This Website is Right:Avoid USAF Medicine

[island doc]

To: Prospective US Air Force Medical Students

I have, for some time now, been reading and posting on this website concerning the horrible state of affairs of the USAF Medical Corps (MC).

I am very qualified to describe it as horrible, having recently spent four years as a physician in the USAF MC. While I certainly cannot briefly explain here all the many reasons why the situation is so bad in AF medicine, I implore all prospective USAF medical students to heed the advice given on this website: Avoid the USAF Medical Corps.

I say this, because I do not want to see you suffer, as I and many before you have. When I was a prospective USAF medical student, this website (an invaluable resource) was not in existence. Therefore, I was not able to make as well an informed decision as you are. I was ignorant and naive as to what I was getting myself into by participating in the USAF HPSP.

So please, I implore you, take the following good advice from those of us who have already experienced what you are considering: choose a different path.

Former USAF Line Officer and Physician

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[militarymd]

What about Navy and Army medicine?

former Navy Medical Officer.

 

[bobbyseal]

To: Prospective US Air Force Medical Students

I have, for some time now, been reading and posting on this website concerning the horrible state of affairs of the USAF Medical Corps (MC).

I am very qualified to describe it as horrible, having recently spent four years as a physician in the USAF MC. While I certainly cannot briefly explain here all the many reasons why the situation is so bad in AF medicine, I implore all prospective USAF medical students to heed the advice given on this website: Avoid the USAF Medical Corps.

I say this, because I do not want to see you suffer, as I and many before you have. When I was a prospective USAF medical student, this website (an invaluable resource) was not in existence. Therefore, I was not able to make as well an informed decision as you are. I was ignorant and naive as to what I was getting myself into by participating in the USAF HPSP.

So please, I implore you, take the following good advice from those of us who have already experienced what you are considering: choose a different path.

Former USAF Line Officer and Physician

It's good to hear these opinions, but gosh, for those of us already in HPSP, it's like we're on death row.

I didn't get to see this website before I accepted my HPSP. But around my 2nd year of med school, I found this website and I noted the sentiment around here. Now, I'm defered for residency for awhile, and I feel like every time I read these posts, it's like I'm looking ahead to the time I'll be at the gallow's pole.

Like I have said many times in the past. I do appreciate the advice from milmd et al, but golly, it's a real ball buster for those of us who are already in. I guess I'm just hoping that it won't be that bad. I can do my 4 years and get out unscathed.

 

[island doc]

It's good to hear these opinions, but gosh, for those of us already in HPSP, it's like we're on death row.

I didn't get to see this website before I accepted my HPSP. But around my 2nd year of med school, I found this website and I noted the sentiment around here. Now, I'm defered for residency for awhile, and I feel like every time I read these posts, it's like I'm looking ahead to the time I'll be at the gallow's pole.

Like I have said many times in the past. I do appreciate the advice from milmd et al, but golly, it's a real ball buster for those of us who are already in. I guess I'm just hoping that it won't be that bad. I can do my 4 years and get out unscathed.

You are not on death row, but rather have been sentenced to four years hard labor. On a more serious note, there were many times we felt as though we were "doing time", counting the months, weeks, and days until our release, as prisoners often do. Lack of freedom is something else we shared in common with prisoners.

 

[Informer]

You are not on death row, but rather have been sentenced to four years hard labor. On a more serious note, there were many times we felt as though we were "doing time", counting the months, weeks, and days until our release, as prisoners often do. Lack of freedom is something else we shared in common with prisoners.

I'm just curious, where were you stationed at? Were you at a training facility? Are you a primary care doc?

Thanks!

 

[island doc]

I'm just curious, where were you stationed at? Were you at a training facility? Are you a primary care doc?

Thanks!

I "did time" at Robins AFB in primary care. But wait, if you think the specialists had it any better-guess where the surgeons, opthalmologist, OB/GYN's, radiologists are now-gone from the USAF immediately after their "time was up". Point is: if you think life will be better as a "specialist", think again. We were all doing time together in the same institution.

