What is the best recourse for me to go to medical school after the Army just branched me AG branch detail Infantry?

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 21:29:16 -0500

Branches just came out for my class of 2016. I am G2GADO and am on the top third of the OML for the accessions process. However, the Army didn't get enough Branch details for Infantry so the Infantry chose me. I requested for Medical Services so my transition to USUHS (medical school) would be easier. I am definitely not happy with this choice and I know I am not the first person it happened to but I was wondering if there is anything I could do to appeal this decision or if there is any recourse. Of course, I am more than willing to continue this path IBOLC, Range school, and Airborne, but my desire is to be an Army Surgeon.

I could still drop my PA packet but I honestly wouldn't be satisfied truly if I wasn't a doctor. Please give me your professional opinions and guidance!

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Nov 19 at 2015 10:12 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 22:12:07 -0500

My Experience as an ROTC says no, nothing you can do. It's a needs of the Army thing....your wants take a distant second concern.
Is that fair.. Yes, is it feel good for you NO.. it sucks..... But I don't think there is anything you can do, but move forward. Do the BEST you can do at the job assigned, and look to the day you can get to the career field you want

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Nov 20 at 2015 10:21 AM

CDR Terry Boles — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:21:18 -0500

SGT Jeffrey Gibson
I applaud your desire to be an Army surgeon and as you know its a long haul to get there. I have heard from so many on AD that wish to pursue a degree in medicine but their present careers interfere with their long term goals. I can tell you what you already know, the needs of the Army come first, and while on AD it is very competitive to be selected for USUHS and your chances of selection can be staggering even if your present situation didn't interfere with pursuing medical school.

You are sitting at a crossroad where a decision has to be made to remain on AD or separate and pursue medical school as a civilian/veteran; again nothing that you already do not know. What you may not know is that acceptance into physical therapy school is more difficult than medical school and to a person, ALL my Mustang officer buddies got off AD and pursued PT school as a civilian/veteran and then came back onto AD (as did I). The military has a PT program as well, Army Baylor program with a few seats for each branch of service and once again you had to be in the right place in your career and be competitive enough to be selected (more applicants than seats).

I wish you well in your crossroads decision.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:25 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:25:57 -0400

http://www.aoa.org

Definitely look at this, if you don't know about DO, trust me, you most definitely need to, I could never get it, my total perm disability got in the way constantly, I was trained doctoral allied health, we shut my license off sevl yrs ago, I'd wanted to go USPHS, look at their Jr and Sr COSTEP, their analogues to ROTCs, trust me, I've been exactly where you wanna go, been there, done that (BTDT), I couldn't get it, I "might" well be able to help you, honest, if you wanna yak, I'm here, OK?

www.aoa.org

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:31 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:31:46 -0400

http://www.iuhs.edu

I do NOT know if this is accepted by the svcs, VA, or private hospitals, however, I HAVE looked into them VERY extensively, as, somehow, they have a totally online program for the first half of the MD...now, as I said, I do NOT know how it'd be taken by the svcs or VA, I've asked a good deal about it, where I was an allied-health resident, some yrs back, they had an affiliation with another doctoral allied-health school where I was a resident for 3 yrs, I met those involved with the affiliation, evidently, it fell apart, however, I DO know it existed, I met the administrators for the program back then, though I gather they're all gone now, I also sat in on a class taught by a resident to students at that other school at that time, take a look, I also know of another one, though I tend to go with this one, I'll send the other, PLEASE understand, I am NOT saying this is a panacea, from what I understand, you CANNOT yet get loans for it, from what I've gathered, so PLEASE, take this with a MAJOR grain of salt, I'm giving it to you for FYI ONLY, OK? If you wanna yak more about it, as I'd said, I'm here, no rush, whenever you want, honest...all I can say is that, in yakking with many of their staff, I've been quite impressed with how they redeveloped the whole program, after I'd known of it as a resident, as I'd said, that was quite some time ago, OK?

iuhs

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:32 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:32:17 -0400

http://www.uhsa.ag

Here's the other one...as I'd said before, this is purely for FYI ONLY, OK?

Caribbean Medical College and Nursing School in Antigua | University of Health Sciences Antigua

University of Health Science Antigua (UHSA) is one of the best Nursing School and Medical College in the Caribbean. We are committed to educating physicians and health care professionals.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:40 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:40:32 -0400

https://medical.rossu.edu/

One of the little-known secrets few ever tell you about in trying to do what you're trying to do, is that, if a foreign med program is TOTALLY approved in the US, for IN-STATE ROTATIONS (not all are), and I'm speaking of allopathic MD programs, NOT osteopathic DO programs, those don't exist at the same level outside of the US, they exist, they're just considerably restricted, one can ASK, "maybe", to be allowed to be funded to go to a foreign program, while in a svc, I THINK, ASK, DO NOT assume I'm right, OK? i had the chance to go here, I chickened out, due to my disability, and some VERY bad advice, my youngest brother went, he's done, never mind the how or why, just trust me, OK? He and the other three MDs in my family have NEVER let me live it down, I assure you...just trust me, and definitely look at this one, there's also St. George's on Grenada where the war was in the 1980s, as well as AUA, as well, ASK, you've got ZERO to lose by trying, OK?

