Best Navy FM programs

[Ruraldoc18]

Looking to apply Navy FM this year and was wondering if anyone can provide pros/cons of the different programs. Essentially, I am wondering which are the strongest programs, providing the best training.

Currently leaning toward Pendleton as number 1, and can’t decide between Belvoir and Jacksonville for 2 and 3. I have rotated at Pendleton, but will likely not be able to rotate at the other sites before applications are due.

Thanks in advance!

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[manotter]

As with everything, it depends what you want, and what your definition of strong is. Do you like procedures? Is there a certain aspect of family medicine you want more of? Is this a stepping stone for operational billet? Are you worried about board pass rates?

People often pick these things based on location. If you don't like where you are, then you probably won't have a good time. But, if location isn't a deciding factor for you:

In terms of size Pendleton and Jax are the biggest programs with typically 13 in each class, while Lejeune has about 9 and Belvoir has 5 navy but is the largest program overall. All of these programs are at places where there aren't competeing residencies; however, Pendleton and Belvoir will roate at the larger MTFs nearby, and Jax has a lot of out rotations in the community. So it depends if you want more colleagues to coloaborate with vs compete with (for things like procedures).

Each place also has different focuses and populations. Pendleton loves sports medicine, while Lejeune likes OB more, as a couple of examples.

Due to the triservice program, Belvoir has more people go GMO after first year, dpending if you want that, or are looking to avoid that.

Jax probably does the most rotations with civillian hospitals nearby, if you want to see civillian medicine more, or are planning on getting out soon for that.

If you are looking for inpatient experience, probably Lejeune gives you te best opportunity.

The possible list of pros/cons is large, depending what your goals are.

 

[Ruraldoc18]

As with everything, it depends what you want, and what your definition of strong is. Do you like procedures? Is there a certain aspect of family medicine you want more of? Is this a stepping stone for operational billet? Are you worried about board pass rates?

People often pick these things based on location. If you don't like where you are, then you probably won't have a good time. But, if location isn't a deciding factor for you:

In terms of size Pendleton and Jax are the biggest programs with typically 13 in each class, while Lejeune has about 9 and Belvoir has 5 navy but is the largest program overall. All of these programs are at places where there aren't competeing residencies; however, Pendleton and Belvoir will roate at the larger MTFs nearby, and Jax has a lot of out rotations in the community. So it depends if you want more colleagues to coloaborate with vs compete with (for things like procedures).

Each place also has different focuses and populations. Pendleton loves sports medicine, while Lejeune likes OB more, as a couple of examples.

Due to the triservice program, Belvoir has more people go GMO after first year, dpending if you want that, or are looking to avoid that.

Jax probably does the most rotations with civillian hospitals nearby, if you want to see civillian medicine more, or are planning on getting out soon for that.

If you are looking for inpatient experience, probably Lejeune gives you te best opportunity.

The possible list of pros/cons is large, depending what your goals are.

This is great information, thanks so much! I’m most interested in full spectrum FM- procedures, both strong outpatient and inpatient, and OB. Really there hasn’t been anything in FM that I haven’t been interested in yet, so an overall strong program would be best for me. The goal is to train straight through, though I know it’s pretty much 50/50 at this point.

 

[manotter]

This is great information, thanks so much! I’m most interested in full spectrum FM- procedures, both strong outpatient and inpatient, and OB. Really there hasn’t been anything in FM that I haven’t been interested in yet, so an overall strong program would be best for me. The goal is to train straight through, though I know it’s pretty much 50/50 at this point.

If you want full spectrum family medicine in the Navy, Lejeune has the best chance of that. The lower number of residents allows for probably the most procedures per individual, instead of shared. Since there isn't a better MTF nearby, the inpatient tends to have more people and sicker, compared to the other programs. If you do like OB, Lejeune's delivery numbers tends to be third or fourth in the navy (Balboa, Portsmouth and sometimes Walter Reed).

As mentioned, if you want sports medicine, Pendleton does this more (since it has a fellowship there). You could argue that since you will do some rotations at Balboa and Walter Reed if at Pendleton and Belvoir, that you might see better cases with more subspecialist help. My biased opinion is that you will find yourself surrounded by huge teams with not as many patients. I would prefer more patients to struggle with individually, then cooler patients with huge collaborations, but to each their own.

This is of course, my biased opinion. In the end you will be a family medicine physician. You will ave appropriate training to do your job. The only difference is somethings you will be more comfortable with.