ARMY Timothy Park 2LT MC USAR
Overview of Army Graduate Education Largest program in the military Majority of Army physicians train in Army GME programs 1371 docs training in our in-house programs; 121 in Armysponsored civilian training; 72 in educational delay 11 teaching hospitals 22 specialties and 57 fellowships All programs accredited by Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Mean first time board pass rate of 94%
Training sites Walter Reed - Bethesda, MD Eisenhower - Augusta/Fort Gordon, GA William Beaumont - El Paso/Fort Bliss, TX Womack - Fort Bragg, NC Martin - Fort Benning, GA Madigan - Tacoma/Seattle, WA DeWitt - Fort Belvoir, VA Darnall - Fort Hood, TX Tripler - Honolulu, HI Keller - West Point, NY Brooke - San Antonio/Fort Sam Houston, TX
Available residencies Internal Medicine Family Medicine Emergency Medicine Pediatrics Obstetrics/Gynecology General Surgery Neurosurgery Orthopaedics Urology Otolaryngology Preventive Medicine/ Occupational Medicine Dermatology Radiology Radiation Oncology Anesthesiology Aerospace Medicine Neurology and Child Neuro Pathology Psychiatry Psych/IM Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Ophthalmology
Categorical / "Straight through" Residencies Emergency Medicine Family Medicine General Surgery Internal Medicine Neurology OB-GYN Orthopaedics Otolaryngology Pathology Pediatrics Psychiatry
Prelim / "Have to do a transitional year" Residencies Urology Prelim in Gen Surg Neurosurgery Prelim in Gen Surg Undesignated transitional year Aerospace Medicine Anesthesiology Dermatology Ophthalmology Physical Medicine Preventive Medicine / Occupational Medicine Radiation Oncology Radiology (Diagnostic)
Residencies for which you have to re-apply after your PGY-1 year General Surgery Each surgery training program accepts one more categorical applicant than will matriculate to the PGY-2 year. Aerospace Medicine Barring problems during internship, selectees should matriculate. Preventive Medicine / Occupational Medicine Barring problems during internship, selectees should matriculate.
Applied vs. Matched Stats
Applied vs. Matched Stats
Board score stats
Board score stats
Board score stats
Rough timeline For our T3's January to Feb/March: Schedule your away rotations. You should have your Curriculum Vitae and Personal Statement written and edited by the time you rotate. Feb - April: Apply for and schedule your Step II CK and CS. Step II CS fills up REALLY quickly, so apply early! May - October: Accomplish your away rotations and take your Step exams. Our year, Step II CK scores had to be REPORTED by October 15th. Step II CS has to be reported by February 15th; i.e. must take by early December.
For our T3's Rough timeline continued May - October: Accomplish your away rotations apply, and take your Step exams. MyERAS opens on July 1st. FYGME (Army application) opens up on July 15th. Both MyERAS and FYGME must be completed in their entirety by October 15th. Our year, Step II CK scores had to be REPORTED by October 15th. Step II CS has to be reported by February 15th; i.e. must take by early December. Early November: Most programs hold meetings to determine their rank lists. December 15th @ 0001: Match!
For our T3's How do I schedule aways? First, email or call the residency program via the contact information on MODS. If that doesn't work, try the contact information on their GME websites. If that doesn't work, email the program directors directly. Then (only for ADT's), apply for an ADT on MODS. You don't have to apply again on MODS for un-paid away rotations. Once your orders are set, call Carlson Wagonlit and get your plane ticket. If authorized, they'll pay for a rental car in addition to your airfare.
For our T3's Can I split up my ADT's between more than two places? Like, combine them, and do like 30 days, 15 days, and 45 days? No, you can only rotate at one AMC per ADT. Well, 45 days doesn't work out too well for 3rd year... You can, however, come home for the remained of an ADT. I did one month, came back to Tulane for month, and then went back out. Those remaining days of those 45 were paid as time at Tulane.
For our T3's Ok, so I have my aways scheduled, now what? Between about a month to a two weeks before the start of your rotation you should receive your orders, and you should also receive an email from your rotating site with everything that they need from you. Along that line of thought, most sites need: A current immunization record. HIPAA and bloodborne pathogens training certificates. BLS card. A letter of good standing, and authorization to rotate. An Tulane away rotation evaluation form.
For our T3's Can I do more rotations that those ADT's? Yes, absolutely, but they will be on your own dime. Scheduling these non-paid rotations ismuch easier, and you can do them for pretty much any time span you would like. What timespan for a non-adt away would you recommend? Two weeks is a minimum. Anything shorter than that, and you won't even get computer access by the time you have to leave.
