Hello from an AF Noob

[ARAMP1]

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I just found the forum wanted to say hello. I'm an AF active duty pilot. My undergrad was in math and I've spent the last 6 years taking Bio and Chem pre-reqs (around deployments, TDYs, exercises, etc). I will be taking the MCAT for the first time this spring. My ADSC is up in two years and I plan on applying for Medical School.

I'm not yet set on MD or DO just yet and will probably be applying to both programs at a few different schools. If I had my first choice, I'd do USUHS with HPSP being a close second. I've also thought about just going to school and joining the guard/reserve so I could stay in the cockpit while I go to school. The plan is to come back in the AF as a GMO flight physician while I figure out what I want to do when I grow up.

Anyway, hello and I look forward to learning!

Al

 

[Aegis]

Welcome! I'm all for doing GMO to figure out what you want to do with your life (assuming you don't figure it out in med school). I didn't figure it out in med school and I'm glad I've gone GMO. I've deployed three times and being alone and unafraid has really helped me understand what kind of medicine I want to practice. It's certainly not for everyone, and as you dig through these forums you will come across a lot of GMO bashing, but I have no regrets and for me personally it was one of the best things I did. Good luck with everything.

 

[ARAMP1]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I've heard a lot of GMO bashing already just on active duty. I have an idea of what I want to do based on what interests me now, but that may change after I study it and other things more in depth. (I also have an idea of what I don't want to do) I've also thought that there may be other things that weigh in on the decision such as what fields are available when it becomes time to choose a residency, and if the AF will even let me go. Heck, maybe the AF will even let me fly on the side. Are you still a GMO?

 

[Gastrapathy]

The GMO "bashing" is really a fundamental question of whether it meets the standard of care that we expect in US medicine to send someone out after internship. Most of us feel that its not good enough. Increasingly, state licensing boards and hospital credentialing committees agree.

I'd liken it to having someone fly a plane after only completing ground school. The pilot might think he's qualified but I wouldn't want my family in the back.

Also, because the AF trains mostly straight-through, you could be at a competitive disadvantage as a GMO. You compete in a completely different pot.

As for being "alone and unafraid", that attitude leaves me terrified ****less. A healthy fear of what you don't know is critical.

 

[ARAMP1]

What do you mean by "trains mostly straight-through"?

 

[244913]

What do you mean by "trains mostly straight-through"?

It means that the Air Force has many fewer GMO's/Flight Surgeons compared to the Navy. If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that about 20-25% of USAF folks are forced into GMO at the end of their intern year. For the Army it's about 15-20%, for the Navy closer to 60%.

It also means that there are fewer PGY-2 spots for USAF applicants returning from GMO duty, again compared to the Navy which traditionally accommodates many more fleet returnees into its training programs.

The AF is big on granting civilian deferrals, whether for internship only or for straight through training because they have downsized their training programs drastically.

-61N

 

[deuist]

The AF is big on granting civilian deferrals, whether for internship only or for straight through training because they have downsized their training programs drastically.

That part is a double kick in the nuts. Not only are you not allowed to do the residency you applied for, it's now December and you'll have to find an internship on your own.

 

[DoctaJMa]

That part is a double kick in the nuts. Not only are you not allowed to do the residency you applied for, it's now December and you'll have to find an internship on your own.

It also sucks if you get a deferment because ALOT of places will not interview you when they see on ur ERAS app that you have a military commitment (of course they wouldnt admit it was because of that, but if ur stats are good its the only logical explanation). Im glad I didnt get a civilian deferment, I had an AF friend that did and she was having a hard time trying to get interviews and she is towards the top of the class.

The programs know that the likelihood that you would be a deferement is low so many of them dont want to "waste" the interview spot.

 

[Hook]

The AF does have a pilot-physician program. Look into it if you want to be a flight doc, but stick with flying for a few more years. I've known a few pilot physicians over the years....

 

[Aegis]

The GMO "bashing" is really a fundamental question of whether it meets the standard of care that we expect in US medicine to send someone out after internship. Most of us feel that its not good enough. Increasingly, state licensing boards and hospital credentialing committees agree.

I'd liken it to having someone fly a plane after only completing ground school. The pilot might think he's qualified but I wouldn't want my family in the back.

Also, because the AF trains mostly straight-through, you could be at a competitive disadvantage as a GMO. You compete in a completely different pot.

As for being "alone and unafraid", that attitude leaves me terrified ****less. A healthy fear of what you don't know is critical.

First of all the "alone and unafraid" thing is completely facetious. Yes, it's terrifying being an intern trained GMO completely alone out in the middle of Africa thousands of miles away from any western standard of care. But, that fear drives us to be better, to read, learn and explore more topics than we would if we were stuck in some med group and never deployed.