 

[helo doc]

For those already locked into a future that holds military medicine, my advice is keep reading this board. While it may contain visions of gloom and doom, it also keeps you current on the "inside scoop" of what is really happening. But don't just read and re-read the popular anti-military medicine threads, read them all. The greater overall exposure will paint a more accurate picture of life to come. One fortunate side effect of all the negativism is that once you've thoroughly convinced yourself that your future looks like life in a gulag, you might be surprised at any positives that come along. For example, let's say you break up a fight in the prison library, then the warden might give you some extra yard time or a few extra minutes for smoke breaks. And a lot of your perception of military medicine will depend on your personality. Are you one of those types of med students who is already bitter and contentious after just your first clerkship or will you hold out to the middle of your internship year before you begin to despise your patients? Glass half empty or glass half full? On that soap box note, I will leave you with this link...

Motivational poster

 

[Mirror Form]

I "did time" at Robins AFB in primary care. But wait, if you think the specialists had it any better-guess where the surgeons, opthalmologist, OB/GYN's, radiologists are now-gone from the USAF immediately after their "time was up". Point is: if you think life will be better as a "specialist", think again. We were all doing time together in the same institution.

I agree with a lot of what you've said, but Family Practice has definitely gotten hosed much worse then a lot of the specialists. Yes, the specialists still have gotten hosed too, but they often don't get deployed as much and have much better schedules.

Stats about specialist doctors leaving the military don't mean anything. If their salaries can literally triple when they leave the military, they're going to leave regardless of the conditions.

 

[USAFdoc]

The idea that you will keep a large % of specialist is probably false, and the pay comparison marked. With the FPs though, I really believe you could keepa large percentage, not only because they pay is more in-line, but also, your average FP is many times less concerned with pay that a specialist (although certainly not always). At my last base, every doc had serious plans to do 20+ years; many of us already past the 10 year point,previous enlisted etc....and everyone but 1 in the last 15 years separated (and that one went non clinical).

 

[IgD]

Like I have said many times in the past. I do appreciate the advice from milmd et al, but golly, it's a real ball buster for those of us who are already in. I guess I'm just hoping that it won't be that bad...

When I first started medical school, I remember there was a vocal minority that had the ability to get people worked up. Intentionally or unintentionally they spread misinformation and histeria. I learned to take what they said with a grain of salt just like what you have to do here. There are so many distortions in these threads. Reading the posts in here is sort of like listening to the original War of the Worlds radio broadcast. Are you going to jump out your window based on this?

 

[USAFdoc]

what?.....your threads are getting pretty strange IgD...nobody is talking about jumping out windows or anything crazy. This is about letting people know what is really going on in places that they have never been but may affect them someday if they end up there. It is about letting the truth be known so that people in charge might be more inclined to make necessary changes.

For example....baseball had known for decades about a serious steroid problem, but it was not until the mass media played it up that you suddenly see action on the issue.
The USAF academy certainly must have known about some of the sexual harrassment stuff going on way before it hit the media about 8 years ago, but no serious actions happened until the public knew about it. And the Roman Catholic church and thier scandal follows a similar story line.

One of the wonderful things about our USA is that the common citizen can make a change for the better because we have a freedom of speech and of the press. In most militaries I might be in prison for standing up against the system. Thank God that in our system all I have to deal with is you, and your off the wall and off the mark remarks.

 

[island doc]

When I first started medical school, I remember there was a vocal minority that had the ability to get people worked up. Intentionally or unintentionally they spread misinformation and histeria. I learned to take what they said with a grain of salt just like what you have to do here. There are so many distortions in these threads. Reading the posts in here is sort of like listening to the original War of the Worlds radio broadcast. Are you going to jump out your window based on this?

It is becoming more and more apparent what "IgD" stands for: Ignorant Doctor.

 

[militarymd]

It is becoming more and more apparent what "IgD" stands for: Ignorant Doctor.

We should probably not have personal attacks. Vocal and spirited debated is probably a better way to go.

 

[island doc]

We should probably not have personal attacks. Vocal and spirited debated is probably a better way to go.

Point well taken. My apology to IgD.

 

[Homunculus]

ahhhh. you guys make moderating this place so easy, lol.

if only the other forums were as civil .

--your friendly neighborhood proud of his forum caveman