Neurosurgery in USAF

[xMD]

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Hi...

I'm on my third year medical school and contemplating on doing neurosurgery in the USAF. What are the do's and don'ts I need to know before I sign up? I've contacted recruiters and they are not much of a help, 😕 they advised me to finish med school first but I would like to plan ahead and consider my options. Thanks!

 

[Fiend]

Are you in the AF already? If you are, try calling the Air Force Consultant to the AF Surgeon General at the address below. There is no USAF Neurosurgery Residency, so IF they decide to train someone, they will defer or have you train in the Army/Navy (if they have a program which I don't know).

GENERAL SURGERY NEUROLOGICAL
859 MSGS/MCSN
2200 BERGQUIST DRIVE STE 1
LACKLAND AFB TX 78236-5300
NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY
(210) 292-5131
DSN 554-5131

 

[Rudy]

There are 5 neurosurgeons at Wilford Hall sharing a handfull of cases a month. I would definitely talk to the Consultant and ask what's going on with the caseload and what they project the future needs of the AF will be regarding neurosurgery.

 

[NateatUC]

And as far as a military neurosurg residency goes, there is exactly 1 spot in the entire DOD each year, at Walter Reed.

 

[bobbyseal]

I would imagine that most Air Force patients for neurosurgery don't typically find their way back after the plane crashes and they have a subdural.

I guess that's why the enlisted say the Air Force is the smartest service to be in. It's the only one in which the officers are sent out to do the fighting while the enlisted stay home.

 

[mitchconnie]

I would be very wary about getting involved with neurosurgery in the USAF. It's one of those highly specialized surgical fields which has taken a HUGE hit in case volume in the last few years. I can't imagine that they'll be deferring very many people for training.
The neurosurgeon at my last AFB was very well-trained in a civilian-sponsored program, but there was not enough case volume or ICU support at the AFB to do any craniotomies and even spine cases were rare. He was basically the primary care doctor for back pain--not much fun.

 

[MoosePilot]

I would imagine that most Air Force patients for neurosurgery don't typically find their way back after the plane crashes and they have a subdural.

I guess that's why the enlisted say the Air Force is the smartest service to be in. It's the only one in which the officers are sent out to do the fighting while the enlisted stay home.

Heh. Well, that's what I thought too. All the SPs deploy pretty constantly, we have TACPs who hang with the army and guide in the airstrikes, Combat Controllers who open up hostile airfields, and many many more enlisted in the forward areas. My crew has 3 Os and 2 Es. They'll be right there beside me if we don't land on the pavement.

Sorry for going a little off topic...

 

[xMD]

Thanks for the input! 👍 😎

 

[xMD]

I would be very wary about getting involved with neurosurgery in the USAF. It's one of those highly specialized surgical fields which has taken a HUGE hit in case volume in the last few years. I can't imagine that they'll be deferring very many people for training.
The neurosurgeon at my last AFB was very well-trained in a civilian-sponsored program, but there was not enough case volume or ICU support at the AFB to do any craniotomies and even spine cases were rare. He was basically the primary care doctor for back pain--not much fun.

Hi Mitch!
Is there anyway I could contact the last neurosurgeon at your last AFB? Or any neurosurgeon Air Force personnel I could talk to? Thanks

 

[xMD]

There are 5 neurosurgeons at Wilford Hall sharing a handfull of cases a month. I would definitely talk to the Consultant and ask what's going on with the caseload and what they project the future needs of the AF will be regarding neurosurgery.

Exactly where is Wilford Hall? And how is the quality of living at that area? Thanks