hpsp

[PeachesPeaches]

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[Cooperd0g]

As long as you are okay moving somewhat frequently and you realize you won’t have a ton of big time bureaucratic impact for a long time then it might be a good fit for you.

 

[PeachesPeaches]

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[PeachesPeaches]

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[obgflightdoc]

Age waivers exist as long as you stay healthy- I know an active duty Navy O6 doc who is in his 60s on an age waiver.

My two cents? It sounds like you've done your background reading and know what to expect, so much as the experience of those who went before you is representative of what to expect...with that said, the reason a lot of us are running away right now is that the future is changing rapidly and unpredictably, especially as regards GME and non-operational specialties. s, our experiences may not by representative...
Another thought- when I was an MS1, I thought I wanted to be a Orthopedist, and by MS3 I had fallen in love with OBGYN.
So, I will say, if you want to do an operational tour after internship- then HPSP would be great for you- go for it. The Navy in particular is HURTING for flight and dive docs (I can't speak for Army of Air Force). If you want to do an operational specialty (EM/Surg/FM/Anesthesia/Ortho) and will be okay with multiple deployments and potentially multiple back-to-back OCONUS tours, then it could still be a good fit.
If, however, your heart is set on something other than an operational specialty, RUN.

 

[neurologist]

Hey all,

Thanks for your thoughts on the below. I am hoping for advice on whether or not HPSP is a good choice for me.

• Former federal government employee working in health policy, with DOD health policy overlap. I actually like bureaucracies, and helping big unwieldy institutions run as well as possible.
• Non-trad current MS1 considering the three-year HPSP, held off applying before MS1 because of all the horror stories.
• Reconsidering because I like the idea of being a part-time doctor and part-time administrator/officer (marrying current trajectory to my past career). I obviously want to complete a residency, and am generally drawn to core-DOD mission specialties like EM or even an IM/EM/FM with aerospace after. I realize there are lots of ways to do “part-time leadership” work in private sector/academia, but within the military is different because of the policy overlap.
• I’ve always wanted to join the military, and like the idea of staying in, slowly working up in rank and authority, and am at peace with what this means in terms of defrayed choice/income/geography.
• There’s also the part of me that says I should shut up and just focus on school, and join later if I still want. But, if I am realistic about the limits, why not now and get the few benefits hpsp provides?

Bottomline, I am ok with the unpredictability of residency/GMO and unpredictability of the HPSP program in general right now. Given that I like the idea of being a career military officer and a doctor on the side, am I missing anything that should dissuade me from thinking HPSP is a good program for me? Anything in the 2020 Defense Authorization especially scary for the future of the program?

Thanks for your thoughts. I’m all about critical feedback, so don’t hold back 🙂

Boy this sounds like a no-brainer - go sign up today.
Also, I don't know what your financial situation is, but given that you seem pretty drawn to the military and it seems to me like you'd be a good fit, you might as well get some financial support up front now rather than get a lot less by signing up later after you're already done with school/residency. MilMed salaries are lower across the board than civilian (except arguably during residency), so not having a zillion dollars in student loans is a big plus for most people. HPSP was hands down one of the top good decisions of the few I've made in my life.
And FWIW, I was a 33 year old MS1. I didn't stay in and make a 20-year career of it, but I do know people my age (and older) who have.

 

[Gastrapathy]

@neurologist

so...been following what has gone on over the past decade in milmed?

 

[neurologist]

@neurologist

so...been following what has gone on over the past decade in milmed?

From a distance.