Question about HPSP

[cdg123]

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I'm a sophomore in college and I'm looking into hpsp and I was wondering about the service requirements and the residency after medical school. (I've read a bunch of posts on this but I'm still not understanding exactly what happens).

From what I understand, I apply to residency, spend 5 years in residency, go on active duty for 4 more years, then I'm free to do what I want? So I can go work at a civilian hospital after those 9 years or do I need to apply to civilian residency first? I don't quite understand if there is a difference between military residency and civilian residency?

I really like the idea of serving our country and being a captain, plus the scholarship etc., but I don't want to work for the military my entire life...

 

[buffdoc]

I'm a sophomore in college and I'm looking into hpsp and I was wondering about the service requirements and the residency after medical school. (I've read a bunch of posts on this but I'm still not understanding exactly what happens).

From what I understand, I apply to residency, spend 5 years in residency, go on active duty for 4 more years, then I'm free to do what I want? So I can go work at a civilian hospital after those 9 years or do I need to apply to civilian residency first? I don't quite understand if there is a difference between military residency and civilian residency?

I really like the idea of serving our country and being a captain, plus the scholarship etc., but I don't want to work for the military my entire life...

Residency in the military is the same as residency anywhere as far as the path to becoming a board certified physician. Once board certified, you can work anywhere you want.

Your commitment will be served after residency, you are right. The commitment will be the longer of a) the number of years you were on the HPSP scholarship (usually 4) or b) the length of time of residency. If you do a 5 year residency, your commitment after residency will be 5 years.

 

[J-Rad]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=882245

Length of residency depends on the field.