Thoughts on the SDN HPSP Webinar

[aklark]

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Random observations on today's HPSP webinar that's been advertised on this site:

1) The Q & A got hijacked by foreigners. Seriously, half the questions were from people who aren't US citizens, and therefore not even eligible for the scholarship. IMO, they shouldn't have entertained these questions. Military medicine should not be viewed as a back door into the lucrative US healthcare market.

2) Unrepresentative spokesman. LTC Hustead seems like a genuine guy who has really enjoyed his career in Army medicine, but why do they never include someone who represents the ~90% of Army HPSPers who separate after their initial ADSO? Let us hear from some random Captain who hasn't spent half his career in Hawaii, but had an OK run in the Army and will be ready to exit when the time comes.

3) Acknowledgement of negatives. After some intrepid SDNer got specific about all the complaints frequently aired on this board (bureaucracy, skill atrophy, etc.) I felt like LTC Hustead presented a more balanced picture, but it would have seemed more believable if he offered it up willingly. I took his bottom line as: "Be willing to take one for the team, then be assertive about getting your career back on track."

4) Light on data. These things are always light on the one thing that their primary audience loves: data. Tell us what percentage of people don't match the first time around and have to do a TY and what percentage of those do a GMO tour. Tell us what percentage of residency trained docs will have to fill an operational billet during their service obligation. Some people might not sign up because of these numbers, but I think that would ultimately be a good thing for the Army and the people involved.

5) Army HPSP selection averages are at 30/3.64. This seemed surprisingly high to me, but maybe it is getting more competitive since it looks like we are entering a time of peace...?

 

[deuist]

Random observations on today's HPSP webinar that's been advertised on this site:

I didn't watch it, but maybe I can help.

1) The Q & A got hijacked by foreigners. Seriously, half the questions were from people who aren't US citizens, and therefore not even eligible for the scholarship. IMO, they shouldn't have entertained these questions. Military medicine should not be viewed as a back door into the lucrative US healthcare market.

Yep, shouldn't have been entertained.

2) Unrepresentative spokesman. LTC Hustead seems like a genuine guy who has really enjoyed his career in Army medicine, but why do they never include someone who represents the ~90% of Army HPSPers who separate after their initial ADSO? Let us hear from some random Captain who hasn't spent half his career in Hawaii, but had an OK run in the Army and will be ready to exit when the time comes.

Not gonna happen. The military will only put forth lifers who have only positive things to day. Further, they look to more senior officers to give the talks. Would you want to interview at a medical school and instead of seeing the dean speak, the only person you meet is a first-year faculty physician straight out of residency?

3) Acknowledgement of negatives. After some intrepid SDNer got specific about all the complaints frequently aired on this board (bureaucracy, skill atrophy, etc.) I felt like LTC Hustead presented a more balanced picture, but it would have seemed more believable if he offered it up willingly. I took his bottom line as: "Be willing to take one for the team, then be assertive about getting your career back on track."

You should already know the bottom line by now if you've been reading this thread. Is there anything specific that you need to know?

4) Light on data. These things are always light on the one thing that their primary audience loves: data. Tell us what percentage of people don't match the first time around and have to do a TY and what percentage of those do a GMO tour. Tell us what percentage of residency trained docs will have to fill an operational billet during their service obligation. Some people might not sign up because of these numbers, but I think that would ultimately be a good thing for the Army and the people involved.

Not going to happen. The Air Force at least does not release its match data, nor will it say how many people end up as flight surgeons/GMO's against their will. That's been their policy ever since I joined.

5) Army HPSP selection averages are at 30/3.64. This seemed surprisingly high to me, but maybe it is getting more competitive since it looks like we are entering a time of peace...?

It's getting more competitive because of the cost of medical school. Peace times help, but in reality, most people join for the money.

 

[HighPriest]

Yeah, they will never put someone up who has or will seperate and who has even a reasonable complaint. Part of that is masking, part of it is the argument that you might actually want to speak with someone who has "found the benefits" or military medicine, which is someone who is drinking the kool aid.

The problem is that it doesn't always matter if you "take on for the team" and are then assertive about getting your career back on track. Maybe if you're IM or Peds or even ER, and you have at least a shot at ending up at any hospital the Army operates. If you're a subspecialist without fellowship training - forget it. There aren't enough spots at bigger hospitals, and you can be as assertive as you want to be, but you're not getting to a MEDCEN unless you do a fellowship (ie: they let you do a fellowship), and incur additional commitment. I don't buy the idea that you can assert your way into a spot at a larger hospital in all circumstances.

Agreed with the above, this thread gives multiple opinions and is by and large a better source of information. That being said, you should always take into consideration all reasonable opinions.

 

[Gastrapathy]

Feeble attempt to control the message. Advertise on SDN but don't open an account and post here. Most people who have their careers knocked off the rails simply separate.

 

[DermViser]

Random observations on today's HPSP webinar that's been advertised on this site:

1) The Q & A got hijacked by foreigners. Seriously, half the questions were from people who aren't US citizens, and therefore not even eligible for the scholarship. IMO, they shouldn't have entertained these questions. Military medicine should not be viewed as a back door into the lucrative US healthcare market.

2) Unrepresentative spokesman. LTC Hustead seems like a genuine guy who has really enjoyed his career in Army medicine, but why do they never include someone who represents the ~90% of Army HPSPers who separate after their initial ADSO? Let us hear from some random Captain who hasn't spent half his career in Hawaii, but had an OK run in the Army and will be ready to exit when the time comes.

3) Acknowledgement of negatives. After some intrepid SDNer got specific about all the complaints frequently aired on this board (bureaucracy, skill atrophy, etc.) I felt like LTC Hustead presented a more balanced picture, but it would have seemed more believable if he offered it up willingly. I took his bottom line as: "Be willing to take one for the team, then be assertive about getting your career back on track."

4) Light on data. These things are always light on the one thing that their primary audience loves: data. Tell us what percentage of people don't match the first time around and have to do a TY and what percentage of those do a GMO tour. Tell us what percentage of residency trained docs will have to fill an operational billet during their service obligation. Some people might not sign up because of these numbers, but I think that would ultimately be a good thing for the Army and the people involved.

5) Army HPSP selection averages are at 30/3.64. This seemed surprisingly high to me, but maybe it is getting more competitive since it looks like we are entering a time of peace...?

Controlling the narrative is key.