I've decided to enter the Navy's HPSP program and I'm wondering what to expect in the future. I will probably receive an osteopathic medical education rather than an allopathic education. Will this put me at a disadvantage or are DO's and MD's on an equal playing field? I'm also curious as to which specialties are being phased out by the Navy. I'm planning on going into primary care, preferably OB/GYN or psychiatry but possibly family practice. Will I have opportunities for residencies or tours in my selected fields or will they no longer exist? Aside from emergency medicine, I'm not sure which specialties the Navy has the greatest need for. Thanks.
Navy HPSP: Specialties & DO vs. MD
- Thread starter sss81
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sss81 said:
1st...welcome.
2nd...made a decision and you don't know what to expect? Interesting...
No difference between DO & MD. Any specialty which doesn't provide care to the warfighter is at risk...for the most part think of it that way.
3rd....do a search. Your questions have been answered and asked ad nauseum...
I have done a search and I've ready nearly every posting under Military Medicine as well as looking at the military websites. I know that specialties such as FP and PEDs are on the way out. But a sizeable portion of the military population suffers from PTSD and there will still be females with female needs. So I would still be providing care to the "warfighter", but does that care have to be emergency care? Maybe the info I want is more specific than that which has been given or can be given on this site; if so, then who do I ask?
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sss81 said:
The "warfighter" is not the male or female in the military. This descriptor is for those who are with operational units...translation=those actually pulling the triggers. Women are rarely in combat and are not "usually" included in this descriptor...for the most part. Now this is the good ole "behind closed doors" discussions & presentations...so flame me if you like I know what I've heard, seen with my own senses.
Psych in the military will hurt your chances for advancement and many schools. It is still very taboo for a person to be seen at psych...I know plenty of PTSD Marines go and have 2 medical records. The official one and the one they carry back & forth to psych.
The answers you want can only be obtained by signing up. No one can tell you what the future holds for any given specialty. The reason for this is each new Secretary of Defense and Secretary of X branch and Surgeon General of X branch...has their own agenda and bias as to what should or shouldn't get cut. To see what care you'll be able to provide...just sign the dotted line. A savvy recruiter or proponent of military medicine can say what you want to hear. In your circumstance I would just go ahead and take the leap and see.
You've read the threads and fail to see what's written between the lines? You already made your decision. Just hang on. This confusion and not knowing what the future holds is part of the military life. Embrace it, accept it, live with it....or your payback is going to be long & painful.
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To reiterate, DOs and MDs in the military are completely equal. This is an advantage of the military if you are a DO and want to be more subspecialized.
Specialties that are constantly in demand: general surgery, rads, Medicine, ortho, EM
Peds etc are being reduced but not eliminated. My daughter was delivered 8 months ago by an OB from HPSP...he was a second year resident at NNMC and did not have to do a GMO tour. It's impossible to predict what the needs will exactly be in four years, but if you are willing to wait you can definitely get the training you want.
Specialties that are constantly in demand: general surgery, rads, Medicine, ortho, EM
Peds etc are being reduced but not eliminated. My daughter was delivered 8 months ago by an OB from HPSP...he was a second year resident at NNMC and did not have to do a GMO tour. It's impossible to predict what the needs will exactly be in four years, but if you are willing to wait you can definitely get the training you want.
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DCM said:
Just realize that you might have to wait it out... and then train outside the Navy. Some residencies aren't going to be around in a few (peds for sure, paths on the chopping block).
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DrBloodmoney said:
ouch. you guys too? damn navy 😡
--your friendly neighborhood we should dump them for the air force caveman
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Homunculus said:
Rumors...
our insidious watercooler friends.
