Future planning

[DCJenn]

Well, my husband just found out that one of the fellowships that he's interested in is not a high priority for the Army so it doesn't look like he would be able to get in- maybe ever, definitely not straight out of residency. So, now it's time to think some more about what he wants to do. He knows that he doesn't want to do general peds forever, but he'll probably have to to get in to any of the fellowships that he thinks are interesting.



Another area that he's interested in- the Army only has one specialist here, so that's hopeful- that guy it getting up there in rank so he can't have that many more years left. UGH- I think it's so much more difficult to plan when we have even less control than the civilian side. If the military doesn't need it- it doesn't matter if that's what you wnat to do! Luckily my husband has a lot of diverse interests right now!



Oh- well, where are all of you guys in this future planning stuff?



Jenn

If you are on a military scholarship, are you required to do a military residency/fellowship or can you do a civilian one?



Kris

[DCJenn]

If the military offers the fellowship- then you do it through the military. If not, then you do a civilian fellowship. One of the peds docs that was with us last year is doing a pediatric nephrology fellowship- no such animal in the Army! Cardiology is another area that requires a civilian fellowship.



Also what the specific needs of the service are taken in to consideration as well. Since the Army doesn't need or want the fellowship area that he was interested in- (the Air Force apparently does, though) it's a moot point. He's in a combines Army/Air Force Program but the training after residency reverts back to the specific service branch. Gotta love the government!



Jenn

Yeah, the fellowship thing really depends on what the Armed Forces need regarding specialists. If they need a couple more, say, interventional radiologists, then they will allow a couple of radiology residents to train in those fellowships (which would be civilian btw). I don't know that the military has training facilities for those who desire to pursue fellowships - I've only heard of and met people who did their fellowships at civilian institutions.



Jennifer

[DCJenn]

I know that Neonatology can be a military fellowship, and adolescent medicine is for the Air Force-



I guess it depends on the service and the program in question. I just want him to hurry up and figure it all out. (of course, this is much easier for me to say, it's not my career!!)



Jenn