Applying to USUHS-some thoughts

[TivoThis]

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I have thought about applying to USUHS for a while now, and the time has come to apply. I am currently in my application cycle to start Medical school in fall 2009(hopefully).
When applying to USUHS there are the three branches that you must list in order of preference. I have preferred Navy simply because I wanted to be a flight surgeon, but I have thought more about "what if you don't get navy but there is a spot open in Army.." and i realized that I do want to do surgery, but specifically trauma. Is there a possibility of doing general surgery and then trauma through the Navy or is that option just Available in the Army?

Any thoughts?

 

[IgD]

So this is what you want to do...

Reserve time:
4 years USUHS (comes with 7 year payback)

Active Duty time:
1 year internship (neutral time)
3 year GMO tour (payback down to 4)
4 year general surgery residency (payback stays at 4)
3 year utilization tour
2 year trauma surgery fellowship (comes with 2 year payback)
2 years utilization tour

Total active duty time = 15 years (5 more until retirement!)

 

[crazybrancato]

2 year trauma surgery fellowship (comes with 2 year payback)

Do you still incur 2 years payback if you do the fellowhip in the military?

 

[backrow]

Do you still incur 2 years payback if you do the fellowhip in the military?

yes, any GME program incurs a one to one payback requirement. I don't think there are any trauma fellowships in the military anyway. There may be one at BAMC as that is the only level 1 trauma center in the military, but someone who is more familiar with that hospital would have to comment.

 

[TivoThis]

So this is what you want to do...

Reserve time:
4 years USUHS (comes with 7 year payback)

Active Duty time:
1 year internship (neutral time)
3 year GMO tour (payback down to 4)
4 year general surgery residency (payback stays at 4)
3 year utilization tour
2 year trauma surgery fellowship (comes with 2 year payback)
2 years utilization tour

Total active duty time = 15 years (5 more until retirement!)

So i would begin my general surgery residency when hypothetically I would be 30 years of age? Is it different if i were to go the Army route?

 

[IgD]

I believe the trauma fellowship would be full time outservice which means it would be CONSECUTIVE payback instead of concurrent. This would take more time on...

 

[177584]

So i would begin my general surgery residency when hypothetically I would be 30 years of age? Is it different if i were to go the Army route?

I wouldn't sweat the age thing it really is just a number some of us around here will be over 30 upon graduating med school...don't let that hold you back if it's something you want to do, just understand what you're talking about as far as committment.

 

[TivoThis]

I wouldn't sweat the age thing it really is just a number some of us around here will be over 30 upon graduating med school...don't let that hold you back if it's something you want to do, just understand what you're talking about as far as committment.

I totally agree. I am just curious as to how the path is different for Army docs looking to go into gen surg and then trauma.

 

[mslall]

general surgery residency in the army takes a good bit of time too. You generally wont have to do a GMO tour if you are competitive enough to match into GS straight out of school (if you dont match into GS you can do GMO and then reapply). The army residency program is 6 years, 1 intern, 2 of research, and 3 GS. I'm fairly certain that 2 years of research are required through the army. I think there's always a chance of doing a GMO tour but i think it is significantly less than in the Navy (i could be totally wrong about this). You're still going to have to do your trauma fellowship at some point which i'm pretty sure will incur another 2 years of payback