will guardsman status affect residency offers?

[krust3]

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hey all, hoping for some opinions from higher ups on this one...

i'm applying for anesthesia this fall and am reluctant to mention that i'm gonna need one weekend a month to fulfill my national guard duties.

although i am protected from deployment during residency, i'm concerned PD's are gonna shy away from my app for fear of my other obligation.

obviously they're gonna have to find out sometime, but i'm not sure i wanna throw that out there after that first handshake. honestly my guardsman requirements are really flexible, but what's this do to my application ranking... or even number of interviews.

 

[mcgreen]

hey all, hoping for some opinions from higher ups on this one...

i'm applying for anesthesia this fall and am reluctant to mention that i'm gonna need one weekend a month to fulfill my national guard duties.

although i am protected from deployment during residency, i'm concerned PD's are gonna shy away from my app for fear of my other obligation.

obviously they're gonna have to find out sometime, but i'm not sure i wanna throw that out there after that first handshake. honestly my guardsman requirements are really flexible, but what's this do to my application ranking... or even number of interviews.

Despite the fact that the DHS has "no specific information that domestic rightwing terrorists are currently planning acts of violence," the RE memo specifically smears returning veterans and a host of other sovereign citizens who may hold conservative views; and generally smears conservatism by equating it with "Right-wing extremism"… --Thaddeus G. McCotter, American Spectator...


Serving in the National Guard is something to be proud of not something to hide.

Any residency that cannot accommodate your one weekend off per month has a serious problem and is probably violating the new work hour rules.

I would not bring up the subject at any residency interview or any discussion with the program, do not lie, if asked directly or on the application, but do not volunteer any info about your National Guard status.

Once you are a resident federal law prohibits your employer from failing to accommodate your National Guard obligation.

 

[psychbender]

Check out this thread on the military med forum: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=550134

The National Guard has created a new program for medical students, and has some interesting provisions for guardsmen in residency. You should see if you can get assigned to a medical unit, and take part in their "flexi-training" option (discuss with your unit's CO).

 

[sethco]

I am kind of in the same boat...

Will be restarting residency after a 4 year active duty tour as a flight surgeon. I will be continuing my service while in residency by serving with the PA Guard. Although my program was very supportive of my military background and to assist my willingness to continue my service, I can see how some programs might have a problem with this. Dont get me wrong. Most PDs will love your military service but they may also see any continued service as a hinder to any moonlighting policies in place or possible violation of residency work hours, whether it is warranted or not.

I had a lot of Flight Surgeon friends go through the interview rounds this past year and invariable almost all of them got asked whether or not they planned to continue their military service and if there was any chance that they could be pulled from their residency on a deployment/ADT/TDY.

On the one hand, it is good to let the program know of your service, but on the otherhand you need to be sure to clarify to them that there is no way your residency training will be interrupted and it is your primary focus for the 4year duration.

Hope this helps.