Dive Medicine vs. Aerospace / Hyperbaric

[UseUrHeadFred]

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Hello!

I plan on doing HPSP, and am probably going AF. Interestingly, I'm a PADI Master Diver, and love SCUBA diving. I've thought about combining my interests. Obviously, the Navy is probably more interested in SCUBA, but the AF needs Aerospace Medicine and Hyperbaric people. I also love the space program, so that's also a factor in my decision.

Is Aerospace/Hyperbaric similar to Dive medicine? What are the work duties of each?

Thanks!

 

[militarymd]

you do sick call for people who dive and fly, and when someone gets bent, you may get to supervise dives in the chamber......at least the physician parts of it....you get to do some diving and flying also if that's what you're into, but your primary responsibilities are "health maintenance" for the divers and flyers'

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

Thank you, MilitaryMD. You are truly an asset to the board.

 

[gaslady]

Hyperbaric Medicine is used to treat a number of different conditions. In the military is likely used to treat divers and for space research. However, there is a lot more to it than that and if you are considering HBO as a fellowship you should be aware of the other end of the spectrum because what you see ultimately could vary greatly depending on where you end up. Here's some examples of indications, although there are more:
1. Chronic wounds - HBO is a very effective therapy for the treatment of chronic nonhealing wounds. A lot of these are long term complications from radiation injury for treatments of cancers. These can occur on any area of the body, for example, radiation proctitis after colon or rectal CA, dental caries with exposed mandible for ENT cancers (basically a mouthful of necrotic teeth), nonhealing skin wounds anywhere there was radiation. The irradiated tissues are very fibrotic and don't have adequate blood flow, HBO promotes neovascularization. The treatments go on for weeks so you will often see these patients daily or a few times a week for a period of weeks.
2. Carbon monoxide poisoning - suicide or occupational accidental exposure
3. Diabetic wounds with osteomyelitis - when it's gets this bad, most of the time an amputation is needed, but reimbursement isn't approved until it's osteo and really far gone.
4. Necrotizing fascitis- these are ICU patients, HBO is adjunctive to Antibiotics and surgery. It can really help the surgeons delineate how much they need to debride.

So, in summary, all of hyperbaric medicine isn't as glamorous as dive medicine, there's a big difference. FYI, my experience is from a large academic center with a large Hyperbaric chamber.

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

One of my career goals includes potentially working in Aerospace Med for the USAF, and possibly eventually a career with NASA. Is it possible for a good student to pursue this path without relying too heavily upon luck? That is, can a well-qualified AF medical student make a strong case for training in these areas?