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[BomberDoc]

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BTW, shouldn't you save the "real world" comments for when you actually get there, Captain?

57 days, my poor enslaved friend. 57 days. I would count a civ gen surg internship at an inner city level1 as pretty real world. Maybe even surreal world.

 

[Galo]

Do you ever feel bad about the degree to which you trash your former mentors and colleagues on this board? Do you ever type out one of your insults, then stop and think, "Wow, that's just really going too far."?

a1querty was never my mentor, or my colleague. I have never spoken bad about a mentor. I never had a mentor in military medicine. Most of my colleague's were as experienced as I was, and had not been taught to accept the mediocrity that higher ranking "officers" took as SOP. I choose to associate myself with civilian physicians who were leaders in their fields and they were my only mentors during my 6 yrs in the AF.

What you still have not learned is what its like to be the person responsible for someone's well being, and what to do when obstacles get in the way of that. If you choose to react with indifference and just go along, you will certainly be able to call a1querty your colleague and mentor, because I have seen nothing to the contrary from his personal attacks to minimizing the horrible state that military medicine is in.

Once you experience what I did, ask yourself how far is too far? I just hope you don't own any weapons.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

Didn't you do a military residency? I mean, in all those years in the AF, you didn't have any good staff you looked up to or learned from? You didn't work anywhere where you were able to provide excellent care? Your training and experiences, both in and out of residency were so poor that you are perfectly comfortable describing career military physicians as uniformly mediocre and more concerned with rank/metrics than patient welfare?

I see a small amount of the specific complaints people voice here. And I realize that, as an intern at a major MTF, I am insulated from most (but not all) of these problems. My mentors (who are brilliant teachers and phenomenal surgeons) also ackowledge deficiencies in our system, yet remain because they believe they can provide outstanding care in spite of these issues. They found their GMO time enjoyable and enriching. I am just amazed that anyone who went through the same system I am in could literally have nothing good to say about it.

You make good points, and in any system there are good doctors, and good things about it. My experiences in the military are hardly uniformly negative, but I would never recommend a pre-med take the path I have taken unless he has prior service, preferably a lot of prior service, and loved being in the military and if he had to choose between being in the military and being a doctor, would pick the military.

I know good doctors that think practicing in the military is great and loved their GMO time. In my experience it is a small minority though, and heavily concentrated in the big teaching hospitals.

 

[Galo]

Didn't you do a military residency? I mean, in all those years in the AF, you didn't have any good staff you looked up to or learned from? You didn't work anywhere where you were able to provide excellent care? Your training and experiences, both in and out of residency were so poor that you are perfectly comfortable describing career military physicians as uniformly mediocre and more concerned with rank/metrics than patient welfare?

I see a small amount of the specific complaints people voice here. And I realize that, as an intern at a major MTF, I am insulated from most (but not all) of these problems. My mentors (who are brilliant teachers and phenomenal surgeons) also ackowledge deficiencies in our system, yet remain because they believe they can provide outstanding care in spite of these issues. They found their GMO time enjoyable and enriching. I am just amazed that anyone who went through the same system I am in could literally have nothing good to say about it.

I did not do a military residency, (thank god). I was lucky to get a deferment. When I did my rotations at military hospitals, I quickly got a clue that it would not be a good environment for me to train in. At the time that I did my rotations, Wilford Hall, was still a mecca of academics and they were a full service major medical center. There was one trauma surgeon that I did look up to. He seemed to care and understand the problems. He was able to insulate alot of his people from the crap that alot of us had to face. He also stayed, (perhaps still in), because he felt he could make a difference. Although I talked to him at length about the problems me and many others were having, it was impossible for him to effect change that was not in his immediate vacinity. The other surgeons that stayed on for longer than their initial commitment ranged from mediocre to ABSOLUTE HACKS. Our colorectal trained surgeon took one hour to hour and a half to do a colonoscopy. Out of his few J-pouches he did, two of them leaked. Our so called commander was not even residency trained in vascular surgery but he managed to get investigated TWICE by the Air Force for bad outcomes, yet with ONE week left of active duty he murdered an 82 yo veteran. In one weekend, he converted two lap choles to open. No, I truly did not have any mentors in the military, and few colleagues that struggled with me and did their best to give quality care in a system that fought against it.

