This is my first post, so I'm sorry if I don't follow all the rules.

Anyway, my fiance is in the army and plans to make it his career. I love him with all my heart, and I support his decision completely. We have been together for almost 8 years and are looking forward to building a life together.

Unfortunately, the logistics of the whole life-building decision thing are a little vague: I just found out that I got into medical school, which I am ridiculously excited about (my fiance doesn't even know yet...he's in Ranger School so I can't tell him and my letter won't get there for DAYS!).

Here's my question: what will my career limitations be as an army wife and a physician? I have always wanted a private practice (I know...impossible as an army wife), but I am willing to compromise. I would just like to have an idea of what to expect as a physician when I have to move all the time. Does the army hire civilian doctors at their hospitals?

It would be disheartening to say the least if I work my way through medical school, an internship, and residency only to discover that I can't build any sort of long-term career because I have to move with my husband. I hope to specialize in pediatrics, so being in one place for an extended period of time is important to me.

My fiance is very supportive of my career choice, but he is even more clueless than I am in figuring out how to make our two very different career paths mesh. I really don't want to give up my career. I've worked really hard to get to where I am, and I know I will love being a pediatrician. I also really REALLY don't want to ask my fiance to give up the career that he so clearly loves. Giving up each other is out of the question.

Can I be a physician and an army wife????

Welcome to the family! Military life is rather hectic but it's not uncommon for spouses to still find their dreams. I must say however that if "being in one place for an extended period of time is important" then you need to determine just how important that is to you.

Life in the military is very different from the "civilian" life. Since I do not know how much time your husband has left in his military career, nor know the specifics about his rate and rank, it is hard to pinpoint what to specifically expect. There are so many variables that are used to determine a military career that it would be impossible for any of us to give too many specifics.

Typically however being a military family being stationary in any one particular area for any long length of time just doesn't happen. The military moves you to where they need you, when they need you. The servicemember has some say in the matter, but ultimately it's the military's decision. I usually joke that my husband is married to the Navy and I'm his mistress. Of course the Army does have differences compared to the Navy but any military family faces the challenge of being deployed to many different stations throughout the military career. This is why it is so especially difficult for the spouses to find decent employment.

If you already have a goal and both of you are determined to succeed and meet those goals then you're already half way there. You just have to be aware that changes in duty stations, especially when considering throughout the span of a military career, can and will happen. A lot of military spouses take online courses to make the transition easier. You do have options but your determination will certainly help!
Neither of you has to give up your career and your dreams. You just have to keep certain things in mind and keep moving forward. We all have our stories and uphill battles. There are just too many variables to give a definite resolution. I wouldn't ever say anything to insinuate that there's no chance for a normal life with a permanent job with this lifestyle. Just like I won't tell you that it's a magnificently easy and glorious life being married to a military person. You can find some middle ground as long as your expectations and determination are reasonable for both. I'm not sure what the Army equivalent is but the Navy has Fleet & Family Support Centers where they can give more information regarding spouse employment and other things like transition assistance that may help to ease your mind. Information and help is there to guide you along, even if this life should come with it's own explicit manual. Congratulations on getting into medical school and I wish you the best in your endeavors!
*Please note, this response was typed using spacing to separate paragraphs. Despite my efforts and intentions sometimes my posts on these forums do not appear as typed and therefore may not appear with paragraph spacing. This is a technical issue that I have not been able to resolve however I apologize for the occurrence.*

As a Doctor, your transferability around the US and world you may find astounding. Many military hospitals hire civilians to free up the military members for deployment. Even civilian hospitals are hurting for people. As long as you're not picky with what you do, finding a job should be pretty easy. Then, once he's done, open a private practice!

As strange as this may sound to some, you're actually going to be entering into a period in your life that is extremely similar to dual military. There is no guarantee that he will be stationed anywhere near your medical school. That could mean separation for the four years of medical school. After that, you will have to apply for residency and internship. For your career, you will want to go to the best hospital possible which, again, may mean separation during that time frame. I hope that the two of you are able to be close to each other but the reality is that you may be in a long distance relationship for the next eight years or more. This type of life can be done and you can raise children. It just takes more work on both your parts to make it work. I think Catherine is our resident expert on having a long distance relationship and raising a family.

