Posted on May 29, 2017
Has anyone completed one of the Army medical programs?
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I am looking into a career change as far as life outside the military goes, granted that's until the army no longer needs my services. However I am looking to become a Doctor, a pilot had told me about some army medical programs where the army pays for me to get my degree, I commission in the medical officer corps and move on from there? Any advice is appreciated.
AMEDD C&S
Officer
Posted >1 y ago
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Kevin, good to see you still active in here. PFC Sword, I would add a few things. Medical school, any medical school, is life consuming for four years. Followed by residencies that keep you in the hospital overnight multiple times a week. It is not for the feint of heart. Have you also considered the IPAP program? The Interservice Physician Assistant Program may be a good way to go. You obtain your associates on your own. Over 18 months, you obtain your Masters Degree as a PA. Again, labor intensive to go from an associates to a Masters in 18 months, but less time than 4 years of med school and residencies. Typical assignments are more TOE/ field based than a traditional MD. Lot's of opportunities at Battalion Aid Stations, etc. I'd discuss the opportunities with your flight surgeon.
Finally, as a nurse, I'd endorse the Army Enlisted Commissioning Program (AECP), as shown below. Again, need your first two years of college (no associates), then go to school as an E5, full pay and allowances, for two years as you work towards your BSN. Less intense from my perspective.
Finally, as a nurse, I'd endorse the Army Enlisted Commissioning Program (AECP), as shown below. Again, need your first two years of college (no associates), then go to school as an E5, full pay and allowances, for two years as you work towards your BSN. Less intense from my perspective.
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SGT (Join to see)
So I'm going to ask, can any of this be done through online school? Or is all of these programs a in person kinda of deal?
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SSG (Join to see)
PFC Douglas, I am applying for both IPAP (Physicians Assistant) and AECP (Registered Nurse) FY18. I am pursuing my associate degree classes through a local college but online. They each have their own benefit PA will be more Battalion BCT oriented while Nursing will be more MEDCOM (unless a Brigade Nurse for BCT or Field Hospital). Nursing is nice because you go to civilian college while getting paid your rank and allowances without working a job. College will be your job. IPAP will be 16 months at Fort Sam Houston to get Bachelors of Science and then 12 months at an army hospital doing resident like work and shadowing to earn your masters in the process.
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LTC Stephan Porter
The IPAP, Nursing, Medical schiils are all gonna be resident.
What is your goal in being a care provider. You could also consider Nurse Praticioner.
What is your goal in being a care provider. You could also consider Nurse Praticioner.
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That pilot was probably referring to the Health Professions Scholarship Program. That program pays for your entire med school (tuition, books, fees, stipend, etc.). You should talk with an AMEDD recruiter to get more details.
You can learn more about the HPSP at this link:
https://www.goarmy.com/amedd/education/hpsp.html
You can find an AMEDD recruiter through this link:
https://www.goarmy.com/locate-a-recruiter.html
You can learn more about the HPSP at this link:
https://www.goarmy.com/amedd/education/hpsp.html
You can find an AMEDD recruiter through this link:
https://www.goarmy.com/locate-a-recruiter.html
Healthcare School Scholarships
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SGT (Join to see)
So upon completing the prerequisites and I go forward with going to school for my medical degree. Would I get to choose my specialty? Or is it kinda like a wish list and the army places me based off the wish list and needs of the army?
How is every day life during/after the program? I read that there would be extensive training (which I assumed). Basically what I'm going towards is would it consume my life? Or would I have the down time for my family?
And in your opinion best schools to get a medical degree from.?
How is every day life during/after the program? I read that there would be extensive training (which I assumed). Basically what I'm going towards is would it consume my life? Or would I have the down time for my family?
And in your opinion best schools to get a medical degree from.?
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LTC Kevin B.
SGT (Join to see) - You'd get to the opportunity to compete for your preferred specialty, but not necessarily a guarantee that you'll get it. Plus, the Army has residencies and there are non-military residency locations. The residencies are competitive. As long as you're competitive, you'd have a great chance at getting the specialty that you prefer.
In the military, you'd have time for family life. It's not like the military would grind you to death (work-wise) as a physician. You'd have a relatively normal work schedule. You'd probably be better off asking that question directly to military physicians (you should use the tag "Medical Corps"). I suppose it will depend on your eventual specialty, as well as the type of unit to which you are assigned. Variance in experience does exist across the physician community, so it's not like they all fit into the same pattern of experiences.
For the best medical schools, you should review the US News and World Report rankings for medical schools. Those highly ranked schools will be intensely competitive. Do really, really well in undergrad and score really, really high on the MCAT. If you do those things, you should have great options.
In the military, you'd have time for family life. It's not like the military would grind you to death (work-wise) as a physician. You'd have a relatively normal work schedule. You'd probably be better off asking that question directly to military physicians (you should use the tag "Medical Corps"). I suppose it will depend on your eventual specialty, as well as the type of unit to which you are assigned. Variance in experience does exist across the physician community, so it's not like they all fit into the same pattern of experiences.
For the best medical schools, you should review the US News and World Report rankings for medical schools. Those highly ranked schools will be intensely competitive. Do really, really well in undergrad and score really, really high on the MCAT. If you do those things, you should have great options.
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LTC Stephan Porter
LTC Brion is spot on. Your residency lifenin the military will better than the civilian world, and you will have better pay than most during that time.
There is also the Uniformed Services University Medical School:
https://www.usuhs.edu
There is also the Uniformed Services University Medical School:
https://www.usuhs.edu
The mission of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences is to educate, train, and comprehensively prepare uniformed services health professionals, scientists, and leaders to support the Military and Public Health Systems, the National Security and National Defense Strategies of the United States, and the readiness of our Uniformed Services.
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Not sure how far along you are in your studies, but this may be an option. It's a program specifically geared towards helping enlisted folks gain admission to medical school. Not only do you knock out your med school prereqs, but they do a lot of MCAT prep as well. I almost went this route myself, but I was in my early 30s and I couldn't see myself sludging through this program, then medical school, then a residency, and so on. I'd be into my 40s before I even started practicing. I know people do it, but I didn't have it in me. I decided to go to the Army's physical therapy program instead. Getting into that program was no walk in the park, but I think I'm happy with my decision.
https://www.usuhs.edu/emdp2
https://www.usuhs.edu/emdp2
Enlisted to Medical Degree Home | Uniformed Services University
The mission of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences is to educate, train, and comprehensively prepare uniformed services health professionals, scientists, and leaders to support the Military and Public Health Systems, the National Security and National Defense Strategies of the United States, and the readiness of our Uniformed Services.
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LTC Stephan Porter
The Baylor DPT Program is, has been, one of the top 3-5 programs (MPT before) in the country for decades.
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