Army Externships

[ArmyDentalWife]

Hi all. I have some questions about externships, any and all information would be appreciated even if not a direct answer to one of my questions. How many externships did you do and what was your experience? How many would you recommend doing? If you have no idea if or what you want to specialize in how would you decide what externships to do? Do you have to do an externship in one discipline or can you decide to go to a base where they have several different programs and rotate through the different specialties? If so, would this kind of externship be helpful on an application? Where do you stay when you do an externship? Do you still have to commit to a full 3 weeks?

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[ArmyDentalWife]

When is the optimum time to do an externship?

 

[krmower]

Hi all. I have some questions about externships, any and all information would be appreciated even if not a direct answer to one of my questions. How many externships did you do and what was your experience? How many would you recommend doing? If you have no idea if or what you want to specialize in how would you decide what externships to do? Do you have to do an externship in one discipline or can you decide to go to a base where they have several different programs and rotate through the different specialties? If so, would this kind of externship be helpful on an application? Where do you stay when you do an externship? Do you still have to commit to a full 3 weeks?

In the Army

Externships can be done at any time during the year as long as your school will cut you loose.

You are authorized to do one each year. The best way to select externships is to decide either what you may want to do, or where you may want to live so you can check those places/programs out.

There are not different externships (externships with particular specialties). You coordinate where you want to go through the proper channels (Mrs. Roxanne Flores with the Army). She should then put you in contact with someone at the base, and you can communicate with them what you are interested in and they should be able to help you get that lined up. So if you went to Ft. Gordon, they may be able to coordinate you rotating through all the specialty programs there (OMFS, Endo, Perio, Prosth). If you went to Bragg you could rotate through (OMFS, Endo, 2-yr AEGD). They key is to try to coordinate things ahead of time so you can make the arrangements that will be most interesting to you. Each location may vary, your HPSP handbook and Mrs. Flores will be the best guide.

I did 3 externships (you don't typically do one your senior year since you graduate that summer). I did OBLC one summer (not available anymore), went to Ft. Carson, CO and saw the 1 yr AEGD, Hawaii and saw the 2 yr AEGD. The externships were both great and helped me to choose what I wanted to do.

 

[ArmyJawBreaker]

I did OBLC one summer (not available anymore), went to Ft. Carson, CO and saw the 1 yr AEGD, Hawaii and saw the 2 yr AEGD. The externships were both great and helped me to choose what I wanted to do.

Sounds like Waikiki Beach and the Mai Tai were too much to pass up? 🙂

 

[krmower]

Sounds like Waikiki Beach and the Mai Tai were too much to pass up? 🙂

Ha ha - I won't deny there wasn't a "vacation" feel to the externship. It was the program I wanted to get in to, and fortunately it worked out.🙂

 

[ArmyDentalWife]

Is there a base where there are both endo and perio residencies?

 

[krmower]

Is there a base where there are both endo and perio residencies?

Ft. Gordon. Only location where perio is.

 

[ArmyDentalWife]

Where do you stay? If you haven't don't OBLC yet do you need to purchanse a uniform and such? Where do you purchase those things?

 

[ArmyJawBreaker]

Where do you stay? If you haven't don't OBLC yet do you need to purchanse a uniform and such? Where do you purchase those things?

I have interacted with many externship dental students during my residency in Hawaii and here are my thoughts. You most likely will be required to stay on post in the Army lodge in order to get reimbursed. Every dental student I have interacted with was required to wear ACU's to the oral surgery/ hospital clinic and the other clinics. You can purchase ACU's at any Army post.

HOPE THIS HELPS!

 

[krmower]

Where do you stay? If you haven't don't OBLC yet do you need to purchanse a uniform and such? Where do you purchase those things?

The recruiter working at the dental school can also assist in helping to get uniforms and things together.

 

[ArmyDentalWife]

My husband is worried that he will be bored and be in people's way during his externship. What do you think? What should he expect to do each day?

 

[krmower]

My husband is worried that he will be bored and be in people's way during his externship. What do you think? What should he expect to do each day?

Depending on the location he may do PT with them in the morning or afternoon.

If he coordinates before hand he can ask to rotate through the various departments with an emphasis in specialties he may be interested in i.e. Perio, OMFS, Prosth so he gets a good sampling of procedures.

If he goes someplace that has a residency program, he will probably be invited to sit in on their didactic day as well and hear lectures.

Depending on locations, what he is allowed to do may vary greatly. He may be able to do some procedures, or nothing at all. He would be able to find those things out as he is planning his visit and asking the officer directly. That way he won't be surprised. Also, coordinating with his school, he may be able to knock out some requirements at the same time. My school required us to shadow graduate perio and OMFS - I was able to accomplish this through my externships instead.

 

[ArmyDentalWife]

Can anyone tell me where to find the student handbook?

 

[USArmyHPSP]

Can anyone tell me where to find the student handbook?

www.MODS.Army.Mil/medicaleducation

Your husband should have a logon ID and password

 

[ArmyDentalWife]

I'm suprised that kmower is the only one who has responded who has done an externship. Should I conclude from this that not many people take advantage of the externship opportunities? If you have done an externship - How much do you feel your externship(s) benefitted you personally and your application? We are down to the wire here trying to decide if and where my husband should do an externship in August. He has only 3 weeks off and that is pretty much his only break from school this year. So we don't want to waste that precious time, but if we felt it was going to be of great benefit to him, he would definately go and appreciate the opportunity. Please people, any advice would really help us. We need to make a decision ASAP and we really have limited resources to get the information we need to make that decision.