Ask yourself why in the world you would stay in a place that demands as you become proficient in the OR, to leave it and become an administrator with increasingly less patient contact and care? By far my experience with senior level attendings, (with few exceptions), was that they were physicians that were not very good at their job, but got a high from being in power.

Like I've said, and you've finally acknowledged, when you are IT, you will see the problems I've described with a totally new perspective. I do hope you let us know how it goes, and again, I wish you good luck.

 

[Gastrapathy]

I, for one, have had a number of outstanding mentors. Some are out of the military now and are well-known in their fields. Also, I interact with the surgeons every day and our senior surgeons all still keep a reasonable OR schedule. Galo, I'm not sure that your experience is generalizable across all services, locations, etc. I don't deny what you experienced and there is no question that our surgical residents need more cases (hence all their outservice rotations) but I think there is adequate volume for people to maintain competence.

 

[Galo]

I, for one, have had a number of outstanding mentors. Some are out of the military now and are well-known in their fields. Also, I interact with the surgeons every day and our senior surgeons all still keep a reasonable OR schedule. Galo, I'm not sure that your experience is generalizable across all services, locations, etc. I don't deny what you experienced and there is no question that our surgical residents need more cases (hence all their outservice rotations) but I think there is adequate volume for people to maintain competence.

You're right, my experience may not be the same everywhere, but I know its alot more common, and even worse if you're not at a med center. Doing 10-15 cases a month is not enough for a general surgeon to be considered busy. We were lucky to get that, and we were at a so called medical center. I know guys out in the sticks that are doing alot less, and certainly nothing with severity due to the lack of ICU/anesthesia.

Are you at a major medical center now?

 

[a1qwerty55]

57 days, my poor enslaved friend. 57 days. I would count a civ gen surg internship at an inner city level1 as pretty real world. Maybe even surreal world.

Wow, couldn't match in a Gen Surg program in the military... that says a lot. I though you wanted something actually competative like ortho or ophtho or something. You must really be a star.

Inner city Gen Surg program... chuckle... yes, surreal, you and the other FMG's are going to have a ball. And everythin will be peaches and cream.

 

[Galo]

Wow, couldn't match in a Gen Surg program in the military... that says a lot. I though you wanted something actually competative like ortho or ophtho or something. You must really be a star.

Inner city Gen Surg program... chuckle... yes, surreal, you and the other FMG's are going to have a ball. And everythin will be peaches and cream.

Did'nt your mother teach you that if you dont have anything nice to say then don't say nothing at all. Or are you not a white protestant christian who believes in do onto others as you wish done upon yourself, or the opposite? Did you ever think that there is not a single program that is purely military right now that is worth trusting your education to, and at the same time staying in a miserable worthless system that has only continued to dwindle in every aspect, or that at an inner city training program you are likely to experience a much varied and severely ill population than you would ever in a military program, TRAUMA especially.

No, as you prove yourself to be a true A-HOLE over and over, and I scream for joy at the idea of not having to deal with the ilk of you in a position of power. Its very likely you realize how much your screw other physicians and other "colleagues" everyday, and you probably love it.

I'm sure bomberdoc will be much nicer.

 

[sethco]

Wow, couldn't match in a Gen Surg program in the military... that says a lot. I though you wanted something actually competative like ortho or ophtho or something. You must really be a star.

Inner city Gen Surg program... chuckle... yes, surreal, you and the other FMG's are going to have a ball. And everythin will be peaches and cream.

I'm not that kind...What an a-hole

 

[sethco]

TRAUMA especially.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Brooke Army the only Level I trauma center in San Antonio?

 

[Galo]

TRAUMA especially.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Brooke Army the only Level I trauma center in San Antonio?

I'm not 100% sure if Wilford Hall has stopped taking trauma yet, but without a doubt, its on its way out, and the only military place will be BAMC. That leaves NO AF hospital that takes trauma. At Wright Patt, the once "moonlighting" and being paid to take trauma, became mandatory duty, and not eligible for moonlighting, but I'm not sure if its still ongoing.


Also, I am not sure what major army/navy hospitals are currently taking trauma, maybe our cheerleader can tell us where the truama leaders in the army are?

