Hpsp Navy Medial Officer???

TazziRN, RN · May 19, 2008

There is no way of knowing where he would be sent, the Navy will send him where he is needed. Being a physician he would probably be behind the lines in a safe zone, or on a ship, but there are no gaurantees. If he is not prepared to go wherever his orders send him, then the military is not for him.

anonymurse · May 19, 2008

Yeah, it's a great deal. And that's because all jobs in the military carry the "unlimited liability clause," which means yeah, you might get shot at, and you might get hit, and you might die. If he can't come to terms with this 100%, then he probably shouldn't raise his right hand.

core0 · May 19, 2008

Hi all, I really need some information, you all seem to have a wealth of knowledge and I could use some expert opinions. I have a younger brother in his 3rd year at University, he was considering going to Med School, but we have been looking at the grimm reality of the cost of doing so, loans etc... so go figure on friday I get a packet in the mail from the NAVY for the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) to join the Navy Medical Corps and become a Navy Medical Officer. Thats the situation, so my question is they have alot of perks and incentives that look very tempting as a different way for him to become a doctor over the traditional way of going to med school and racking up tons of debt. A brief list of perks is as follows:
NAVY Physician /vs. PRIVATE (Civilian Physician)
Tuition:covered /$120,000
Cost to set up practice: Covered /$300,000
Annual operating costs: Covered /Extensive
Annual income: It just says
Competitive(whatever that means) /$40,000(Resident)/
Competitive/ $140,000(Practicing)
So you can see why they have my interest, can anyone elaborate on this am I missing something is this really a great way to go, my only concern is if he did get accepted and put in this program after he graduates from the University, will he be put in combat situations or would he be working safely in some Navy hospital on a ship, or are we talking possibly him being sent across enemy lines. The marketing material looks great, NAVY put alot of effort into this brochure so I am weary and taking it with a grain of salt. I really need some input from anyone reading this who has gone through the program or knows someone who has and can give me a brief list of Positives and Negatives
I am grateful for any help on this.
Thank you all, Paul

You have to remember that the recruiter is trying to sell something. Some of these issues are really not relevant. For example most new doctors do not set up their own practice. Instead they buy into the practice as part of partnership.

The HPSP program is a good way to pay for medical school. However, there are a number of issues to remember.

1. After graduation you owe them a number of years of payback. This means that you have to practice where the Navy wants you to go.

2. There are a limited number of military residencies. This can be good or bad. Occasionally it is easier to get into a competitive residency in the military. More often there are less of the competitive residencies.

3. The Navy is not doing many deferrments for civilian residencies currently.

4. If you do not get a residency or even if you do get a residency the Navy may make you do a general medical officer tour. This is where you go become a medical officer for a particular unit after your internship.

5. There is a war on. No one is guaranteed a safe job. The Navy supplies medical personell for the Marines. These are usually GMO slots. see above.

6. There are several unique aspects to medical medicine. This can be good or bad. You better like people telling you want to do.

You can peruse the military medicine on SDN.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=72

Be warned that the overwhelming opinion is against military medicine there. TiredMD may also be able to comment on this.

David Carpenter, PA-C

HM2VikingRN, RN · May 19, 2008

Service is a great opportunity for personal and professional growth. As an HM I thought that the Navy Docs were among the the best both for professional competence and as individuals.

An individual may be called to go anywhere in the interests of the service which can literally be everywhere from an operating room on the back of a truck to a stateside hospital working with dependents and/or service members.

I personally think that the pros putweigh the cons. Ultimately the decision whether to join or not is an individual decision.

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · May 20, 2008

My uncle was an officer with the Navy for many years. They paid for medical school, and in return he was required to give them a number of years of service. He ended up staying for over twenty years because he enjoyed it so much. However, he and his family did have to live in Utau and Guam for a while. He had to pass up a promotion in order to allow his children to finish high school with their friends.