Suspending the HPSP scholarship

[deuist]

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I'm interested in pursuing an MD/JD. Several school offer a program where the student spends three years in medical school, two years in law school, and then a final year in medical school == 6 years total for both.

I've talked to two recruiters and got different answers -- so I'm throwing my question out here: Can I suspend an HPSP scholarship after my third year, go to law school, and then continue on HPSP for the last year in medical school?

 

[edmadison]

I'm interested in pursuing an MD/JD. Several school offer a program where the student spends three years in medical school, two years in law school, and then a final year in medical school == 6 years total for both.

I've talked to two recruiters and got different answers -- so I'm throwing my question out here: Can I suspend an HPSP scholarship after my third year, go to law school, and then continue on HPSP for the last year in medical school?

In some instances, it is possible to get a delay, such as a research year. Don't talk to the recruiters about this. You need to talk to the GME office in Falls Church (If you are doing army) and get there say so on it. Even so, it would be difficult to get approval in writing before hand. They likely will say you may be able to do it, but must apply for a year off (or two?) off once you've signed up. Of course you could always do FAP.

Ed

 

[Heeed!]

I'm interested in pursuing an MD/JD. Several school offer a program where the student spends three years in medical school, two years in law school, and then a final year in medical school == 6 years total for both.

I've talked to two recruiters and got different answers -- so I'm throwing my question out here: Can I suspend an HPSP scholarship after my third year, go to law school, and then continue on HPSP for the last year in medical school?

Defininely don't talk to the recruiters. Call the GME coordinator in San Antonio if you're AF. As with anything military, the needs of the service come first. The military doesn't have much use for MD/JD...one or the other, but not both. So, the chances are probably slim. I looked into this initially myself but "they" might be giving a different answer these days. The other constant in the military = there's a waiver for everything. I'd be interested to hear if they approved something like an MD/JD.

 

[deuist]

Thanks, guys. I've always thought that if I can't get approved for a dual program, I'll just wait until I'm a practicing physician and then attend law school on a part-time basis.

 

[DoctorInSpace]

I asked the Air Force for an Leave of Absence to pursue a fellowship at my school (one to occur DURING medical school, no after), which would mean a one year delay in me being an active AF member. They denied it. Their needs definitely come first. And I had some really powerful physicians pulling for me, trying to get approval for the one year delay. It was a definite no go.

Good luck to you, and please let us know if it works out.

 

[MoosePilot]

Thanks, guys. I've always thought that if I can't get approved for a dual program, I'll just wait until I'm a practicing physician and then attend law school on a part-time basis.

You mean after you're out of the military, right? I don't know how flexible part time law school might be, but the military can be (not always) very inflexible about scheduling. You could get deployed right in the middle of important school work and no sympathy from anyone in your chain.

 

[T.A.M]

At least in the Army, such an option is unlikely to meet with any approval. The Army has little trouble recruiting and maintaining all the lawyers they need and JAG does an excellent job fighting off the bloodsuckers who try to sidestep the law and sue military docs directly. So, speaking from the needs of the service, the military needs its docs trained with as few delays as possible, which pretty much rules out 3 years of law school.

 

[GMO_52]

Famous incident at USU maybe 7 years ago. A student managed to get through law school at one of the U Maryland campuses while at USU without letting anyone know he was doing it. Then he screwed up on an email and hit reply all and let the world know about it. They were not particularly amused.

 

[deuist]

Famous incident at USU maybe 7 years ago. A student managed to get through law school at one of the U Maryland campuses while at USU without letting anyone know he was doing it. Then he screwed up on an email and hit reply all and let the world know about it. They were not particularly amused.

You just gave me a good idea....