Health Professions Scholarship Program

[goodstuff33]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I am considering applying for this in the Army branch but was wondering if anyone had any thoughts regarding this program, including pro/cons. I was initially against it because I thought your residency was chosen for you based on need; however, according to the Army this is not the case.

 

[jpatzi]

I am a first year at DMU and I am an Army HPSP student. There are many rumors about the program..DO not listen to them; many people have no idea what they are talking about. As far as residencies are concerned, the number of openings per field are determined based on the need for those positions. There are instances where people do not get the residency of their choice and are forced to do a residency they do not want. This happens only to those who applied only to one type of residency and did not qualify/get chosen for it. As a result, the ARMY places them in whatever residency openings/needs they have. Does this make sense? If you have any questions regarding ARMY HPSP, please let me know.

 

[wook]

As far as residencies are concerned, the number of openings per field are determined based on the need for those positions. There are instances where people do not get the residency of their choice and are forced to do a residency they do not want.

Agreed

Also, be aware that likelihood is extremely low (ie it has never happened) that you will be pulled from residency. However, it is something that CAN happen. Read the fine print before signing up, and ask the hard questions. Many people leave after their time very irritated and feeling taken advantage of.

I had considered this option and pressed one recruiter about some of my questions. He assured me that I could not be pulled while in residency or fellowship, yet when I asked for a copy of a contract that showed that I was never given a copy. I'm still waiting 3 years later.

Another recruiter was more forthcoming and said she didn't know and would check for me. She actually came back with the information requested AND was able to provide a copy of the contract.

Bottom line...some recruiters are more honest than others.

Wook

 

[LauraDO]

All this is encouraging to hear, I'm apply for AF HPSP

 

[DrMattOglesby]

the only reason i might be interested in this program is for the tuition waiver...
and with the way things are looking out there now, a tuition waiver could be a lifesaver.

 

[wook]

the only reason i might be interested in this program is for the tuition waiver...
and with the way things are looking out there now, a tuition waiver could be a lifesaver.

I would not do this for the money. You will end up disappointed with your experience. If you want to do it to serve your contry, or support the troops, or to gain experiences you would not have in civilian life then go for it. I would, however, discourage you from doing this for money.



Wook

 

[jltuttle]

I agree with everything that has been said. You definitely should not go into this for the money. You make more as a civilian physician than the military pays you and it is very likely that you could end up making enough to compensate for what the military would have paid you (and probably even more) if you just went the normal route and took out student loans to pay for school.

If serving your country is something you would do voluntarily without considering the financial benefits, and you fully understand what you're committing to, then I would recommend the military scholarship 100%.

By the way, there is an entire discussion forum dedicated to these types of questions. You should check out: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=72

 

[goodstuff33]

Another concern of mine would be the constant moving. Some people I talked to have moved three to four times. I am currently single but this would seem to put a strain on any future relationships I may have. Anyone have some insight?

 

[LauraDO]

I think really the best candidates for it are those that grew up in a military familiy (like myself) or WANT to be both a Dr. and in the military. You are used to the moving, the enviroment, the 'military' you know a bit more what to expect. Having grown up in a military family it would be my greatest honor to serve the men and women that protect our country, no matter what sacrifice that service entails. I have analyzed the postives and negatives (one look at this board will quickly show all the negatives) and have decided the honor to serve is worth it to me

 

[libo1369]

First if you are considering it talk to a recruiter you will get some information but realize it is also tainted with the glitz and glamour. Next as it as been stated above you should not do this for the monetary reward ie short term gain. If you are taking this scholarship you are agreeing with being in the military first and a doctor as your trade there. I was Marine Infantry so I believe that my life as a Officer and a doctor can be no worse than my life as a Pvt. There is a great thread though somewhat biased (as all threads tend to be) about military medicine you have to scroll down a ways to get to it. The negatives seem big but it is a lot of how you cope with certain stressors.

Pertaining to the question of relationships there is ample time to fall in and out of love with a military life. As a Doctor I can't see them moving you around any more than the enlisted. On the blue side (stationed on ships) you will have many short deployments up to about two months at a time with most being only a week or so. On the green side (treating Marines) the infantry does a work up for a year and half at which point they deploy for an average of six months. The military divorce rate is high but this high attrition rate can be negated by the fact that many boots (newbies) get married thinking it will allow them more financial gain while it does it becomes miserable. Also if you get into a relationship and it can survive a six month deployment and the time of readjustment after it is probably going to survive anything.

 

[RoyalFB]

the only reason i might be interested in this program is for the tuition waiver...
and with the way things are looking out there now, a tuition waiver could be a lifesaver.

I agree that nobody should take this scholarship for the tuition waiver alone. Yes, you leave school debt free, but then you have residency which may not be your first choice. This is followed by your 4 years of service. During this time remember that you will be making an officer's salary which is nowhere near a civilian physician's salary. After this (and this is the part that isn't advertised much) you have 4 years of reserve duty as well. That's about 17 years, depending on residency length, until you are completely free of the military once you sign the papers. This might be slightly different depending on the branch you are in, but that's a long time.