As I've commented before it is irresponsible for the AF to send GMOs out into the field. The job I do was originally designed for a boarded flight surgeon in either FP or EM. But, of course there obviously aren't enough of those to go around and the mission still has to go on so they pull from the GMO pool. The point is that this WILL continue to happen. I fight on a daily basis to send my docs and IDMTs to training that will hopefully get them closer to a level of competency that is required for the job. I don't think the argument should be about if it's right or wrong that the military is systematically doing this to GMOs. That point is obvious. What everyone has to decide for themselves is if they want to step up and fill this role as a GMO, knowing that you will be tossed outside of your comfort zone, knowing that the fear and anxiety you get from being inappropriately independent will make you in my mind a better person, and a better provider, but also knowing that if you choose to say "hey this is wrong, not for me", you are going to wind up with a 7-5 flight med job writing waviers, never deploying, and they will just send another GMO anyway...I've been bashing my head on the walls for years knowing that the system can't change, doesn't want to change, so there's little point in expending all your energy in trying to change it, better to decide how you want to live within it...

 

[Handinhand]

It also sucks if you get a deferment because ALOT of places will not interview you when they see on ur ERAS app that you have a military commitment (of course they wouldnt admit it was because of that, but if ur stats are good its the only logical explanation). Im glad I didnt get a civilian deferment, I had an AF friend that did and she was having a hard time trying to get interviews and she is towards the top of the class.

The programs know that the likelihood that you would be a deferement is low so many of them dont want to "waste" the interview spot.

Sorry to bump this thread, but could you explain this more? Why do civilian residencies look down upon HPSP students if they are granted a civilian deferment?

Also, how likely is it to get a civilian deferment in the AF? Specific to pediatric residency, as that's what I think I'm interested in, but am not terribly happy with the locations of the AF pediatric residencies.

 

[Kilgoretrout 65]

Sorry to bump this thread, but could you explain this more? Why do civilian residencies look down upon HPSP students if they are granted a civilian deferment?

Also, how likely is it to get a civilian deferment in the AF? Specific to pediatric residency, as that's what I think I'm interested in, but am not terribly happy with the locations of the AF pediatric residencies.

In The AF, the specialties that are hard to fill, like peds and IM, don't get too many deferrals. From what I have seen, the AF wants to take the folks who have good credentials or at least don't have other red flags and defer folks who could cause problems during their residency, have flunked a year, have flunked USMLE, have irritated staff on their rotations, etc. The smaller programs may defer more candidates because they just don't have the slots. USUHS students can't be deferred internship.

As far as not liking the locations where you work...welcome to the military.

 

[HomeSkool]

I just found the forum wanted to say hello. I'm an AF active duty pilot. My undergrad was in math and I've spent the last 6 years taking Bio and Chem pre-reqs (around deployments, TDYs, exercises, etc). I will be taking the MCAT for the first time this spring. My ADSC is up in two years and I plan on applying for Medical School.

I'm not yet set on MD or DO just yet and will probably be applying to both programs at a few different schools. If I had my first choice, I'd do USUHS with HPSP being a close second. I've also thought about just going to school and joining the guard/reserve so I could stay in the cockpit while I go to school. The plan is to come back in the AF as a GMO flight physician while I figure out what I want to do when I grow up.

Anyway, hello and I look forward to learning!

Al

I wouldn't *plan* for GMO, just keep in mind that it's an option. There's every possibility that you'll figure out what you want to do during med school. And it's OK if you change your mind a few times. I started med school wanting to be a cardiologist and went through a couple specialties before ultimately deciding on anesthesiology early in my fourth year.

On the other hand, if you want to be a GMO to get the flight surgeon experience, more power to you.

 

[ARAMP1]

I wouldn't *plan* for GMO, just keep in mind that it's an option. There's every possibility that you'll figure out what you want to do during med school. And it's OK if you change your mind a few times. I started med school wanting to be a cardiologist and went through a couple specialties before ultimately deciding on anesthesiology early in my fourth year.

On the other hand, if you want to be a GMO to get the flight surgeon experience, more power to you.

Definitely not planning on it, but being a pilot, I know several flight docs that went that route...not intentionally of course. I guess I'd just be prepared for it.

Plastic surgery really fascinates me and right now, I'd say that's my number one choice. But, I also realize that it's like asking a pilot training class full of second lieutenants what they want to fly. At the beginning, everyone wants to fly the F16. Towards the end, people have pretty much found out where their strengths and desires are, and I'd venture to guess that well over half have changed their mind at least once. I know I did. I suspect medical school will be no different.