 

[BomberDoc]

Wow, couldn't match in a Gen Surg program in the military... that says a lot. I though you wanted something actually competative like ortho or ophtho or something. You must really be a star.

Inner city Gen Surg program... chuckle... yes, surreal, you and the other FMG's are going to have a ball. And everythin will be peaches and cream.

Didn't want gen surg. Wanted a much more competitive specialty. Somehow I can manage to spell competitive correctly. I only got a one year civ deferment then pipelined straight to GMO/FS like 25-30% of my year group. Wanted to do something challenging and learn a lot during intern year. It paid off.

Funny that you tell us how great military medicine is and how wonderful the training programs are, and in the same breath you bash them by implying that even a huge ***** like me can't match gen surg in the military. I guess any monkey with a medical degree can do that, huh? Well, you sure seem to have done just that. A1, you and yours are the reason 90+% of the rest of us flee military medicine at the first opportunity. I hope you enjoy shining your eagles every morning, you pathetic excuse for a real doctor.

 

[BomberDoc]

I'm sure bomberdoc will be much nicer.

Sorry, Galo, I can't be nice to a piece of crap like A1. My mom taught me to stand up to bullies. I continue to do so each and every day.

 

[350011]

No Navy facilities are currently taking trauma.

I have heard rumors that San Diego is in negotiations to begin accepting civilian ambulances/trauma, with an eye towards possibly upping their trauma designation. But that's just rumor.

Doesn't the Navy have an agreement with UCSD where they send 1 GENS or ORTHO to UCSD to complete a trauma fellowship?

 

[a1qwerty55]

Did'nt your mother teach you that if you dont have anything nice to say then don't say nothing at all. Or are you not a white protestant christian who believes in do onto others as you wish done upon yourself, or the opposite?

I'm sure bomberdoc will be much nicer.

Galo, time to go back on your zyprexa.

 

[a1qwerty55]

Didn't want gen surg. Wanted a much more competitive specialty.

You my friend have shared how you were this super applicant and got your first choice of a very competative specialty, how the AF didn't see what a star you were and thus you "got screwed". Close to your words from your myriad of vile posts.

Now we learn that you couldn't match with your first choice of specialty but now are in a top notch inner city Gen Surg residency. Gen surg last I checked frankly isn't that competative in the military or the civilian world.

I'm just reminding those who haven't experienced your tirades of feces what you've shared in the past. I too am counting down the days to your departure from the service. You are a punk, will most definitely be a dangerous physician/surgeon, and are best left to the civilian world where you will not be held accountable. When I fire a doc - they become civilians and unfortunately still find jobs.

 

[Galo]

Galo, time to go back on your zyprexa.

Do they ever check you for using drugs? I mean illegal ones. I'm quite sure you must be on some psych meds, but you have to be taking some other non-approved drug. I'm guessing crack, or amphetamines, you're way too high strung for weed or opiates, but I could be wrong.

As always, you are so full of crap your face must match well to your BDU's.

One of the multiple lies you spit is that physicians in the military can be held accountable. The veil of truth is they would have to be very early in their career, or use a gun to commit murder. I've posted many times how in our base alone we had at least 3 COL's who required supervision by younger colleagues due to their incompetence, not exactly what accountable means as a civilian doctor. As a Col, you are untouchable. It would hardly shock me to know you are one of the worst physicians in the army, and you get off on "when I fire a doc". Its that typical small man complex that comes with unabated power. How tall are you? You're short are'nt you.

Does not matter, but what does is that you will get your cummupins when you find yourself amongst a bunch of experienced physicians who will hold you accountable. Even if you slime your way to some deserted, underserved, out in the sticks area, you will be found out and have your *** handed to you.

You sir, are without a doubt are the leading a#$hole of this forum, and I'm sure of the place where you unfortunately work.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

You sir, are without a doubt are the leading a#$hole of this forum, and I'm sure of the place where you unfortunately work.

You are a punk, will most definitely be a dangerous physician/surgeon, and are best left to the civilian world where you will not be held accountable. .

Moderators...can we get this thread closed? It has degenerated to name-calling.

