HPSP Questions-Mostly residency related

[Melkor]

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Hello,

So I am going to be starting med school this year (fall 2011) and I have submitted my application for the hpsp Air Force program (won't know if accepted until end of Feb.) and I just have a few questions that I was hoping someone with experience may be able to answer.

First off, currently I have been accepted to my top choice DO school and am still waiting to hear back from 2 MD schools post interview. I was wondering if the residency choices in the Air Force are segregated in a similar fashion to how they are in the civilian world as far as MD and DO degrees go. I was under the impression that they were all in one category regardless of the degree but then I was wondering if I did go DO, would I have to take the USMLE just because that is the only way to compare my scores against MD applicants for residencies? It wouldn't matter to me to take the USMLE (I probably would regardless) but I am more just curious about how the ranking works between DOs and MDS in the Air Force.

Second question is how difficult would it be to get a semi competitive residency in the Air Force. Basically, I know I am not the brightest applicant but feel that I can probably get somewhere between top 30%-20% of my class and do relatively about the same on all step tests. Unfortunately I do not really know how competitive the residency matches are in the Air Force but I have been reading that if you do not match (say you only list 1 specialty on your match list at different bases plus deferm) you would then be a GMO for 1-3 years and apply for that particular specialty over and over again each year. With this in mind, it seems like from what I've read that GMO's have a much higher chance of matching into the residency of there choice because they have "field experience" even if they have lower stats compared to new med students right out of school. If this is the case, and in the future I absolutely know I want to do one particular competitive residency, would it actually be easier to match after doing 1-3 years as a GMO compared to a civilian student not doing a military track? Basically, if I think I would just be on the cusp of being a competitive student for a particular residency in the civilian world, would going through the military, then being a GMO for those 1-3 years give me a better chance at getting into said competitive residency than if I were just a normal civilian student? I've not really been able to find anything regarding this question but am very intrigued about the answer and would rather not ask my recruiter as I feel he will just try to give me the answer I am looking for (not to fault him, it is his job to "recruit" me).

Anyways, if anyone may know some of these answers, I would be much appreciative for them.

 

[J-Rad]

Not really.
No.
It depends.

 

[backrow]

Not really.
No.
It depends.

+1 for being succinct
+1 for being correct.

 

[wiscRD]

I was under the impression that they were all in one category regardless of the degree but then I was wondering if I did go DO, would I have to take the USMLE just because that is the only way to compare my scores against MD applicants for residencies?

According to a Navy Physician who is the head of the Navy's HPSP, the residencies are combined and DOs don't need to take the USMLE. They must know how to compare them to each other pretty well since they get DO applicants each year. I asked if it would be a benefit to me to take the USMLE and she said no. This could be different for the AF, but I am assuming it is the same.

 

[Melkor]

Not really.
No.
It depends.

I do appreciate your breviloquent response but I was wondering if you or anyone else could expound upon the last answer. What does it depend on? The different residencies (depending on competitiveness) and/or how long you spend as a GMO? This is probably the biggest sticking point for me on deciding whether or not to decide to accept the HPSP program. I would greatly prefer to not have to a do a GMO tour and start residency right after school but would still be alright being a GMO for 1-2 years if it would help my chances at getting a competitive residency such as radiology (given my class rank was semi high and had fairly high step scores, ie I was already somewhat competitive for the residency) Thanks again for your previous answers.

 

[Jet915]

There are ALOT of DO's in the military so atleast in the Navy, I know it doesn't really matter. I know a few DO's who got residencies in Dermatology, Radiology etc.....

 

[BOHICA-FIGMO]

I do appreciate your breviloquent response but I was wondering if you or anyone else could expound upon the last answer. What does it depend on? The different residencies (depending on competitiveness) and/or how long you spend as a GMO? This is probably the biggest sticking point for me on deciding whether or not to decide to accept the HPSP program. I would greatly prefer to not have to a do a GMO tour and start residency right after school but would still be alright being a GMO for 1-2 years if it would help my chances at getting a competitive residency such as radiology (given my class rank was semi high and had fairly high step scores, ie I was already somewhat competitive for the residency) Thanks again for your previous answers.

First, it is usually a good bet to assume you will graduate at 1.5 to 2.0 the percentile you graduated in during undergrad...e.g., if you graduated 10percentile in undergrad, plan on graduating around 20 percentile for med school. If you graduated 25 percentile, plan on 50th percentile. Etc. A good rule of thumb for planning but not foolproof by any means.

Also, to answer your DO vs MD question: in the military, it absolutely doesn't matter. Tomato, tomato. Now, in terms of residencies, you mentioned you are looking at the USAF. The USAF defers more graduates to civilian residencies than any other service. So, in applying for competitive civilian residencies, e.g., rads, it might be significantly tougher to get into some programs as a DO with COMLEX scores than it would be with MD with USMLE scores.

In regards to GMO billets, most are 2-3 years NOT 1-2. And, if you want a military residency in something competitive in either the Navy or USAF, you will likely have to a GMO tour (or flight surgeon tour in the USAF).

Hope that helps. Good luck!

 

[Melkor]

In regards to GMO billets, most are 2-3 years NOT 1-2. And, if you want a military residency in something competitive in either the Navy or USAF, you will likely have to a GMO tour (or flight surgeon tour in the USAF).

Hope that helps. Good luck!

Appreciate your answer Bohica. I have been looking elsewhere for another question but have read conflicting answers. Would doing a 2-3 year GMO tour count as payback for the hpsp even if I would do a military residency afterwords or would I still need to repay the full amount of the residency training time (go to med school for 4 years-do GMO tour for 2 years then residency for 4 years-would I be obligated for another 4 years or just 2)?

 

[backrow]

Appreciate your answer Bohica. I have been looking elsewhere for another question but have read conflicting answers. Would doing a 2-3 year GMO tour count as payback for the hpsp even if I would do a military residency afterwords or would I still need to repay the full amount of the residency training time (go to med school for 4 years-do GMO tour for 2 years then residency for 4 years-would I be obligated for another 4 years or just 2)?

It gets very technical at times....in this instance you would owe 4 years after completion of residency.

HPSP owe 4 years. Pay 1 year back during internship, but at same time "earn" 1 year for the year of training....net result=owe 4 years. Do 2yrs of GMO = pay off 2 years...net result owe 2years. Do a four year residency....first two years you pay off the end of your HPSP/Intern year obligation, but you "earn" 4 years anew...net result=you owe 4 years after end of residency.

Basically you pay off your HPSP obligation in the first four years after graduation no matter what; however, for any year you are in training you are adding an additional year of commitment.

 

[texdrake]

I do appreciate your breviloquent response but I was wondering if you or anyone else could expound upon the last answer. What does it depend on? The different residencies (depending on competitiveness) and/or how long you spend as a GMO? This is probably the biggest sticking point for me on deciding whether or not to decide to accept the HPSP program. I would greatly prefer to not have to a do a GMO tour and start residency right after school but would still be alright being a GMO for 1-2 years if it would help my chances at getting a competitive residency such as radiology (given my class rank was semi high and had fairly high step scores, ie I was already somewhat competitive for the residency) Thanks again for your previous answers.

There are very few GMO tours in the Army. The few they do have are mostly 1 year. The only people I know who did GMO tours in the army did one of three things:

1. Switched residencies after internships
2. Were not picked up to continue after internship and/or were not academically competitive (only really happens in the specialty fields)
3. Chose to do GMO and leave the Army.