If you just take out loans for your medical education, and start making an average salary right away, you will be debt free long before that. And at the same time you will have much more control over what kind of medicine you practice, where you live, how far you are from explosions, etc...

Bottom line, you should only make this commitment if you truly want to be in the military. I only considered it because I was going to enlist anyway before I found out I got into a University. After a lot of thought and research, I have decided against the scholarship. If you never considered the armed forces before you found out about the money, I would steer clear. Good luck, and if you still have questions, search old threads because there is tons of stuff on this topic.

 

[farookiano]

i just met with a recruiter
and he said we have three choices for residencies

and he said if u end up getting obgyn or pediatrics or something not wanted in a war zone, u will not be deployed

how accurate is that]? or does everyone get deployed at some point?

 

[Toohotinvegas33]

i just met with a recruiter
and he said we have three choices for residencies

and he said if u end up getting obgyn or pediatrics or something not wanted in a war zone, u will not be deployed

how accurate is that]? or does everyone get deployed at some point?

Although they could make you deploy as a GMO before you get residency trained. Also they could have you work outside your specialty to an extent (for those at DMU ask Dr. Fig about this). Since OB has primary care/ surgery aspects to it, they could use you in all sorts of ways.

 

[navrad]

You are still eligble for deployment if you are an ob/gyn or peds. The ob knows pelvic surgery and there are a number of females deployed. Peds act as ID specialists.

 

[Navy94]

I have been in the Navy for about 12 years and will be going to school on the HPSP program. One thing that I have learned during my time in the Navy is during war time no one is protected from deployment. So, if you are not willing to deploy, don't join the military.

 

[wook]

I have been in the Navy for about 12 years and will be going to school on the HPSP program. One thing that I have learned during my time in the Navy is during war time no one is protected from deployment. So, if you are not willing to deploy, don't join the military.

Very true!


Wook

 

[TripodLuv]

Sadly, I can't seem to find any recent discussion here about the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Programs. I am applying for the Navy program, but I've also talked in great length to an Air Force recruiter for the same program. The HPSP could be a tremendous opportunity to have your medical education paid for if you're at all interested in military medicine. I'm happy to try and provide more information if there's any interest. 🙂

 

[addo]

That's about 17 years, depending on residency length, until you are completely free of the military once you sign the papers. This might be slightly different depending on the branch you are in, but that's a long time.

As I understand it, you owe 8 years to the military regardless of how you join, and what branch you join. If you do a military residency those years count towards your requirement. So, say you have military residency that lasts 4 years, you would then have 4 years of active duty to pay back. That would be 8 years, and you are free. If residency lasted 3 years, then serve 4 years in active duty, and 1 year in reserve and youre done. During medical school you would have to devote 4-6 weeks per year to the military, but this is pretty flexible, and should adjust to your schedule.

Not that it matters, since you shouldnt be doing it for the money as it has been said, but military and civilian residency salaries are pretty comparable. It is during the 4 years of active duty that you would be earning less compared to a civilian doctor, but then again youre not in $200k+ of debt.

 

[IfeelYourPain]

I've looked into the HPSP scholarship, and I agree with basically everything that's been said. One thing I'll contribute here is that the HPSP may be more beneficial/appealing in a monetary sense if you are considering being a general practitioner. The civilian vs. military salaries (GPs vs. GMOs) are pretty comparable (87,000+ free health insurance and no malpractice insurance vs. ~115,000 without as many benefits).


Also, the retirement outlook for military doctors is nice... since social security is certainly not going to be there for us lol and 401k's seem to be capable of pretty significant fluctuation in these times of economic uncertainty.

 

[Airborne29]

I've looked into the HPSP scholarship, and I agree with basically everything that's been said. One thing I'll contribute here is that the HPSP may be more beneficial/appealing in a monetary sense if you are considering being a general practitioner. The civilian vs. military salaries (GPs vs. GMOs) are pretty comparable (87,000+ free health insurance and no malpractice insurance vs. ~115,000 without as many benefits).


Also, the retirement outlook for military doctors is nice... since social security is certainly not going to be there for us lol and 401k's seem to be capable of pretty significant fluctuation in these times of economic uncertainty.

You also get 30 days paid vacation which rolls over to the next year. You could get stationed at some really neat places, like Europe for example. I know officers in the 0-3+ range, you'll definitely have a little more say and pull of where they like to go, not always guaranteed of course, but if you know the right folks in S1, you'd be surprised what you can get sometimes.

Also, if you're not deployed, you can accrue up to 60 days before you have to use/lose your leave, 90 if deployed. Also, if you do deploy, you're except from paying federal tax/state tax and receive a few other incentives which would put you in the pay range of some civilian doctors.