 

[IgD]

The problem with medicine in general and especially military medicine is lack of discipline, accountability and attention to detail. We need to close the thread so the members can reflect on what has happened here and re-focus. We need to maintain the highest vigilence and professionalism so this doesn't happen again.
🙂

 

[sethco]

When I fire a doc - they become civilians and unfortunately still find jobs.

So, uhhhh...How does one get "fired"?

 

[a1qwerty55]

The problem with medicine in general and especially military medicine is lack of discipline, accountability and attention to detail. We need to close the thread so the members can reflect on what has happened here and re-focus. We need to maintain the highest vigilence and professionalism so this doesn't happen again.
🙂

I really regret ever stumbing across this forum.

It at times can be a source of good info when a question is posted which has a concrete answer (like who do I do x or y) but unfortunately, the disgruntled USAF posters always go negative first. They almost always go back to a canned diatribes like, nurses will micromanage you, the care is poor, you won't get your residency, your colleagues are idiots, etc. ect. While with each of those there is always a grain of truth they are presented as the norm.

When confronted with views to the contrary, they immediately react with name calling. I certainly didn't start this (If you doubt this go back and research some older threads), and for one will try to do a better job keeping my contempt for Galo, and Bomberdoc to myself. I obviously have strongly negative feelings towards them. While I have never met them, their posts make them quite transparent, and I'm sure they will reply mine are as well.

My focus is and has always been on trying to make sure that there is some tiny bit of balance on this forum.

I do not recruit nor have ever had any role in recruiting but I do feel a sense of personal loss when an potential military doc is dissuaded from joining based on these virulent, and in my opinion highly innacurate posts. It is a loss the not only the military as a whole, but the soldiers/airmen/sailors/marines, the military colleagues who they would have worked with and the individual who will not gain some of the life lessons which come from giving up some autonomy.

Peace out.

 

[a1qwerty55]

So, uhhhh...How does one get "fired"?

Drugs, big time honor violations and residents who get booted from residency for poor performance (who unfortunately for everyone get used as GMO's, yes I know that is really stupid from a care standpoint).

Fired probably isn't the right word but suffice it to say, the staff I've seen seperated for drugs, alcohol, psych issues are working. Perhaps not in their specialty but are working somewhere. I'm sure they tell the employer how they got "screwed by uncle sam", and after a period of observation with an impaired provider program they are back up to speed.

One thing I complement the military on is that if you are ever decredentialled for poor care, you cannot be seperated until you have gone through all the appeals processes and there is a final judgement. This keeps the military from just making a gentleman's agreement for the provider to resign and avoid punative actions.

Example would be a surgeon who is incompetent. A civilian facility might tell them to resign and move on to somewhere else to avoid a black mark on their record whereas the military legally cannot do so to avoid dumping trash on the civilians.

 

[a1qwerty55]

Do they ever check you for using drugs? I mean illegal ones. I'm quite sure you must be on some psych meds, but you have to be taking some other non-approved drug. I'm guessing crack, or amphetamines, you're way too high strung for weed or opiates, but I could be wrong.

As always, you are so full of crap your face must match well to your BDU's.

One of the multiple lies you spit is that physicians in the military can be held accountable. The veil of truth is they would have to be very early in their career, or use a gun to commit murder. I've posted many times how in our base alone we had at least 3 COL's who required supervision by younger colleagues due to their incompetence, not exactly what accountable means as a civilian doctor. As a Col, you are untouchable. It would hardly shock me to know you are one of the worst physicians in the army, and you get off on "when I fire a doc". Its that typical small man complex that comes with unabated power. How tall are you? You're short are'nt you.

Does not matter, but what does is that you will get your cummupins when you find yourself amongst a bunch of experienced physicians who will hold you accountable. Even if you slime your way to some deserted, underserved, out in the sticks area, you will be found out and have your *** handed to you.

You sir, are without a doubt are the leading a#$hole of this forum, and I'm sure of the place where you unfortunately work.

What more can I say. This is a real gem of a post.

 

[Galo]

I really regret ever stumbing across this forum.

It at times can be a source of good info when a question is posted which has a concrete answer (like who do I do x or y) but unfortunately, the disgruntled USAF posters always go negative first. They almost always go back to a canned diatribes like, nurses will micromanage you, the care is poor, you won't get your residency, your colleagues are idiots, etc. ect. While with each of those there is always a grain of truth they are presented as the norm.

