Navy HSCP

[bigkdawg161]

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Hey everybody I hope you guys can help me out. I'll be starting med school this Julym and I'm interested in doing the Navy's HSCP program, which allows for no military obligation during med school and residency, while getting the pay and benefits of someone on active duty. The years in med school while in this program count as active duty, so after residency I can begin as an O-4 if im not mistaken. My questions are mainly about what happens after med school.

1) Do you have total control over what specialty you chose to train in? Does the Navy have any effect on what specialty you ultimately choose?
2) Do you have the freedom to pursue a civilian residency if accepted to both military and civilian, and under what circumstances can you do this?
3) Are GMO's really being phased out?
4) How competitive is gen. surg in the Navy? Do you have comprable experience with those in civilian surg residencies?
5) What are the pros/cons to doing a military residency vs. a civilian one?
6)Where can I get more info on military graduate medical education, ive been looking on the web but can't find anything. Stuff along the lines of what specialties are offered, hospital locations, etc.
7) Finally..how has your experience been since med school? Would you do it again? What are some things you wished you had asked your recruiter?

Thanks a lot! I would really appreciate answers to these questions!!

 

[IgD]

Hey everybody I hope you guys can help me out. I'll be starting med school this Julym and I'm interested in doing the Navy's HSCP program, which allows for no military obligation during med school and residency, while getting the pay and benefits of someone on active duty. The years in med school while in this program count as active duty, so after residency I can begin as an O-4 if im not mistaken. My questions are mainly about what happens after med school.

1) Do you have total control over what specialty you chose to train in? Does the Navy have any effect on what specialty you ultimately choose?
2) Do you have the freedom to pursue a civilian residency if accepted to both military and civilian, and under what circumstances can you do this?
3) Are GMO's really being phased out?
4) How competitive is gen. surg in the Navy? Do you have comprable experience with those in civilian surg residencies?
5) What are the pros/cons to doing a military residency vs. a civilian one?
6)Where can I get more info on military graduate medical education, ive been looking on the web but can't find anything. Stuff along the lines of what specialties are offered, hospital locations, etc.
7) Finally..how has your experience been since med school? Would you do it again? What are some things you wished you had asked your recruiter?

Thanks a lot! I would really appreciate answers to these questions!!

Question 1 - Needs of the Navy determine what residencies are available year to year. You still have to go through a sometimes competitive application process.

Question 2 - Except in rare circumstances, you have to take a military residency if it is offered to you. The military wants to fill its own spots before it permits outservice training.

Question 3 - GMO tours are still going strong. I've read some GMO billets have been discontinued or converted to residency trained physicians. At the same time, I haven't seen any evidence that the military plans to discontinue GMO tours.

Read this forum for the rest of the questions.

 

[NavyFP]

Oh, where to begin. It would seem you are either being misinformed by your recruiter or not hearing him/her correctly.

Hey everybody I hope you guys can help me out. I'll be starting med school this Julym and I'm interested in doing the Navy's HSCP program, which allows for no military obligation during med school and residency, while getting the pay and benefits of someone on active duty. No obligation????? You're on active duty. You are subject to the twice yearly PRT and must maintain a 3.0 GPA. Will they give you work to do? No, but you are on active duty.The years in med school while in this program count as active duty, so after residency I can begin as an O-4 if im not mistaken You are. The time does count towards retirement and longevity. If you spend 4 years in the program, you will be an O-3E upon graduation, but you accrue no time towards O-4.. My questions are mainly about what happens after med school.

1) Do you have total control over what specialty you chose to train in? Does the Navy have any effect on what specialty you ultimately choose?
You have to enter the Navy match just like every other student. Odds are equivalent to HPSP and have been discussed at length on this forum.

2) Do you have the freedom to pursue a civilian residency if accepted to both military and civilian, and under what circumstances can you do this?
If you are granted a deferment you may go civilian, otherwise you go Navy.

3) Are GMO's really being phased out?
Yes.

4) How competitive is gen. surg in the Navy? Do you have comprable experience with those in civilian surg residencies?
Gen Surg has been less competitive recently, but it varies from year to year.

5) What are the pros/cons to doing a military residency vs. a civilian one?
Pros to mil residency - better pay, good locations, good training. Cons - potential GMO (they are going away but not gone)

6)Where can I get more info on military graduate medical education, ive been looking on the web but can't find anything. Stuff along the lines of what specialties are offered, hospital locations, etc.
http://navmedmpte.med.navy.mil/gme/index.cfm

7) Finally..how has your experience been since med school? Would you do it again? What are some things you wished you had asked your recruiter?

Thanks a lot! I would really appreciate answers to these questions!!

Things to consider:
1) Do you want to be in the military? I feel there are a number of pros in going military, but there are cons in that your options are more limited. I have never felt that those limitations were burdensome, but if I wanted to move to say Kansas, I could not do it in the Navy.

2) How do you feel about deploying? I have enjoyed my deployments, but separation from family is difficult.

3) What is steering you towards the Navy? Is it money? I have never been an advocate for joining for the money. This goes back to point 1.