AF rotations and residencies

[medicine1]

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Has anyone done a rotation/residency at the following AF bases:

Keesler AFB (Mississippi)
Travis AFB (California)
Wright-Patterson AFB (Ohio)
Lackland AFB (Texas)

If so, please write your thoughts on the program/s.
Thanks.

 

[BOHICA-FIGMO]

Has anyone done a rotation/residency at the following AF bases:

Keesler AFB (Mississippi)
Travis AFB (California)
Wright-Patterson AFB (Ohio)
Lackland AFB (Texas)

If so, please write your thoughts on the program/s.
Thanks.

Umm, FYI, 2 of those 4 medical centers (Keesler and Wilford-Hall) will be going away by 2010. Every USAF doc should read the BRAC recommendations and realize USAF medicine is about to become the Army's bitch. We are already contracting out or planning to contract out most specialties. Even much of the primary care work is being done by PAs and NPs. Good luck and (as always) BOHICA!

 

[UCBShocker]

out of curiosity... is residency branch specific or can you apply to any medical center?

I hear some people say it is branch specific, but then I hear that there are air force residents at walter reed. I would love to do an EM residency there if I could, that is if my specialty choice does not change in medical school, but I am not sure if I would be allowed.

 

[BOHICA-FIGMO]

out of curiosity... is residency branch specific or can you apply to any medical center?

I hear some people say it is branch specific, but then I hear that there are air force residents at walter reed. I would love to do an EM residency there if I could, that is if my specialty choice does not change in medical school, but I am not sure if I would be allowed.

I think, right now, residencies are branch specific. No doubt, the USAF will try to work some deal with the Army for AF residencies in certain specialties at USA facilities once USAF inpatient facilities disappear. If you want to know what residencies are available at which facilities, check out the AFPC DPAME web site (sorry I don't have the link here at home). Most surgical and non-primary care specialties are at Wilford-Hall. Of course, if you are class of '09, everything will change by then due to BRAC. Good luck! And as always check six and watch for friendly fire!

 

[medicine1]

http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/medical/PhysicianEducation/default.htm

It does so happen that Residents can do their residency in another branch.
I know that the Army and Air Force have strong ties in residency programs.

 

[medicine1]

from the following website: http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/medical/PhysicianUtilization/MC Orientation Guide.doc

III. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

f. Residency Training Programs/Graduate Medical Education (GME)

The Air Force sponsors residency training programs in a broad range of medical specialties. Some programs train at MTFs, others are sponsored in civilian facilities, and still others are combinations of joint services and civilian programs. The number and type of residencies made available depends on manning projections for each specialty field, based on the number of physicians currently in practice adjusted for estimates of the number entering/leaving the Air Force over time. Residency training generally obligates a physician to an active duty service commitment (ADSC) based on the duration of training.

Physicians are not limited to training in a single specialty, and it is not unusual for physicians to seek fellowship training or second residencies. Generally, a term of service of at least five years is required before you will be allowed to apply for additional residency training. Fellowship training is not similarly restricted, though certainly time spent " in the field" makes a candidate more competitive for fellowship training slots. Make sure you are aware of the training obligation and pay implications of any planned residency training before you apply.

A call for GME applications goes out each summer, with selections made late November/early December for training starts in the following year.

 

[tman]

is residency branch specific or can you apply to any medical center?

I hear some people say it is branch specific, but then I hear that there are air force residents at walter reed. I would love to do an EM residency.../QUOTE]

Residency is pretty much branch specific with occasional exceptions such as if a married couple is from different branches one branch sometimes agrees to let a spouse do a residency at another branches' facility with their spouse. Of course with the BRAC proposals who knows what the future holds. We might all end up in one super sized facility. There are a few other exceptions but they are fairly rare, at least for the AF. As previously mentioned there are some combined programs such as the SAUSHEC program (San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium) where BAMC and the possibly soon to be defunct flagship of AF medicine, Wilford Hall Med Ctr have combined assets to make a residency. In short, the future of the military's (especially AF's) Graduate Medical Education system is about as clear as mud five years out from now.

BTW the also possibly soon to be defunct Walter Reed Army Medical Center does not have an EM residency.

 

[BOHICA-FIGMO]

from the following website: http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/medical/PhysicianUtilization/MC Orientation Guide.doc

III. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

f. Residency Training Programs/Graduate Medical Education (GME)

The Air Force sponsors residency training programs in a broad range of medical specialties. Some programs train at MTFs, others are sponsored in civilian facilities, and still others are combinations of joint services and civilian programs. The number and type of residencies made available depends on manning projections for each specialty field, based on the number of physicians currently in practice adjusted for estimates of the number entering/leaving the Air Force over time. Residency training generally obligates a physician to an active duty service commitment (ADSC) based on the duration of training.

Physicians are not limited to training in a single specialty, and it is not unusual for physicians to seek fellowship training or second residencies. Generally, a term of service of at least five years is required before you will be allowed to apply for additional residency training. Fellowship training is not similarly restricted, though certainly time spent “ in the field” makes a candidate more competitive for fellowship training slots. Make sure you are aware of the training obligation and pay implications of any planned residency training before you apply.

A call for GME applications goes out each summer, with selections made late November/early December for training starts in the following year.

As always, take EVERYTHING AFPC says (especially DPAME, the physician education branch) with a very, very large grain of salt. You absolutely cannot trust them. Putting them in charge of your career is like hiring a blind chauffeur--not a good idea!