Army Ped's

[Spineman]

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Just curious to see if anyone on here has any actual experience in trying to get a peds residency with the Army. This is what I may want to do and I realize there are only 70 something spots available. So any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[dtn3t]

There's a couple of us on here that have finished recently. Unless there was a huge decision this year to make up for everyone that lost over the last few years, I thought there were only 26 spots a year. Fire away with any questions.

 

[Spineman]

WOW, only 26. The recruiter sent me a powerpoint slide with all of the army residencies on there and there are 75 listed under pediatrics. However, I will gladly take the word over someone who has been there than someone trying to get me to sign up.

Questions: 1) With there only being 26 spots available how competitive is it to get a peds residency in the army?
2) What was the match really like for you and is peds what you originally wanted to do? I ask this b/c there is one other field I think I would enjoy, but the further I get in school the more peds appeals to me and a peds residency in the civilian world is not difficult to get into.
3) Have any of you done a GMO and if so were they accompanied or unaccompanied? I ask this because I have a wife and 3 young children (8, 4, 2). The prospect of a GMO is something that we are as prepared for as we will ever be, however I would like to minimize my chances of being away from my family for long periods of time as much as I can.
4) Say we do decide to make the army a career choice (which we are leaning toward) - how did you go about getting the residency you wanted? Was it just rotating through there in your 3rd and 4th years, or are there some other steps I am not aware of.

Joining the military has been a decision we have been making since January of this year. So it is not something we have looking into lightly, however I really don't want to be stuck in a career I am unhappy with because I didn't match in what I wanted to. This is my main hesitation with the army right now as I want to match either peds or pathology (I know...very different fields, but I'm a bit of an odd guy). Other than these 2 fields of medicine, I have no real interest and I am leaning much further on the peds side than the path side. Thanks for the answers and I'm sure I'll have more Q's later on.

 

[dtn3t]

1. For the Army, peds generally isn't that competitive, number of applicants is pretty close to number of slots available.

2. I got lucky and did rotations at 3 of the 4 residencies and got my first choice. I did not know I wanted to do peds, I just kind of fell into liking it and hating adult medicine. I recommend NOT joining the military if you think you want to do Peds.

3. Peds in the Army and AF is a continuous contract, you won't have to do a GMO if you match right out of med school. Navy still requires a very likely GMO. Tours are accompanied, for the most part. If you want to minimize time away from your family, I recommend NOT joining the military.

4. You can get a peds residency by doing well on classes and boards and doing very well during rotations. Getting face time at residencies so you get to know them and they get to know you is extremely helpful and important so you know if you fit in or not. If you are leaning toward making the military a career, I recommend NOT joining the military.

Other random thoughts:

-Don't trust your recruiter. Never trust your recruiter. Ever.

-How far into your education are you? Unless you're going to get a 3 year HPSP, it's not worth it to join (although it's really not worth for the 4 year either!). Look into FAP if you still want to serve.

-Before you join, make sure you read ALL of the stickies.

-Did I do a GMO after internship? No. Am I doing a GMO fresh out of residency? Yes. No kids. At all. Actually, no patients at all. I've listened to ONE set of lungs since starting as a Brigade Surgeon. What do you think is happening to my pediatric (medical?) skills? I spend all of my time doing Admin and being the junior officer on Brigade staff of O4s and above. I hate my life and miss my pediatric patients. I hate waking up in the AM, walking into HQ every day makes me want to vomit, and I spend my days briefing powerpoint slide after powerpoint slide or sitting in meetings listening to things that have no relation to medicine whatsoever.

-Personally, joining the Army is the best thing I have ever done. Just like every one else here, I am proud to serve. Despite all my anger and hatred, I probably would make the decision to join again because I feel that strongly about needing to serve.

