idle curiosity

[BlondeDocteur]

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Forgive this question, for I have less than zero knowledge of the subject.

Some background: my dad, after he was an attending anesthesiologist with no debt, joined the National Guard purely out of a sense of patriotism. This was in the 80s. He eventually rose to the rank of Major and was discharged before the first Gulf War.

His service requirements-- again, this is the Guard-- were a couple of weeks of basic, the Combat Casualty Care Course, and occasional reporting to our State post, over 5+ years.

This got me thinking-- what if, after I finished residency and fellowship, I wished to work in a Stateside military hospital? If I didn't ask for repayment of loans and was already terminally trained, would I be able to work in a US hospital without being deployed? Would I have any say over where I worked?

The military being the military, I'm guessing the answer to this is 'no,' but in my field the training at Walter Reed is impeccable (extraordinary reconstructions that no one in civilian life would ever see), and there is the positive factor of getting to take care of US soldiers. I thought I'd test the waters.

 

[IgD]

This got me thinking-- what if, after I finished residency and fellowship, I wished to work in a Stateside military hospital? If I didn't ask for repayment of loans and was already terminally trained, would I be able to work in a US hospital without being deployed? Would I have any say over where I worked?

Only if you are a contractor or government employee. If you wear a uniform Uncle Sam and move you wherever/whenever he wants🙂

 

[notdeadyet]

Have you considered working as a civilian contract physician at a military hospital?

Wanting control over where you work and not wanting to be deployed doesn't seem to jibe with military service.

 

[BlondeDocteur]

I didn't know that was an option-- a civilian contract. What would you know about that?

 

[pgg]

I didn't know that was an option-- a civilian contract. What would you know about that?

We have a number of civilian contractor anesthesiologists, and I know a couple of contractors in other specialties. I don't think we have any contractor surgeons, but they may exist.

The anesthesiology contractors seem pretty happy. From what I hear the pay is reasonably competitive compared to private practice in the area, they don't take call, and they don't work weekends. Some have been here many years so I guess the job security is good. Obviously no partnership track.

These positions will probably have substantial competition from - and will give preference to - applicants who are former military. A not uncommon milmed career plan is to do 20, retire, and continue doing your same job in the same place for contractor pay. Our department's contractors are probably about half former military, the others have been there for years, and I don't think any new ones have been hired in the 2.5 years I've been here.