When confronted with views to the contrary, they immediately react with name calling. I certainly didn't start this (If you doubt this go back and research some older threads), and for one will try to do a better job keeping my contempt for Galo, and Bomberdoc to myself. I obviously have strongly negative feelings towards them. While I have never met them, their posts make them quite transparent, and I'm sure they will reply mine are as well.

My focus is and has always been on trying to make sure that there is some tiny bit of balance on this forum.

I do not recruit nor have ever had any role in recruiting but I do feel a sense of personal loss when an potential military doc is dissuaded from joining based on these virulent, and in my opinion highly innacurate posts. It is a loss the not only the military as a whole, but the soldiers/airmen/sailors/marines, the military colleagues who they would have worked with and the individual who will not gain some of the life lessons which come from giving up some autonomy.

Peace out.

The problem is you do not want peace. SO we had really bad experiences, and we know alot of physicians who do not post here that had equally bad experiences. We post them in a manner that cannot be helped as being negative because that's just what it is. Its invariable that you then take on a personal attack which leads those of us with poor impulse control at being insulted, to insult you back. Look back on any thread you want, and its you being the aggressor every single time. I do not post, "because of a1...." I post about my experience, and you crap on it every time.

I'm not sure I'm sorry you found this forum. You are, (no insult intended, only my observation, and that of others based on my military experience), without a doubt the type of person, (officer), that can make a physicians life miserable. Having outed yourself so that a prospective student can see who their potential boss could be, has probably done more to dissuade people from joining the military, than all of us have done. There is not ONE other person here who claims to be an attending, that has acted in the unprofessional, and conduct unbecoming manner than you have.

If you disagree with our experiences, just say so. Put your own proof out. Ask your "colleagues", surgeons, etc, to say something positive that may refute our experiences. Instead, you always go for the personal attack: substandard physician, bipolar, not a patriot,etc etc. Its provoking to no end. Have a shred of professionalism, and leave the personal stuff out of it. I have all but put my address on this forum, yet we do not even know what you do. Its sad for to know people like you run military medicine. Be ready for a reality check when you get out.

 

[MaximusD]

I really regret ever stumbing across this forum.

It at times can be a source of good info when a question is posted which has a concrete answer (like who do I do x or y) but unfortunately, the disgruntled USAF posters always go negative first. They almost always go back to a canned diatribes like, nurses will micromanage you, the care is poor, you won't get your residency, your colleagues are idiots, etc. ect. While with each of those there is always a grain of truth they are presented as the norm.

When confronted with views to the contrary, they immediately react with name calling. I certainly didn't start this (If you doubt this go back and research some older threads), and for one will try to do a better job keeping my contempt for Galo, and Bomberdoc to myself. I obviously have strongly negative feelings towards them. While I have never met them, their posts make them quite transparent, and I'm sure they will reply mine are as well.

My focus is and has always been on trying to make sure that there is some tiny bit of balance on this forum.

I do not recruit nor have ever had any role in recruiting but I do feel a sense of personal loss when an potential military doc is dissuaded from joining based on these virulent, and in my opinion highly innacurate posts. It is a loss the not only the military as a whole, but the soldiers/airmen/sailors/marines, the military colleagues who they would have worked with and the individual who will not gain some of the life lessons which come from giving up some autonomy.

Peace out.

I'm glad that they dissuade those who aren't mentally prepared for some resistance. I don't want people bitching that they were "duped" who are my colleagues... will probably make it difficult to concentrate on patient care.

I don't ****ing see how someone capable of excelling in a premed curriculum and acing the MCATs can fall prey to simple persuasive appeals by a recruiter. If you aren't smart enough to see that the recruiters are painting an overly-rosy picture then you DESERVE to get fooled. That is my problem with some of these posts. I get pissed when I read how people feel "victimized". Grow up and take responsibility for yourself.

Thanks for the balance.

 

[med145]

I'm glad that they dissuade those who aren't mentally prepared for some resistance. I don't want people bitching that they were "duped" who are my colleagues... will probably make it difficult to concentrate on patient care.