Given all that, once you finish your training, you will be employable almost anywhere you want to go. One consideration for you might be to go to work for Kaiser Permanente, HCA or one of the other big HMO or hospital corporations. Both of these have large networks and you would probably find it easy to transfer around as your then husband does. That gives you the opportunity to build a career with one company and pay off your school loans. Then, after he retires, you would have many years of experience and could, if you so desire, open up a private practice.

Congratulations on getting into medical school and best of luck to the two of you on your careers.

First of all, congratulations on getting into medical school. That's quite an accomplishment and over the next four years you're going to experience a lot.

After medical school, a pediatric residency should be around 4 years. After which, if you do a fellowship --say, pediatric oncology, you can expect another 2 years.

So really, the issue is the next SIX years. This will be a time where your location isn't exactly going to be of your choosing. (Residency applicants go through "the match.") While you can limit your choices to certain regions, you can expect to have to interview at several, and then one of them will choose you.

Up until recently, we ran a top-ranked private practice for many years. Because of contracting, it is difficult because of low rates of reimbursement. Remember, all payments are predicated on what Medicare will pay out. Hence, PPO and HMO contracts are effected by the fluctuations. Coupled with the high costs of doing business, the formula is not conducive to making a very good living. I've written about this on my blog, you can go there by hitting my profile.

As for being a doctor in the military. Yes, they do need doctors, and yes, you can either be in the military yourself or you can try to get a contracted position as a civilian. They do treat doctors very well, and frankly --this is cake compared to running a private practice.

If you're further interested, there are military healthcare recruiters who will speak with you about options.

But this is all putting the cart before the horse. First you have to get through your grunt year of medical school.
Good luck!

Oh, wow. I thought I might be the only one out there. I am a medical student and my army-fiance and I have only known each other a short time. The relationship works so well, but it is a bit intimidating (and exciting, too) to be looking at the unpredictable-ness of residency on top of the unpredictable-ness of the army.

One of my questions is whether there are solid internal medicine or med-peds residencies within a decent driving distance of an army base? Does anyone know?

I won't add to the school+residency+fellowship conversation, as that's been covered nicely by the others.

I will tell you that the military (as most everywhere) has a shortage of physicians (and other health care providers, too- chriopractors, nurse practitioners, anything you can think of). I've been working in the military health care system for years now (first as an Army medic, then as a civilian). We have military (active duty and reserve) providers, of course, but MOST of them are contractors or Dept. of Defense civilian employees. If you're curious you can always go to usajobs.opm.gov and take a look. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

In the clinic where I work now, two of our providers are Army family members, and most of the nurses are. It is not as uncommon as you'd think.

Congrats on getting into med school! Keep up the good work!
-Corrie

quote:

Originally posted by atnip:
One of my questions is whether there are solid internal medicine or med-peds residencies within a decent driving distance of an army base? Does anyone know?

Just off the top of my head, I can think of Johns Hopkins with Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Ft. Meade, Ft. Detrick and Ft. Belvoir not excessively far away. And then you have Emory with Ft. McPherson, Ft. Gillem and Ft. Benning all within an hour plus Ft. Stewart about two hours away.

My daughter is in her third year of medical school and is an ensign in the Navy.
You have to be willing to deploy if you join the military so make sure you are willing to do that. If you do join the army the army will pay for your tuition and a stipend that goes a long way to paying all your expenses. Army also pays your books. You will be commissioned when you sign the papers,(second Lt) you will remain inactive till you graduate. They will activate you for 45 days each summer. Except for ODS (a doctor boot camp), my daughter has done the other activations at school. When you graduate you will be a captain (?)O3 (i'm better with navy) The pay back is one for one but excludes internship year and residency. In other words you start paying back after your residency. You will go through one 5 week school, and you will be expected to pass a basic PT test. Two years ago there was a very large signing bonus, don't know if there still is one.
If you think you would be comfortabel in the army I think it would be easier to move within the service. Once you finish paying pack the army you will not owe money to anyone and it will be easier to set up a practice.
Agin make sure you are ok with deployments, and check with your guy.
Congratulations!!!!
Did I miss what school you are going to?