foxmike123
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- Pre-Medical
I'm in the process of confirming whether I should pursue HPSP (Army), what is the path I should take, and what considerations I should be aware of with my goals in mind.
For context, I'm really interested in pursuing a career in SOF medicine as a physician. In university, I had some opportunities to spend quite a bit of time around SF officer classmates (fellows) and even spend some time at Bragg with some 3rd group ODAs to learn more about the role of SF and SOF. I was especially drawn to the world of austere medicine, UW, and performing care for civilians and indigenous forces. In my gap years, I've also worked (non-military related) with a few veterans from other SOF units as well, and it really cemented my interests hearing about their experiences working with physicians from the old GHOST teams, SORT teams, and the JMU. I'm a relatively huge adrenaline junkie who spends a lot of time active and outdoors with a keen interest in global health/medicine, and it just seemed from the get-go this was the path for me. (but also happy to take any criticism / advice from those more experienced than I)
I'm fairly certain HPSP is the right move for me, although I have some very slight concerns about not being able to get the best medical training humanly possible from a mil residency vs. a civ residency. (but I also understand the component of training is it is what you make of it)
Additionally, I was wondering what opportunities I can take advantage of during med school to set myself up besides what I've heard from some already, which is maintaining strong physical fitness and maintaining regular skills like land navigation and so forth. Like are there programs I should be trying to attend (e.g., getting a shot at getting airborne or air assault school, but from my understanding these ones are a flat no, at least from my HPSP recruiter).
Lastly, thinking very far ahead here, but for residency, should I be shooting for placement at somewhere like Womack so I can get close proximity and begin building conversations/relations with units I want to be assigned to/work with? Or should I shoot to be able to get civilian residency for the (potentially) better training? I know I'm far out, but my interests still remain relatively diverse with a big interest in family medicine or potentially emergency medicine but also could be interested in surgery from what I heard about what the JMU and SOST surgeons have been doing)
Sorry if I come off super ignorant, I've tried googling some information and reading across but couldn't find perspectives that really fit my interests/situation.
And I know I appear pretentious to think very far ahead about these things given interests change all the time, but wanted to also use this thread to get general insights from others before me, especially if they're critical.
For context, I'm really interested in pursuing a career in SOF medicine as a physician. In university, I had some opportunities to spend quite a bit of time around SF officer classmates (fellows) and even spend some time at Bragg with some 3rd group ODAs to learn more about the role of SF and SOF. I was especially drawn to the world of austere medicine, UW, and performing care for civilians and indigenous forces. In my gap years, I've also worked (non-military related) with a few veterans from other SOF units as well, and it really cemented my interests hearing about their experiences working with physicians from the old GHOST teams, SORT teams, and the JMU. I'm a relatively huge adrenaline junkie who spends a lot of time active and outdoors with a keen interest in global health/medicine, and it just seemed from the get-go this was the path for me. (but also happy to take any criticism / advice from those more experienced than I)
I'm fairly certain HPSP is the right move for me, although I have some very slight concerns about not being able to get the best medical training humanly possible from a mil residency vs. a civ residency. (but I also understand the component of training is it is what you make of it)
Additionally, I was wondering what opportunities I can take advantage of during med school to set myself up besides what I've heard from some already, which is maintaining strong physical fitness and maintaining regular skills like land navigation and so forth. Like are there programs I should be trying to attend (e.g., getting a shot at getting airborne or air assault school, but from my understanding these ones are a flat no, at least from my HPSP recruiter).
Lastly, thinking very far ahead here, but for residency, should I be shooting for placement at somewhere like Womack so I can get close proximity and begin building conversations/relations with units I want to be assigned to/work with? Or should I shoot to be able to get civilian residency for the (potentially) better training? I know I'm far out, but my interests still remain relatively diverse with a big interest in family medicine or potentially emergency medicine but also could be interested in surgery from what I heard about what the JMU and SOST surgeons have been doing)
Sorry if I come off super ignorant, I've tried googling some information and reading across but couldn't find perspectives that really fit my interests/situation.
And I know I appear pretentious to think very far ahead about these things given interests change all the time, but wanted to also use this thread to get general insights from others before me, especially if they're critical.
