Pathology and military residencies? (HPSP)

[ztaw15]

The other threads I found on this subject seemed a little old, and I'm not so sure where to post this, the military or pathology forums, so I did both.

I am applying to medical schools right now, and have been looking into the military scholarship. I have a few questions if anyone knows anything.

-How good are the prospects of getting into pathology if you have to do the military residency per HPSP? I read that there is a list published (for the USAF at least) stating the specialties needed and residency slots open for each; any chance path would not be an option if I did the HPSP?

-Is the residency training good for path in military residencies? Any particular branch that would be better?

-Obviously I can't be sure yet, but I have been leaning pretty strongly toward path after shadowing some different physicians, and after reading all the doom and gloom over path jobs and pay, military scholarships seem even more appealing. I'd like to do military if I can due to the money, as well as personal reasons. However, I won't do it if I can't get good training, or possibly not get into a field I want (and I really don't know if I would be willing to do the GMO thing and defer residency).

Thanks for reading.

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[TheGoose]

I'd like to do military if I can due to the money

almost everyone in this forum will tell you not to do the military for the money.

 

[IgD]

Most med students decide during their 3rd year of medical school what they want to do.

 

[ztaw15]

TheGoose- Notice that I said "as well as personal reasons", I want to do the military thing if possible for many reasons , but the money is also a big incentive.

IgD- Thanks, but I don't know how that is supposed to help. I realize I may change my mind, but I would still like some answers.

 

[IgD]

There is a couple pathologists that post here from time to time. Maybe you could do a search and PM one of them. My recommendation would be to call the military hospital nearest you and speak to a pathologist to get the best information. In the Navy that would be Bethesda, San Diego or Portsmouth.

 

[DrBloodmoney]

Here's an older thread.

If you are going to do pathology, join the Army. Don't listen to the recruiters for USAF or USN:

Army you will likely be able to go straight through, in an Army residency if you wish, particularly if you are a strong candidate. They do not require an intern year, and they typically have 8-9 in-Army residency spots, and a lot of deferred civilian spots. USAF does not require an intern year also, but only has one program with 2-3 spots, so you would almost certainly be doing a civilian residency (not necessarily a bad option, but you will be getting paid a lot less). USN requires an intern year, a lucky few get to go into residency post-intern year, but the majority are forced into indentured servitude as a GMO. USN is the worst option if you know you want to do path. Most people don't realize this going in, but universally regret their choice once they become better informed.

It only goes downhill for the Navy guys post-residency, they really abuse their pathologists and are averse to promoting them to O-6.

 

[roach]

would skip the HPSP if at all possible- you can always serve later, and the military will limit your fellowship options. If you have to do HPSP, I would agree with Dr Bloodmoney to go Army. I can't comment on the quality of Navy residency training, but when I was applying in 04-05, there were only 2 deferments and few got straight-through training.

have to disagree with Navy pathologists being miserable- in my experience, they were no worse off than anyone else in mil. med. there were also plenty of O-6s, for what that's worth.

 

[SirGecko]

TheGoose- Notice that I said "as well as personal reasons", I want to do the military thing if possible for many reasons , but the money is also a big incentive.

IgD- Thanks, but I don't know how that is supposed to help. I realize I may change my mind, but I would still like some answers.

Just realize that in the long run you lose money doing the military route. Make sure those personal reasons are strong.

 

[reticular]

I think the biggest downside to taking the HPSP scholarship is that very early in your medical career you have made choices that will drastically effect your career later (i.e. residency choice). I don't doubt that you are sincere in your interest to do path, but realistically your choice will probably change prior to completing medical school (that's just stats - not saying anything about you or pathology).

There are so many things to consider regarding the match (civilian and military) and most med students are still trying to understand and make decisions about the match well into their third and fourth years. HPSP is not the only route into mil med. Strongly consider FAP or other options along with HPSP.

The match rate data for milmed residencies are not published and even if they were, the number of applicants for each slot varies hugely year to year and it would not likely be too helpful. Milmed match is a very small pool compared to MD or even DO matches.

Hope that helps.

 

[notdeadyet]

There is a couple pathologists that post here from time to time. Maybe you could do a search and PM one of them.

My understanding from talking to others is that military pathology used to be top notch but has gone through a major downward spiral in the last 10 years or so, moreso than almost any other field in milmed. Look at what happened with AFIP. Has anyone heard otherwise?

 

[exPCM]

I think you need to make this decision only after very careful consideration.

 

[JP1982]

For the Air Force, this fiscal year's Integrated Forecast Board list, which lists all of the residency programs that the AF has allotted for the year (i.e. which ones the AF is in need of), is at this link: http://airforcemedicine.afms.mil/id...nEducation&doctype=subpage&docname=CTB_047647.

On that list, for Pathology, the AF has two spots open at SAUSHEC - San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (WH/BAMC/UT). There are two additionally civilian sponsored (currently awaiting funding), and 11 deferred programs (which the two civilian sponsored could turn into). Deferred programs mean that you'd get to go to whatever program you match with and your military service is suspended. That translates to being paid as an intern by the matched program (not the military) and then "re-joining" the military upon program completion.

I can't speak to the quality of military programs, since I'm still working on my Bachelor's. But there's the info about AF matching. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that just because there are 15 slots open for pathology this year doesn't mean the number will be the same in four years, when you're applying. Could be more, could be less.

 

[ztaw15]

Thanks for the responses all. I am definitely trying to be very cautious in considering the HPSP thing, and my main concern was over the quality of training I might get, plus the possibility of having my options limited as far as which field I go into. I may hold off on this and consider FAP, or some other alternative which allows you to get through residency/fellowships first. Thanks again for the insight.

 

[yaah]

Merging two threads of same topic, combining in the military forum.