I don't ****ing see how someone capable of excelling in a premed curriculum and acing the MCATs can fall prey to simple persuasive appeals by a recruiter. If you aren't smart enough to see that the recruiters are painting an overly-rosy picture then you DESERVE to get fooled. That is my problem with some of these posts. I get pissed when I read how people feel "victimized". Grow up and take responsibility for yourself.

Thanks for the balance.

Agreed.

 

[Perrotfish]

I don't ****ing see how someone capable of excelling in a premed curriculum and acing the MCATs can fall prey to simple persuasive appeals by a recruiter. If you aren't smart enough to see that the recruiters are painting an overly-rosy picture then you DESERVE to get fooled. That is my problem with some of these posts. I get pissed when I read how people feel "victimized". Grow up and take responsibility for yourself.

Agreed. These aren't 18 year olds with GEDs, these are supposed to be the top graduates from the top colleges. The recruiters shouldn't be able to 'dupe' you.

My favorite was (unrelated to Medicine) a friend of mine from HS who somehow managed to enlist in Marine Infantry, after college, thinking he was going to become a JAG. I mean, the recruiter's lie was one of the biggest whoppers I've ever heard, but at the same time he wanted to be a lawyer and he couldn't read a contract! He got out of his obligation in the end, of course, after much agony for all involved.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

I'm glad that they dissuade those who aren't mentally prepared for some resistance. I don't want people bitching that they were "duped" who are my colleagues... will probably make it difficult to concentrate on patient care.

I don't ****ing see how someone capable of excelling in a premed curriculum and acing the MCATs can fall prey to simple persuasive appeals by a recruiter. If you aren't smart enough to see that the recruiters are painting an overly-rosy picture then you DESERVE to get fooled. That is my problem with some of these posts. I get pissed when I read how people feel "victimized". Grow up and take responsibility for yourself.

I think your first paragraph is brilliant. I find your second paragraph insulting. Ask the recent pre-med student who posted the emails from docs in the other thread. Look how many people he talked to and emailed with to find the truth. Yet when I talked to him on the phone he still didn't understand what I felt were very basic things about the HPSP scholarship and how the system works. 10 years ago it was nearly impossible to find information like that. I know, I remember trying. My recruiter was useless and I managed to find 2 military docs to talk to, only one of which was active duty. I talked to several other military officers who were equally positive (little did I know that their experience wasn't applicable to my situation.) Military physicians and recruiters told me inaccurate things about the military medical system (probably won't be deployed unless you volunteer, everyone matches etc etc etc) I'm not sure that these poor pre-meds deserve to get fooled. When the recruiters can't answer basic questions accurately, how can we blame people who feel fooled? This forum didn't exist when I signed up. There was no google. Who would think that our honorable military would lie to its potential recruits? I'm a little more cynical than I was then, but a whole lot better informed.

Nevertheless, I think I've taken responsibility for myself, and I'm manning up and serving my time (unlike a few people who have cruised through here looking for a way out of their commitment.) I enjoy serving my country and this population, but I'd be lying if I said HPSP was a good financial or professional deal, if I said the military match was no big obstacle, or if I said the military lets me practice like I would like to practice (i.e. my specialty), or if I said that I had any control at all over where I live or where or when I deploy.

 

[177584]

I want to believe that everybody in here has the best of intentions (most times) posting their experiences. The fact remains that most online forums where you can give your opinion about things are filled with negative responses. It's a place to vent and maybe "get back" at the organization or whatever "got" you....so I understand. It's unfortunate that if I were a college kid trying to objectively figure out what mil med is like...I wouldn't find it here. I think that personality plays a HUGE role in whether or not you enjoy the military, hate it, or fall somewhere in the middle. Civilian practice has its probelms the military has its problems take your pick but be able to live with the problems. Please don't misread sarcasm into this cuz I'm just speaking my mind.

 

[BomberDoc]

You my friend have shared how you were this super applicant and got your first choice of a very competative specialty, how the AF didn't see what a star you were and thus you "got screwed". Close to your words from your myriad of vile posts.

Now we learn that you couldn't match with your first choice of specialty but now are in a top notch inner city Gen Surg residency. Gen surg last I checked frankly isn't that competative in the military or the civilian world.