For our T3's How do I schedule these unpaid, non-adt away rotations? Just get in touch with the program through the aforementioned channels, and let them know your intent and planned dates. Once accepted, you just have to let Rondel know. Just to note, you will not be on orders, so you will likely not be able to stay in military housing.
For our T3's What is the point of rotating? These away rotation are extended interviews. They observe you carefully from start till finish, and then formally interview you at the end of each rotation. It's a great opportunity to show your stuff, and they really do care about you as a person. Well, I don't have enough time to do anything but those ADTs, what about interviews? All you have to do is email or call a program director and ask for a meeting. It can be through the phone, or in person.
For our T3's...and how about those interviews...? Each place has their own way of interviewing you. At some places you'll have a schedule of multiple people, at others you'll schedule them yourself. What were you asked? Why Surgery? Why the Army? What can you contribute to our program? What is your strength? What is your weakness? Was their any salient event that drew you towards Surgery? Tell me about yourself? What questions do you have about our program?
For our T3's How does the match process work in general? Simply put, the programs rank you, then you rank them, and then a computer matches you up. Based upon many conversations with program directors, it's really that straight forward; and mimics the NRMP in that regard. How the programs rank you is where the various objective and subjective measures come in. You should be a competetive applicant. If you are, and you are a natural fit for the culture of a program, you'll likely be high on their rank list.
For our T3's What about letters of recommendation? This applies fairly generally, but when you do your big ADT's, you should be performing at a level suitable for, and actively pursuing a good letter of recommendation. Army medicine is a small world, and a good letter of recommendation from an Army physician in your field of choosing will go a long way.
For our T3's Anything else? At every place I rotated at, I was expected to give a PRESENTATION. It was stressed to me again, and again how important these presentations were. Why? Well, because you won't have the chance to work with every resident, or every staff member; this is their chance for everyone to see what you're made of. Hmmm...big deal then, eh? So, what are they looking for? Generally, I've been told that they're looking to see that you can communicate academically, effectively and efficient while carrying yourself professionally.
Things to do as a T1 and/or a T2 Investigate your field of choice, and prepare yourself. Use the NRMP match data to get a feel for how you need to perform academically and otherwise. Touch base with your program of choice. The chairman and others want to know you, and help you. If your research is in your sights for your given field, try to get it started as soon as you can.
Brooke Army Medical Center Where is it? San Antonio, TX. Where will I stay during an ADT? At a hotel literally two blocks away from the hospital. Tell me about it? It's a busy Level I Trauma Center that is combining with the Air Force to form a joint hospital. The associated Fort Sam trains medics who rotate through most aspects of the hospital. The Army's Burn Center, the Center for the Intrepid, and the Institute for Surgical Research is also located here. In my experience, the overall atmosphere is incredibly collegial and professional, and bustling.
Madigan Army Medical Center Where is it? Near Tacoma/Seattle, WA. Where will I stay during an ADT? At a really nice hotel about 15 minutes drive from the hospital. There is a shuttle, but it doesn't run before 6am I think. Tell me about it? It's located in a really beautiful area, and is staffed by very pleasant people. I haven't had experience so many "Good morning!" greetings since being in Montana. The nurses here are really exceptional. The weather can be pretty gray a lot of the time, so bring appropriate clothing.
Walter Reed Army Medical Center Where is it? Bethesda, MD Tell me about it? This is a physically large, and historically storied hospital, and it is currently are one of the primary stops for the critically injured from OIF/OEF after stabilization in Germany. It is combining with the nearby Navy hospital to form the National Capital Consortium. This hospital has a large population of civilian contracted workers which adds a different dynamic to the workplace.
William Beaumont AMC Where is it? El Paso, TX. Where will I stay during an ADT or away? They have student housing in the hospital that is free! Tell me about it? William Beaumont has a very similar feel to Madigan, but is a bit smaller, and less busy. The associated base, however, is slated to grow to be one of the Army's largest. As a result, the hospital is expected to move and expand in a few years.
Eisenhower Army Medical Center Where is it? August, GA. Tell me about it? Eisenhower feels like a large community hospital. The nurses and staff are commonly locally-raised. It is also associated with a training base (AIT), so the greater degree level of military-centric professionalism is prevalent.
MODS is your friend. Google "MODS Army Education"
Questions? tpark1@tulane.edu or tim.park.mt@gmail.com Also, 406.370.4772.