Is it possible to be a military physician and do research in a university?

[Emperor Napoleon]

---

Members don't see this ad.

This is a potential path that I am thinking about and I was wondering if it was even feasible to begin with.

 

[Darth Doc]

If you're full-time military, they own you. Ultimately, you don't get to decide where you work, although sometimes you can get a position you request. You can do research in the military. There are a few military medical journals out there, and there are MDs who do research at the military research facilities like Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Rucker, Alabama. The only military medical university is USUHS. I suppose if you got a job there, it would be possible to have a "university research" position, but that would happen only many years down the road. You definitely could try to get a university research position after you complete your military obligation.

 

[ACSurgeon]

Once you’ve fulfilled your military obligation you can get whatever job you want. If you wish to stay with the military your employer has to be flexible since you can be deployed or need time for military training or other activities. My residency had several academic surgeons (ie involved in research) who were active military or reserves and were deployed several times.

 

[Emperor Napoleon]

Thanks guys. Also, is it possible to be a military doctor for a specified amount of years (depending on the contract) and then go into the civilian sector?

 

[aprilfools]

Thanks guys. Also, is it possible to be a military doctor for a specified amount of years (depending on the contract) and then go into the civilian sector?

Yes.

 

[Raney Schauer]

The military obligation is 4 years after you've completed residency. You can read up all about it by googling HPSP.

 

[Save a life]

Yeah, you can do research in the military, the DOD is one of the largest providers of research funding.

 

[Raney Schauer]

Yeah, you can do research in the military, the DOD is one of the largest providers of research funding.

That's not really how it works.

In order to be involved in a lot of that stuff you need to have had a security investigation, be read into programs and undergo a lot of expensive training. You don't just show up and say you want to work on something.

That money goes to industry, universities with National Lab partnerships, Ft. Detrich, Ft. Devins, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Dugway, etc. The last two do chem stuff. You don't even get near the fence line without a clearance and a reason to be there.

When you are in the military, you don't pick and choose what you want to do until you've picked up some rank and are past your minimum service obligation. Most of your time will be spent in residency, various training events or on a basic GMO (General Medical Officer) or post-GME utilization tour. Then it's likely you'll be out of the military and looking for a job in your specialty, unless they put you in a GMO slot, in which case you're in the Match. The people doing research for the DoD aren't MDs/DOs. That's not what the armed services need MDs/DOs for.

OP, just get into med school, get on HPSP, do local, accessible research while you're there, get published if you can. Your summers will be spent training at places like Ft. Sam Houston learning how to do basic field medicine stuff.