I have been researching military medicine in hopes of eventually pursuing a career in it but had a few questions:
1. I read about the five levels of care in the military and was wondering if you are mainly working in one level most of the time depending on your abilities or if it depends on where you're deployed/stationed? And do you have any say in which level you work at?
2. I am interested in becoming an orthopedic surgeon and was wondering what you do when you're not deployed. Do you still get the chance to do orthopedic surgery? And how do they keep you prepared for when you do get deployed and will have to deal with injuries much worse?
3. How competitive is it to become an orthopedic surgeon in the military? I was considering applying for the HPSP scholarship but orthopedic surgery is what I really want to do. I guess what I was wondering was would I have a good chance of getting the scholarship, going through medical school, and getting an orthopedic surgery military residency or would it be more logical to not apply for the scholarship, get through medical school, get a civilian orthopedic surgery residency (since there are more available than in the military), and then enlist as an orthopedic surgeon after residency?
(This is all assuming I can get into medical school, make it through, and even meet the criteria for military medicine- which, I know is a big if- but I want to have all the details before deciding whether or not to apply for the scholarship since that's such a big commitment.)
1. I read about the five levels of care in the military and was wondering if you are mainly working in one level most of the time depending on your abilities or if it depends on where you're deployed/stationed? And do you have any say in which level you work at?
2. I am interested in becoming an orthopedic surgeon and was wondering what you do when you're not deployed. Do you still get the chance to do orthopedic surgery? And how do they keep you prepared for when you do get deployed and will have to deal with injuries much worse?
3. How competitive is it to become an orthopedic surgeon in the military? I was considering applying for the HPSP scholarship but orthopedic surgery is what I really want to do. I guess what I was wondering was would I have a good chance of getting the scholarship, going through medical school, and getting an orthopedic surgery military residency or would it be more logical to not apply for the scholarship, get through medical school, get a civilian orthopedic surgery residency (since there are more available than in the military), and then enlist as an orthopedic surgeon after residency?
(This is all assuming I can get into medical school, make it through, and even meet the criteria for military medicine- which, I know is a big if- but I want to have all the details before deciding whether or not to apply for the scholarship since that's such a big commitment.)