The problem is that US allopathic schools don't produce anywhere near enough doctors. Thanks to DO schools, we no longer have to hire 1/3 of our physicians from foreign medical schools. I never understood why some MD's think DO schoold are terrible, but seem more than happy with spending tax payer money to train MD's from India.
Furthermore, isn't it much more horrible that HPSP has so few MD's from Ivy league institutions these days? Now the military has to settle for MD's from old state U. Talk about sacrificing quality with these idiots who couldn't get into a competitive med school . . . .
Well for starters I do think it is disappointing that few, if any Ivy league med school grads choose HPSP. These are the proverbial "cream of the crop" and it was not uncommon in the 80's and 90's to find them well represented in military medicine. Their absence is a loss, to be sure.
Also, "state U" allopathic schools are usually very competitive (California comes to mind) b/c of their low tuition compared to Tufts, for instance. Ironically, these students also seldom join the military b/c their debt load is comparatively light.
The absence of these demographic groups reflects very poorly upon military medicine. Essentially it tells us that the cream of the crop want to have nothing to do with a system fraught with difficulties, bureaucracy, poor pay, and uncertainty. For the "state U" folks as you call them it would seem to tell us that patriotism and sense of duty is not a large factor in considering HPSP anymore. It's the money, stupid. Of course this is borne out by the glut of D.O's who flock to mil med b/c of the exorbitant costs of their schools. They are also attracted by the lack of discrimination within the DOD with regards to residency availability. Conversely, this lack of discrimination turns some MD students off and so they do not apply for the "scholarship." Finally, the people who join the .Mil strictly for the money are the ones most likely to end up embittered and unhappy.
If everybody would stop being so damn PC for a second and consider the present situation, they'd be alarmed. What does it say about an organization that it is forced to rely on sub-par applicants to fill its quota? Are the ridiculous "minimum" standards for application (MCAT 21, GPA 3.2!!!!????) a good thing? Is it better to lower the bar, as military medicine has, while consistently advertising the monetary and residency benefits of the resulting indentured servitude? Qualified applicants, it would seem, are not fooled.
I think the military would do better to be honest and upfront. Tell the lemmings that there is a good chance they won't get their residency of choice. Be open about GMO tours. Do not skirt the fact that for many specialists, military medicine is a financial black hole, and a considerable sacrifice.
Emphasize the SACRIFICE. Emphasize duty to country and kin. Emphasize honor and courage. Military service of any type, at this juncture in our history, is ennobling. These are the things that make daily life in the military livable, and the stuff you can look back on with pride.
//end rant