Ross University School of Medicine

The Ross medical school experience is “Dedita Scientiae Medendi” – dedicated to the science of healing – and we are proud of our rich tradition of preparing students for their life’s work as physicians.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:43 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:43:34 -0400

http://www.auamed.org

This is NOT the same as UHSA, though both are on Antigua, this one, so far as I know, IS totally approved for in-state allopathic rotations, and MAY be good for trying for loans while in a svc, as I'd said, ASK, DO NOT ASSUME, OK? Trust me, OK?

www.auamed.org

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:44 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:44:38 -0400

http://www.sgu.edu

This is the one where the war was...I've known sevl of their grads, I've gone to their orientation meetings, getting it can be rough, though, once again, ASK, OK?

The Premier Choice in Caribbean Medical Schools

See why SGU, the the #1 provider of US residencies, is the premier choice in Caribbean medical schools. You were born to be a doctor. You could become one here.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:46 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:46:57 -0400

http://www.sanjuanbautista.edu/

A guy I trained with, his ex-wife went here, BEFORE they got AMA LCME approval, so, I actually went down there to see it, trust me, it's quite real, they're fully approved now, just very little known here, whether you can get it, I don't have a clue, it's been years since I was there, all I know is, they're VERY real, promise, though totally in Spanish, for the most part, so far as I know, OK?

Home

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:53 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:53:26 -0400

And I need to know more to help you...your motivations, reasons, prior exposure, what serious bio coursework you've had, your undergrad major(s), associates, bachelors, grad-level stuff, hobbies, interests, reading tastes, sports incl and esp martial arts, if any, I have an interest in career/educ stuff, trust me, I deal in VERY specific advice, not generalities, I trained in 10 different teaching hospitals under God-only knows how many clinicians, in three different states, incl 7 yrs of allied-health postdoc residency, of which I finished six before my disability, I treated some 10000 patients in all, assisted with some 200-300 surgeries, so I may not have seen everything, just trust me, other than OB/GYN, peds, and some more anesthesiology, I saw just about all of it, incl doing some psychiatry coursework, as the allied-health doctoral program I was in had a PA masters program attached with a psychiatrist on faculty whose course I sat in on, along with doing multiple psych rotations, trust me, you're not looking at every possibility, I'm gonna show you things no one else on here is likely to give you, promise, just trust me implicitly, and look at EVERYTHING I'll send you, I assure you, you'll see why immediately, promise, OK? I might perhaps overwhelm, though that's not my intention, of course, my object is to help you actually get what you want, I just need you to be flexible, and absorb what I suggest, then look at ALL of it, I failed to get it (though God knows I tried), you MIGHT be able, IF you look at what I'm gonna try to give you, honest, promise, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:54 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:54:04 -0400

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=usphs%20costep%20jr%20or%20sr&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Look at these....

usphs%20costep%20jr%20or%20sr - AOL Search Results

N-'f fl USPS 518-880 SIXTY-THIRD YEAR, NUMBER 38 ko Three Sections 32C Per Copy K3 Plus 3U Tax .3 5 PORT ST. JOE, FLORIDA 32456 THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2001

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:54 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:54:57 -0400

https://usphs.gov/student/jrcostep.aspx

This too....

JRCOSTEP at USPHS Commissioned Corps

PHS internships and externships: JRCOSTEP. USPHS Commissioned Corps.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:55 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:55:40 -0400

https://www.usphs.gov/student/srcostep.aspx

And this....

SRCOSTEP at USPHS Commissioned Corps

Financial assistance from USPHS Commissioned Corps: SRCOSTEP.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:56 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:56:36 -0400

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=army%20interservice%20physician%20assistant%20program&s_it=loki-tb-sb

I know you don't want PA, I get that, however, trust me, and look at this, OK?

army%20interservice%20physician%20assistant%20program - AOL Search Results

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Interservice Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, U.S. Army Health Readiness Center of Excellence.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:57 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:57:06 -0400

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=service%20enlisted%20to%20medical%20program&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Read these....

service%20enlisted%20to%20medical%20program - AOL Search Results

Colorado Medical Exemption Program A special program offered by Xcel Energy and overseen by the Chronic Care Collaborative Instructions: Please sign and complete the patient form (front page) and have your health care provider sign and complete the Health Care Provider Certification Form (back page). Mail, email or fax the application to us.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:57 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:57:56 -0400

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=usuhs%20phd%20programs&s_it=loki-tb-sb

And these, esp the PhD programs, which can be done as civil servant, as well....

usuhs%20phd%20programs - AOL Search Results

PhD programs which graduate the most women and non-white students. January 18, 2016 January 18, 2016 jennysaul 6 Comments. Carolyn Dicey Jennings, a professional data guru who we should all be deeply grateful to, gives us the facts.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 4:58 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:58:22 -0400

https://www.usuhs.edu/graded/doctoral.html

Esp this....

