Pros and Cons for women in military medicine

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MiPark

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Hi,

I am currently a non-traditional applicant and will begin pursuing a post bacc program this fall. This means that I will not be able to apply to medical school until I am 26, and probably will not enter until I am 27. I will also have debt accrued from both my bachelor's program and post bacc program. I have been thinking about military medicine both because of the financial benefits, and also because of very personal reasons regarding the care of soldiers at home and abroad. I am in need of advice as I begin to pursue my studies in medicine, especially in regards to the experience of women in military medicine as I am sure this will differ greatly from men's. Most of the posts I have read are pretty negative, but will it make a difference if my interest is to be a specialist, as opposed to a primary care provider?

Thanks!

Mipark

:)

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I wanted to be a specialist when I joined the NAVY; but the recruiter somehow "forgot" to mention the GMO tour. Now, I will start my residency (and life) 4 years after graduating from med school. Are you interested in a similar experience?
 
No financial benefits.

You can serve the soldiers stateside as a civi better than in the military because at least you can treat them as you see fit, not as a non-medical supervisor/bureaucrat sees fit....Or so I've been told...
 
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Does not matter if you are man or woman, mil med has the largest potential to dissapoint and delay your training, than any other way to get to get into medicine. You need to read further. The money equation just does not work, its a looser 100% of the time. As for treating soldiers. Get good training, in the field that suits you best, if the climate is different then, you can always come in as a fully trained and board certified physician in your filed of choice, and any branch of the miltiary will take you. Till then, stay away, you would be joining a broken down organization only looking to take advantage of you.
 
The money equation just does not work, its a looser 100% of the time.

That's not true. It does work for some people, specifically those with prior service, those interested in IM/FP/Peds, and those who attend a very expensive medical school. The more of those three things that apply to you, the more likely you are to come out ahead with the military.

That said, I wouldn't join if money had ANYTHING to do with it. Psychologically, we usually kid ourselves that money is a very small reason we're signing up with the military, when in reality it is a very big (although usually not the only) reason.

Would you join the military if they didn't pay for school/stipends and instead paid you the exact same salary your future civilian job will (after your residency)? If the answer is no, you shouldn't join, especially if you are female desiring to do a subspecialty. Too much influence on your career, your working environment, your living location, and your ability to be around your family to sell years of your life for a few hundred thousand bucks.

Join only because you have a desire to be a military medical officer that is at least as great as your desire to be a doctor.
 
That's not true. It does work for some people, specifically those with prior service, those interested in IM/FP/Peds, and those who attend a very expensive medical school. The more of those three things that apply to you, the more likely you are to come out ahead with the military.

That said, I wouldn't join if money had ANYTHING to do with it. Psychologically, we usually kid ourselves that money is a very small reason we're signing up with the military, when in reality it is a very big (although usually not the only) reason.

Would you join the military if they didn't pay for school/stipends and instead paid you the exact same salary your future civilian job will (after your residency)? If the answer is no, you shouldn't join, especially if you are female desiring to do a subspecialty. Too much influence on your career, your working environment, your living location, and your ability to be around your family to sell years of your life for a few hundred thousand bucks.

Join only because you have a desire to be a military medical officer that is at least as great as your desire to be a doctor.

Although the money situation could be argued, and I doubt its as good as stated above, certainly NO ONE should argue with the logic of the last sentence. You will be expected to act as a military officer first, and often that may countradict or counteract your instinct and obligation to be a physician first, and to take care of your patients to the best of your ability. Also once again, the root of all evil: money, is being dispelled as one of the worst, (and usually the only) reason young people today choose the military.
 
I am extremely debt averse. I did it for the money. I regret my decision every single day.
 
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Although the money situation could be argued,

Yea, I came out way behind because I had none of the three, and I happened to graduate at an all time low for student loan interest rates (I could have consolidated at 1.9% in 2003.) But if you run the numbers you'll see that some people do come out ahead financially speaking, especially when you consider the time-value of money.

BUT, if you join for money you'll come to regret your decision...I say this as I pack my bags for a trip to the sandbox. Try explaining a deployment to your three year old and you'll wish you took the loans.
 
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