into the HSCP program lately, and would love to ask some questions.
Deployments: what sort of deployments could a navy pharmacist expect?
At the moment, there aren't a lot of pharmacist deployments. The Navy doesn't seem to regularly use pharmacists in fleet hospitals, although it can can happen and I do know pharmacists who have been deployed with fleet hospitals. Getting deployed on the Mercy or Comfort would be cool since they do a lot of humanitarian work, but that's fairly rare also since they don't go out too often and there are only 1-2 pharmacists on board. Bottom line is, as a pharmacist, you might get deployed, but you probably will not. Fleet hospitals or hospital ships would be the most common deployed setting.
You said you went to GTMO, what is that and I have a family and 2 children, how often are deployments w/o your family? How long do these last?
GTMO= Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. You probably wouldn't be deployed very often. Can't say for sure, but if you were deployed 2-3 times over an entire 20 year career that would sound about right. Pharmacists just don't get deployed very much. A standard deployment in the Navy is 6 months. However, you may get stationed overseas somewhere which is different from being deployed. Usually you can take your fam with you overseas.
Are deployments a guarantee? I've heard that pharmacists don't get deployed on ships but what about the hospital ships mercy and comfort?
No guarantees that you will or will not deploy. You are correct, the only ships with pharmacists are the Mercy and the Comfort. They are in port most of the time and deploy rarely. When they are in port (which is most of the time), all of the medical staff attached to the ship work at the local military hospitals and clinics.
Stations: Do you ever get moved more frequently than 3 years? What is life like on base? How are the facilities? I'm assuming there are things that would help a family adjust?
Yes. Once you've been on station for 24 months, you are eligible to receive orders to move again. It happens, but realize that it's expensive for the Navy to move you and your family so they aren't going to frivolously uproot you unless you are really needed somewhere. You generally will live off base. On base, there are gyms, grocery stores, department stores, banks, post offices, etc. Stuff is generally cheaper on base, sometimes drastically in expensive areas like San Diego or DC. There are family oriented programs on base, but I can't really speak to that because I am single.
Is it feasible to be able to work in the large naval medical centers? What advice would you give to help with this?
Yes, in fact it is quite probable. Again, no guarantee, but from what I have seen the Navy likes to stick new grads at the big hospitals so they can learn as much as they can before sending them out to little hospitals or clinics. I think if simply make it well known that's where you prefer to work, the pharmacy specialty leader in conjunction with the detailer will try to accomodate you. You won't alway get your own way though- "needs of the Navy" come first.
Work: I've read that pharmacists generally do more administrative work and the techs do all the dispensing? Does that mean I can be expected to work more with patients and docs, etc? Can you please give me a day in the life of a navy pharmacist?
Military hospital pharmacy is very similar to civilian hospitals. The techs are good, but JCAHO still requires a pharmacist to do everything that they would in a civilian hospital. I think the level of patient interaction is about the same as in civilian pharmacy settings.
Education: Can you explain the residency possibilities? How many? How hard is it to get in? What about advanced degrees? While in school for these, does that count towards your time in?
The Navy has two pharmacy residencies- one in San Diego, and one in Bethesda, MD. Competitiveness depends on how many people are interested which varies widely from year to year. If you didn't get it for your first tour out of school, it's likely you would get it next time you are up for orders. The Navy didn't participate in ASHP's match program when I went through it. I don't know if they do now or not. At the time, it seemed like pharmacy specialty leader just sort of picked an applicant, not sure what exactly the criteria is.
Advanced degrees: sort of like the residency deal- it's a crap shoot. If you bug them enough, they'll probably let you do it eventually. The Navy has a program called DUINS (duty under instruction) that allows you to get a variety of degrees from universities of your choosing. You go to school full time and still keep all of your active duty pay and benefits. It's fairly competitive because it's a really good deal. MBA's, MPH, various administration degrees, fellowships, and even some PhD's.
The time in residency or DUINS counts toward pay and retirement. Residency doesn't count usually toward your service commitment, not sure about DUINS.
Would it be feasible after pharmacy school and commission immediately apply for one of these advanced degrees or would one have to work a while?
Probably not. DUINs orders are highly coveted and they only have a couple of slots for people to be in school at any given time.