Army Feelers for Army Emergency Medicine

[Fysics]

BLUF: Seeking general thoughts, opinions, experiences, recommendations from current or former practicing Army EM physicians (or gen/trauma surgeons) regarding their practice and lifestyle in order to inform career decisions.

Background: Current enlisted Army SOF medic in for 10 years, bachelors and pre-reqs for med school completed. MCAT TBD.

Goals: Complete medical school (leaning towards USUHS, if not HPSP at the moment), Army EM residency, join JSOC or other forward surgical team or similar ASAP, retire at 20+ as an O and join civilian practice. Obviously, my specific goals are by no means guaranteed, and I'm aware it's unwise to put all my eggs in one basket. That's why I'm asking this...

Ask: In the event I don't land my (next) dream job, to ensure that I can stomach living with the alternatives for 7-8 years, I want to get a feel for the practice and lifestyle of AD Army board-certified EM physicians (or gen/trauma surg, if you're out there). I've been in long enough to know that YMMV significantly in the military, so any and all relevant experiences and recommendations are welcomed and appreciated. In fact, I would like to compile as many relevant opinions as possible. I'm open to other specialties of course, but EM or surgery are the only options for the specific position I want.

Context: I've scoured these forums and am well aware of the potential downsides of Mil Med in general. I like to think I'm pretty adaptable overall. I am fortunate to be, for the most part, satisfied with my time in service thus far. Furthermore, it appears that financially mil med makes the most sense (e.g. O-3E over 12 pay vs civilian resident pay with a family, pension not too far off, etc.) given where I am in my career. My future wife is very supportive and independent as well.

More context: In case you're wondering. Yes, I've considered the Navy HSCP. Yes, it makes more sense for me financially. No, I will not join the Navy, but thank you.

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[militaryPHYS]

You are very well informed and are seeking out the exact right last piece of the puzzle - direct discussion/mentoring from current MilMed physicians in your career goal.

I will stand by to see if anyone else can get you in touch with the specific people you are inquiring about. If nothing materializes, let me know and I can get you in contact with some Navy EM docs and/or a Navy ortho JSOC person.

 

[Gastrapathy]

What about getting out and finishing your 20 in the reserves? You could do VA HPSP and buy back your years of service to double dip a VA and probably SOF job with 2 pensions (your AD years count for both VA and reserve time and the VA is more tolerant of deployments than most employers).

You are the rare candidate who actually is likely to get to go back and practice with SOF due to your prior experience. The problem with your plan isn't necessarily EM in the military, its the state of EM in general for your post-military career (which will be longer than your military EM career). Have you read the EM forums? The brief summary is that HCA and their cronies realized they were the ones paying EM salaries, which were high and rising. So they opened an enormous number of EM residencies and have flooded the market with graduates. This has shifted the supply/demand curve dramatically in the favor of the corporations at the expense of the physicians. Its an incredibly informative situation for the rest of us about the future. You sure you don't want to be a SOF shrink?

 

[Fysics]

You are very well informed and are seeking out the exact right last piece of the puzzle - direct discussion/mentoring from current MilMed physicians in your career goal.

I will stand by to see if anyone else can get you in touch with the specific people you are inquiring about. If nothing materializes, let me know and I can get you in contact with some Navy EM docs and/or a Navy ortho JSOC person.

Definitely interested in speaking with said contacts regardless, thank you. Okay, so I'm not totally against doing the Navy route. I won't belabor with the details, but my understanding is that with my specific goal in mind the Navy just introduces too many variables.

 

[Fysics]

What about getting out and finishing your 20 in the reserves? You could do VA HPSP and buy back your years of service to double dip a VA and probably SOF job with 2 pensions (your AD years count for both VA and reserve time and the VA is more tolerant of deployments than most employers).

You are the rare candidate who actually is likely to get to go back and practice with SOF due to your prior experience. The problem with your plan isn't necessarily EM in the military, its the state of EM in general for your post-military career (which will be longer than your military EM career). Have you read the EM forums? The brief summary is that HCA and their cronies realized they were the ones paying EM salaries, which were high and rising. So they opened an enormous number of EM residencies and have flooded the market with graduates. This has shifted the supply/demand curve dramatically in the favor of the corporations at the expense of the physicians. Its an incredibly informative situation for the rest of us about the future. You sure you don't want to be a SOF shrink?

I have considered the reserves/National Guard. I don't think I can get to JSOC that route, but maybe other FST's. JSOC is the primary goal for now though.

I've worked with several docs in my SOF units. Much respect to them, but their job does not appeal to me. It's mostly occupational medicine, overseeing TCCC training, and occasional med coverage for high risk training. I've already seen that movie. I wouldn't mind filling a BN surgeon billet down the road in the guard after I've got my fix.

I'll look into the VA option - hadn't thought about that.

I will definitely look into this emerging state of EM as well and take it into consideration; but again, my primary goal is an active duty job while I'm still eligible. After retirement I'm not too worried about landing the most competitive highest paying ED job. I'll presumably have my pension and Tricare. My wife will probably have income, and my spawn will have my GI Bill. I think my background will have set me up with options outside the traditional full-time ED jobs if need be. If not, maybe I'll change things up with a fellowship at that point. I'm not doing this for the money.

 

[militaryPHYS]

Definitely interested in speaking with said contacts regardless, thank you. Okay, so I'm not totally against doing the Navy route. I won't belabor with the details, but my understanding is that with my specific goal in mind the Navy just introduces too many variables.

Oh yeah. Not suggesting you go Navy. Those are just the contacts I have for someone similar to chat with

 

[armytrainingsir]

For my former AD friend in EM, EM seems pretty easy specially in which to moonlight and keep your skills up.

Given your history,IMO, AD mil med is viable option for you. That said, going from high speed to high drag might prove a bit too frustrating.

 

[DrMetal]

I don't know about Army Emergency Medicine, but EM in general has become a total **** show (look at what's going on in the civilian world, for any specialty, you will be a civilian again one day).

40 years ago when they created EM, they were warned of this (that it was a bad idea to create a specialty solely based off an acuity level, not based on age/organ/set of pathologies). Now their day of reckoning has come. From the influx of mid-levels, to ridiculous admin guided metrics that force ER physicians to un-necessarily admit, to the the misuse of ERs are urgent cares or (worse) as primary care type access points, narcotics seekers, etc . . .

I thank my lucky stars I didn't pick that specialty.