Military Plastic Surgery

[bobbyseal]

Hi all,

3rd year Navy HPSPer who's curious how the Navy gets plastic surgeons in the fleet. I read somewhere that they're now accepting people who defer and do integrated plastics. So, that makes sense on folks who do a full deferment and come back. What about people who start out in service with the navy in a general surgery program? Ever heard of someone getting a deferment after 3 years of gen surg to go do a plastics residency?

Thanks,
Matt

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[bobbyseal]

I'll reply to my own post.

So I found out from a GME coordinator that there are 3 ways to get into plastic surgery with the Navy. Unfortunately, they all entail doing it outside the Navy as there are no residencies in house.

So, essentially, you can get a deferment for an integrated plastics residency through NADDS. Or you can do FTOS which adds commitment. Or you can do this thing they call RAD to NADDS. Essentially, it's a Navy Internship year with a GMO tour. After that you do a deferment for training. The nice part of that is you can knock of two years of commitment before getting your residency training. The downside is that you have to now to apply for GME 2+ positions which may be harder to get.

BTW, the Navy won't allow people in Gen Surg residencies to leave after 3 years to pursue a plastics residency. Apparently, they don't want to lose out on a Gen Surgeon they already put 3 years of training into.

 

[bobbyseal]

One more reply...

Do people actually care about this or not?

Anyway, I found out that the Navy has given 1 deferment each in the past 2 years to a student to match in an integrated plastics residency.

In light of that, San Diego here I come.

 

[jkmasterson]

One more reply...

Do people actually care about this or not?

Anyway, I found out that the Navy has given 1 deferment each in the past 2 years to a student to match in an integrated plastics residency.

In light of that, San Diego here I come.

Matt, Has the plastics pipeline changed any, or does it look like it might change? I'm a 3rd year USUHS guy, and I also want to go plastics. I was pretty sure the navy would make me do FTIS for surgery after a GMO, but what about a plastics fellowship through the Navy or a joint program? Or is it only available in the civilian sector.
Thanks
Jim

 

[thenavysurgeon]

when i was going through the plastic match last year, i met three Navy people who were going through the match while active duty. they obviously had received approval from the Nav to pursue fellowship training. One guy was finishing his chief year at Balboa, and I think matched at Utah. Anyway, its possible to do.

The military needs PRS guys. A know a very senior PRS that left the Army to return to PP. Clearly, billets open up all the time. He was doing hard core recon stuff for Iraq vets. The real deal.

 

[jajst35]

In your post you mentioned different ways to get a deferment.
Can you explain the initials in better detail & about deferment related to these. Can the Military pay you as you're in residency, cost the residency nothing for your spot in the program?
Where did you find your info?
Thanks,
James

 

[NavyFP]

I know Navy has Full time outservice fellowships for plastics. A buddy of mine is going to Duke to do his. Typically you have to do reidency first then your initial utilization tour before you can apply. I know of no plan to have any go straight through in plastics.