USUHS Future questions

[hamiltong]

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Hey all,

While this question is posed mostly to those attending USUHS, I suppose others might be able to provide some insight as well. I'm interested and intruiged by the school, but would like to learn more about the committment and life afterwards. Do most of the students plan on becoming career officers or anticipate working in civilian practices as soon as they possibly are able? Does working in a VA hospital count as active duty or is that an entirely different branch of the military family? I realize that they are probably questions which have answers on the USUHS website, but in the hour I've spent downloading PDF and perusing the pages, I haven't found what I'm looking for. Any comments are greatly appreciated, even if they don't pertain to the topic.

 

[idq1i]

Post this question in the military medicine forum.

Few quick points:
The VA has nothing to do with military medicine/USUHS
Attending USUHS = MINIMUM 11 year committment to military medicine.

-iDq1i, 2LT, USAR

 

[MoosePilot]

Post this question in the military medicine forum.

Few quick points:
The VA has nothing to do with military medicine/USUHS
Attending USUHS = MINIMUM 11 year committment to military medicine.

-iDq1i, 2LT, USAR

Wouldn't it be 12? 4 years of school + 1 year internship + 7 year payback? That's minimum, you'll probably end up doing at least 14 to do a whole residence at some point.

 

[hamiltong]

Thanks for the comments. I didn't initally see the military medicine forum but I'll be sure to direct my questions that way.

Cheers

 

[DrYo12]

Hey all,

While this question is posed mostly to those attending USUHS, I suppose others might be able to provide some insight as well. I'm interested and intruiged by the school, but would like to learn more about the committment and life afterwards. Do most of the students plan on becoming career officers or anticipate working in civilian practices as soon as they possibly are able? Does working in a VA hospital count as active duty or is that an entirely different branch of the military family? I realize that they are probably questions which have answers on the USUHS website, but in the hour I've spent downloading PDF and perusing the pages, I haven't found what I'm looking for. Any comments are greatly appreciated, even if they don't pertain to the topic.

The committment is 7 years active duty after your residency training. Because most people will do a military residency and most residencies will be between 3-5 years, you are looking at a pretty hefty committment. 4 years med + at least 3 years residency + 7 years active duty as a doc = 14 years. If you decide to do a GMO tour, which many people will do to increase their competitiveness for residencies, add at least another between 1-3 years.

People's experiences in the miltiary as physicians and whether they will go to retirement or get out immediately is very individual, but much is related to the specific branch. Some branches are a better 'fit' for some people, so it makes the idea of retirement appealing. If you pick a branch that doesn't match your personality, you will be counting the days off from the get go. Your earning potential is much higher once you get out of the military, but your role in the medical community is also very different, not to mention your responsibilities once you are no longer a military doctor.

Also, people's decision to stay in or get out is also directly related to their commanding officer and supervisor. If the environment is supportive for your specialty and for you, your experience will be entirely different than someone that doesn't feel as involved.

Many people mistakenly go to USUHS thinking that they're simply practicing medicine in the military, when in reality, USUHS specializes in teaching military medicine. As a result, we end up with around 200 hours of additional instruction that civilian schools don't receive to address those special needs of caring for those in harm's way.

Its definintely something to think about. Let me know if I can be of any help with anything.