IMG for Navy/AF/ANG Flight Surgery

[Mot908]

Hey all, I just wanted to throw this out there. I am 26yo kid from Michigan, finishing up my M2 year at SGU in Grenada and will be going to the states to finish up my last two years and graduate in 2012. I am a decent student and shouldn't have too much difficulty passing the boards.
I have always loved aviation and medicine and have decided I'd love to become a flight surgeon before I figure out exactly what specialty I would want to go into, thinking about PMR, Anes, and GS, but who really knows. I am an M2.
I feel like I have read just about every post there is about FS and the military on here but I wanted to get some more current feedback on how difficult it would be to finish up a civilian Internship and join the active military as a FS. Preferably a Fighter or attack squadron that is on either coast or close to home in the Mid West? I am thinking Navy for this, I wouldn't mind deployment. And is there more flight time? As a civilian with no prior military experience, and an IMG, would I get a less than favorable flight surgeon position?
If so the other option I thought about was the ANG. Do a residency straight through and apply that way.
I just thought I could get some opinions from some Flight surgeons, or people who know the system First Hand.
Thanks in advance

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[jabreal00]

---------------- Listening to: Nina Nastasia - On Teasing via FoxyTunes

Hey all, I just wanted to throw this out there. I am 26yo kid from Michigan, finishing up my M2 year at SGU in Grenada and will be going to the states to finish up my last two years and graduate in 2012. I am a decent student and shouldn't have too much difficulty passing the boards.
I have always loved aviation and medicine and have decided I'd love to become a flight surgeon before I figure out exactly what specialty I would want to go into, thinking about PMR, Anes, and GS, but who really knows. I am an M2.
I feel like I have read just about every post there is about FS and the military on here but I wanted to get some more current feedback on how difficult it would be to finish up a civilian Internship and join the active military as a FS. Preferably a Fighter or attack squadron that is on either coast or close to home in the Mid West? I am thinking Navy for this, I wouldn't mind deployment. And is there more flight time? As a civilian with no prior military experience, and an IMG, would I get a less than favorable flight surgeon position?
If so the other option I thought about was the ANG. Do a residency straight through and apply that way.
I just thought I could get some opinions from some Flight surgeons, or people who know the system First Hand.
Thanks in advance

It's feasible. One thing you'll have to do is secure an internship after finishing medical school and getting in touch with a military recruiter. I am sure they'd love to throw a body at an unfilled FS or GMO spot.

During my residency, we had this Colombian guy (did medical school in Colombia) join our residency as a PGY-2. He first had to do an internship at a civilian hospital before being eligible. I think he had his Green card at this point because he'd spent 8yrs in the US after graduating from medical school in Colombia.

 

[Perrotfish]

Hey all, I just wanted to throw this out there. I am 26yo kid from Michigan, finishing up my M2 year at SGU in Grenada and will be going to the states to finish up my last two years and graduate in 2012. I am a decent student and shouldn't have too much difficulty passing the boards.
I have always loved aviation and medicine and have decided I'd love to become a flight surgeon before I figure out exactly what specialty I would want to go into, thinking about PMR, Anes, and GS, but who really knows. I am an M2.
I feel like I have read just about every post there is about FS and the military on here but I wanted to get some more current feedback on how difficult it would be to finish up a civilian Internship and join the active military as a FS. Preferably a Fighter or attack squadron that is on either coast or close to home in the Mid West? I am thinking Navy for this, I wouldn't mind deployment. And is there more flight time? As a civilian with no prior military experience, and an IMG, would I get a less than favorable flight surgeon position?
If so the other option I thought about was the ANG. Do a residency straight through and apply that way.
I just thought I could get some opinions from some Flight surgeons, or people who know the system First Hand.
Thanks in advance

From another MS2:

In the Navy there is significantly more flight time than other services when you are training to become a FS. After you ARE a FS your flight time is the same as other services (4 hrs/month?) if you can get it at all. You can't fly solo, so if you're working with pilots for singles seaters you just don't go up.

You would be trying to join the Navy as a physician. I don't think you can even be guarenteed FS training (though it's so non-competitive that I doubt you'd have a problem getting it if you joined) and I KNOW they don't guarentee any particular squadron or location. In fact you should expect to be moved all around the world on a regular basis. ANG is your only real option if you want to choose your location.

There are almost no civilian internships that you can do without completing the rest of a residency. Becoming an FS after finishing a residency is a possibility (I believe that is how they make Army Flight Surgeons, actually) but quitting a civilian residency after intern year as an IMG with a plan to come back later seems like a terrible risk for your career. If you're determined to do an internship and then to go to FS school try to get on a 2 year HPSP scholarship once you start at a US school.

There is such a thing as an aerospace medicine residency if you're really interested in it.

 

[dru2002]

From another MS2:

In the Navy there is significantly more flight time than other services when you are training to become a FS. After you ARE a FS your flight time is the same as other services (4 hrs/month?) if you can get it at all. You can't fly solo, so if you're working with pilots for singles seaters you just don't go up.

You would be trying to join the Navy as a physician. I don't think you can even be guarenteed FS training (though it's so non-competitive that I doubt you'd have a problem getting it if you joined) and I KNOW they don't guarentee any particular squadron or location. In fact you should expect to be moved all around the world on a regular basis. ANG is your only real option if you want to choose your location.

There are almost no civilian internships that you can do without completing the rest of a residency. Becoming an FS after finishing a residency is a possibility (I believe that is how they make Army Flight Surgeons, actually) but quitting a civilian residency after intern year as an IMG with a plan to come back later seems like a terrible risk for your career. If you're determined to do an internship and then to go to FS school try to get on a 2 year HPSP scholarship once you start at a US school.

There is such a thing as an aerospace medicine residency if you're really interested in it.

The OP can correct me if I'm wrong but I believe SGU has clinical rotation affiliations in the States and this is what he means by finishing up in the States. If I'm wrong and he is transferring to a US school then disregard the following. So he wouldn't be able to take an HPSP scholarship. If he wants to join the military as an IMG he will need an internship at a minimum. I think a transitional intership would be the way to go as he doesn't know what he wants to be yet (I assume his clinical rotations will help sort that out). I think as the above posters noted this would be his cleanest path into the military.

 

[Mot908]

Thank you guys for responding. I appreciate it.
As for Dru2002 - you're right. SGU has all US clinical sites. I will be in Detoit for my 3rd and 4th year. I am of the understanding that I am not eligable for the HPSP, but I have hear very controversial things associated with it, such as the FAP is better than the HPSP.
I am still undecided as to which specialty I enjoy, hopefully 3rd year helps with that.

The only other question I had was this. I spoke to a few Air National Guard units and they are interested in me. Do you think it would be smart to join as a Lt. while in med school if they'll allow it? Or should I wait and join the guard or the Navy in 3 years after my internship? I don't think I would be eligible for any Medical school bonuses or anything similar.
Thanks again for your time.

 

[dalisaymd]

Im a IMG and I want to join the navy medical program. Any one knows what are my chances of getting in? I passed the USMLE step 1 already. Any chances of getting in? thanks guys.