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.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 5:00 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 17:00:31 -0400

https://www.usuhs.edu/pmb/tph-training

This is a certificate program on tropical med USUHS has for svc personnel only done purely online, it's totally backed up on admits, however, you likely haven't seen stuff on it, I looked into it in some depth, though I can't do it, unfortunately, I did at least ask, though....

Uniformed Services University

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 5:02 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 17:02:12 -0400

https://sophas.org/

You wanna boost your chances of getting a US program, trust me, MPH and DrPH or PHD in public health is taken very seriously, one guy in the program I was in got into DO with an MPH after a year where we were doing the allied-health doctorate I was in with him, he transferred out....

Home | SOPHAS

The public health profession cuts across many different disciplines. Use the Academic Program Finder to search degree programs from over 110 schools and programs.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 5:03 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 17:03:18 -0400

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=dod%20usphs%20partnership&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Trust me, you wanna have your cake and eat it too, look at this, you'd have to be willing to go psych, though you can serve with Army, Navy, or USAF on a 3-yr tour....

dod%20usphs%20partnership - AOL Search Results

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 5:04 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 17:04:47 -0400

http://www.aacom.org

Apply to all of these also, though they can be a trifle odd, in that their left osteopathic hand often doesn't wanna seem to acknowledge the right allopathic hand, just trust me, and take a really hard look, OK?

www.aacom.org

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 5:09 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 17:09:01 -0400

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=dental%20oral%20surgery%20programs%20leading%20to%20MD%20or%20DO&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Also, you're most definitely gonna need to expand your parameters a good deal...dental has had a back door to MD programs, now DO, doing them accelerated, with either one or two years of credit for years, since the 70s, I know, I checked, what I did started to do it, I tried, I wasn't allowed, long story, just trust me, I've been ALL over this, lool up orthognathic surgery, doing craniofacial abnormalities, also, dental at NIH has the NIDR, or whatever it's morphed into now, plus, you can ride the dental gravy train all the way to MD/DO, DDS/DMD, and PhD, in oral biology and/or dental materials, PLUS, you TOTALLY avoid the normal med school US admit process, if you do it this way, so, trust Yoda, and to Obi-Wan you listen, OK Luke?

dental%20oral%20surgery%20programs%20leading%20to%20MD%20or%20DO - AOL Search Results

Find Dental Implants Seniors. Compare Prices And Plans Today! This Months Top Online Deals - Affordable Dental Plans Sale

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 5:10 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 17:10:10 -0400

I figure all that oughta keep you going for awhile...I know I deluged you, believe me, you'll be weary now, though you'll thank me later, OK? Just trust me, and real ALL of it, ALL, OK? I'm here if you wanna yak, like I said, OK? Enjoy....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 5:14 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 17:14:25 -0400

Also, just to explain somewhat, being less glib about it, I totally bollixed up the whole thing, a USAF OTS recruiter I spoke with after I couldn't finish Army ROTC told me to go and see a USAF Biomed Sci Corps (BSC) recruiter about going AFSC 9124F, biomed engr, it's a different AFSC now, it still exists...needless to say, I was a pluperfect idiot, and completely bollixed it all up past all human belief...learn from my errors, and let me help you, OK? Trust me, you DON'T learn from those who succeed, you ONLY learn from those who fail, promise...my Dad had a saying I've learned is very true, "The only mistakes you make are those that cost you...."...now, saying that, the sun shines, the world revolves, life goes on, just believe what I say, and trust Yoda, willya? OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 5:20 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 17:20:41 -0400

And I saw what you said about PA just now, trust me, half a loaf is decidedly better than zip, once again, been there, done that (BTDT)...if you can get PA then morph to med, believe me, I've tried it all, seen it all, I may not know it all, but I by God have most definitely been around it all...once again, believe what I tell you, OK? If you can drop a packet, do it, and keep looking at what I sent you, if you luck out and can get med, even if you're PA, you "might" have a chance to switch, I do NOT know for sure about that, once again, ASK, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 5:22 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 17:22:06 -0400

And believe me, I've been through the whole "wouldn't be satisfied" thing about the whole "doctor" thing longer than you've been alive, I assure you, I swear, OK? Trust me, and believe what Yoda tells you on this stuff, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 5:49 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 May 2019 17:49:36 -0400

One other "food for thought" observation, such as it is...when I wanted it, I lost sight of reality, I'm afraid, and forgot that all-time classic "No matter where you go, there you are...."...now, saying that, trust me, where you are, doing what you're assigned, is ALWAYS NUMERO UNO, otherwise, you're gonna lose ANY chance to get it...ALWAYS...I lost sight of that in my efforts to be allowed to do "the clinical side"...I really did, and BELIEVE me, I KICK myself about it, CONSTANTLY, day, night, weekends, holidays, 24/7, promise...remember, Yoda knows all, sees all, OK?

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made May 5 at 2019 10:53 AM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Sun, 05 May 2019 10:53:48 -0400

That Captain Daniel Goodman is on fire this am!