Obviously reading comprehension isn't your strong suit. I would refute your generalizations and bizarre leaps of logic (flight of ideas, anyone?) with facts, but you won't read or comprehend them. I'll stop wasting my time mentally sparring with you. It is neither fun nor satisfying. It is like a heavyweight prizefighter crushing a Special Olympics kid just because he can. It doesn't make for a good fight and the heavyweight leaves bored. Corky goes blackout and isn't any wiser when he wakes up on the ortho ward. Nobody wins.

I'm glad you post here, however. It shows the pre-meds and med studs what they are up against if they join. It also gives a dose of reality to those who already made the mistake of joining. We can endure the pain for a handful of years. Many of us have done it. We learn from our mistakes and pass along our knowledge to those who follow. I consider it being a good wingman.

By the way, I can still spell competitive.

 

[militarymd]

Ok, so I've put it all out on the line. I want to hear some of the old man opinions. I guess only 2 things worry me.

#1: Why does the military need to sign up HPSPers instead of just offering board certified doctors a way to pay off their loans.

#2: How do I know that Galo, USAFdoc, Navdoc47, and militaryMD aren't all the same guy just different user names?

These two things give me the biggest headaches over this decision right now.

If you read all of our posts, you will know that we are all different people.

 

[militarymd]

If you want some of us to become less anonymous PM us your phone number and we'll give you a call.

ditto

 

[elderjack21]

Wow...this is quite a thread.

Glad I chose not to attend the air force academy so many years ago...I would have been pretty embarrassed to have colleagues like some of the ones who have posted here.

Question to some of you military docs who have so much time for SDN...where do you find so much time for something this trivial…aren’t their a shortage of doctors and staff at all those military hospitals and lines of patients out the door waiting to be treated by substandard doctors who had substandard training at substandard military hospitals? (at least that is the picture that I see painted here over and over again...although my experience has taught me otherwise)

 

[militarymd]

Wow...this is quite a thread.

Glad I chose not to attend the air force academy so many years ago...I would have been pretty embarrassed to have colleagues like some of the ones who have posted here.

Question to some of you military docs who have so much time for SDN...where do you find so much time for something this trivial…aren’t their a shortage of doctors and staff at all those military hospitals and lines of patients out the door waiting to be treated by substandard doctors who had substandard training at substandard military hospitals? (at least that is the picture that I see painted here over and over again...although my experience has taught me otherwise)

What experience?

 

[Gastrapathy]

Wow...this is quite a thread.

Glad I chose not to attend the air force academy so many years ago...I would have been pretty embarrassed to have colleagues like some of the ones who have posted here.

Question to some of you military docs who have so much time for SDN...where do you find so much time for something this trivial…aren’t their a shortage of doctors and staff at all those military hospitals and lines of patients out the door waiting to be treated by substandard doctors who had substandard training at substandard military hospitals? (at least that is the picture that I see painted here over and over again...although my experience has taught me otherwise)

There's plenty of time to post while waiting for AHLTA to load the next screen.

Actually, I don't even look at this forum at work.

The name-calling on both sides makes everyone sound like idiots.

 

[BomberDoc]

The name-calling on both sides makes everyone sound like idiots.

As one of the name-calling idiots out there, I consider this one of the truest statements ever made on this board.

 

[IgD]

Glad I chose not to attend the air force academy so many years ago...I would have been pretty embarrassed to have colleagues like some of the ones who have posted here.

I agree there should be more civility here.

As to the problems facing military medicine today, you can't comprehend them until after you exit the protective womb of the graduate medical education system. If you would have been in my shoes and seen some of the stuff I've seen with your own eyes, everything would be clear.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

I must work in the only hospital in the military where AHLTA performs quickly. Sure it goes down once every 1-2 months for a few days, but other than that, it's been blazingly fast for me.

Where do YOU work? I kid you not, we get "Ahlta down" emails several times a week, and it is often down for 8+ hours on Friday nights.

 

[alpha62]

Damn, this really brings back memories.

So freakin glad I'm out. So freakin glad I'm not trapped inside the wire with this crap daily.

So totally freakin grateful I don't have to explain myself to people who are supposedly far superior to me in training and skills.

By far, the possiblity of getting trapped in this olympics of egos until age 60 was the primal fear I had to come to terms with, not an IED, not a sniper, not a TBI.