-Professionally, it is the absolute WORST thing I could have done. Nothing I've done thus far in my job has required residency training, much less a medical degree. Just to put things in perspective: A Field Artillery officer was tabbed to be the Ad Hoc Surgeon in between the last surgeon and myself. The brigade staff was extremely pleased with his work and sorry to see him go.

-I made the decision to join the Army knowing that Uncle Sam could screw me at any time, in any way. I knew this going in. But I still hate my life.

-Unless you are ready to accept anything the Army throws in the direction of you AND YOUR FAMILY, I recommend not joining the Army.

That is all. Does anyone else have anything to add?

Pending your questions and comments.

 

[edmadison]

Seconded.

 

[HackFuJones]

peds is one of the easiest specialties to get into in the Army along with FP, IM and Neuro..... u shouldnt have a problem getting into it unless u are a pedophile or really really dumb.

 

[Homunculus]

1. For the Army, peds generally isn't that competitive, number of applicants is pretty close to number of slots available.

2. I got lucky and did rotations at 3 of the 4 residencies and got my first choice. I did not know I wanted to do peds, I just kind of fell into liking it and hating adult medicine. I recommend NOT joining the military if you think you want to do Peds.

3. Peds in the Army and AF is a continuous contract, you won't have to do a GMO if you match right out of med school. Navy still requires a very likely GMO. Tours are accompanied, for the most part. If you want to minimize time away from your family, I recommend NOT joining the military.

4. You can get a peds residency by doing well on classes and boards and doing very well during rotations. Getting face time at residencies so you get to know them and they get to know you is extremely helpful and important so you know if you fit in or not. If you are leaning toward making the military a career, I recommend NOT joining the military.

Other random thoughts:

-Don't trust your recruiter. Never trust your recruiter. Ever.

-How far into your education are you? Unless you're going to get a 3 year HPSP, it's not worth it to join (although it's really not worth for the 4 year either!). Look into FAP if you still want to serve.

-Before you join, make sure you read ALL of the stickies.

-Did I do a GMO after internship? No. Am I doing a GMO fresh out of residency? Yes. No kids. At all. Actually, no patients at all. I've listened to ONE set of lungs since starting as a Brigade Surgeon. What do you think is happening to my pediatric (medical?) skills? I spend all of my time doing Admin and being the junior officer on Brigade staff of O4s and above. I hate my life and miss my pediatric patients. I hate waking up in the AM, walking into HQ every day makes me want to vomit, and I spend my days briefing powerpoint slide after powerpoint slide or sitting in meetings listening to things that have no relation to medicine whatsoever.

-Personally, joining the Army is the best thing I have ever done. Just like every one else here, I am proud to serve. Despite all my anger and hatred, I probably would make the decision to join again because I feel that strongly about needing to serve.

-Professionally, it is the absolute WORST thing I could have done. Nothing I've done thus far in my job has required residency training, much less a medical degree. Just to put things in perspective: A Field Artillery officer was tabbed to be the Ad Hoc Surgeon in between the last surgeon and myself. The brigade staff was extremely pleased with his work and sorry to see him go.

-I made the decision to join the Army knowing that Uncle Sam could screw me at any time, in any way. I knew this going in. But I still hate my life.

-Unless you are ready to accept anything the Army throws in the direction of you AND YOUR FAMILY, I recommend not joining the Army.

That is all. Does anyone else have anything to add?

Pending your questions and comments.

ummm. . . thirded?

i've yet to deploy (will be coming up in november) but if the pre-deployment training exercise is any indication, a battalion surgeon slot could easily be filled by a reasonably intelligent medic with a phone for consults and arranging the occasional transfer to the level 2 or CSH.

--your friendly neighborhood tactical combat battalion surgeon in a few months caveman

 

[edmadison]

a battalion surgeon slot could easily be filled by a reasonably intelligent medic with a phone for consults and arranging the occasional transfer to the level 2 or CSH.

If you are on a post like mine, absolutely. In 12 months, I've seen less than 5 patients that actually required my presence here.

Ed