USAFA Chances?

My B and G officer was talking about how the military wants more leaders in military hospitals so less focus on engineering and technical courses would help that imo.

No flaming please. I get what you are saying, but the Navy and the AF are night and day when it comes to how they operate in the AD world.

For the AF they are outsourcing more and more with every year when it comes to the medical field. Caveat: flight docs.
Here is my anecdotal info as a military wife, and now a military mom.
1988: Married Bullet (flier)
1989: Pregnant with DS1. Saw OB/GYN on base. Gave birth to our son on base in the Maternity wing
1989-1992: Need tylenol, cough meds, Maalox, anything over the counter...go to the pharmacy and stock up.
1991/2: Pregnant with DD. Same as DS1. Considered high risk because I am RH negative.
1993/94: Pregnant with DS2. Kicked off base, because I was a dependent and now considered higher risk because DD was born in 47 minutes and RH negative. Only AD members were seen. Reduction In Forces (RIF) was big.
1993: No more free over the counter anything. You need baby tylenol, go to the BX. JMPO, RIF.
1998: ERs at most bases are gone. Maternity wards...Gone! Surgeries...Gone! Note: I said MOST
2002: DS1 breaks his arm. Sent to county hospital. Nearest base was Quantico. They no longer cast, they send you to the hospital. Cast was set the next day at Ft. Belvoir, 1 of the largest hospitals in our system. The doc was not military. Contracted. Same with the doc that removed his cast.
2005: Move to SJAFB. New neighbor a month later. A dentist. He was contracted. not military. at the pharmacy they now ask if you have secondary health insurance for billing purposes.
2007: DD bit by a copperhead snake. Sent to the county hospital because again the base hospital shuts down at 4:30.
2008: Retire. Only Bullet can use military doc/hospitals. We are told no room at the inn for his dependents.
2014: DS marries. He is a rated officer. His wife is told that unlike my family eons ago, she can't see the flight doc. She must go a different route.

I can't remember when Aglagles's DD commissioned via AFROTC as a nurse. I think it was 13, maybe 14. She was told the 1st week of training at San Antonio that the majority of them would be gone in a few short years.

I know, I know. I am Janie Raincloud. I don't do this with any malicious intent. I do it to illustrate, that as we live with the never ending budget cuts due to sequestrestration within the AF, the adage that it is usually cheaper to rent than to buy. Contracting in the medical world equates to renting.
 
Jest, I would hope that my future doctor does not major in Sociology, no matter where s/he gets his/her UG degree. Lots of science and math in medicine, but I seem to recall that Philosophy majors score highest on MCAT and LSAT, so there you go. I'm still sticking with my complaint against Sociology, and will add in Anthropology for good measure. :)

Don't be afraid of Math, or of the Sciences.

Speaking as someone who went to medical school, please don't discount non science majors. Certainly there are math and science prerequisites and the MCAT will filter out those who can't cut it in these fields, but there are MANY non science majors who do quite well in medical school. Sociology is incredibly important and would make for a very well rounded physician. You would likely be very pleased if your doctor majored in that and they would likely be a much better communicator! There is so much more to being a doctor than math and science, though clearly those are important. Actually, the non-science majors also have a leg up when applying to medical schools as it makes them stand out against all the bio and chem majors.
 
Usafamom, as a person who just had her 12th major surgery (among 20+ minor procedures), I will adamantly state that I do not want a sociologist or anthropologist as my surgeon, as my oncologist, as my radiologist, as my orthopedist. I don't give a hoot about their bedside manor; I prefer to be alive to give my grandson love & hugs (and sugar).

But I would not deny a non-sci major access to med school, provided they can do the math & science. I strongly prefer my doc to know all about chelating agents and the physics of joints. :)
 
One of the reasons there are less doctors associated with the Air Force is the Air Force gives out far less medical school scholarships than the other 2 branches. Army gives out the most, followed by Navy and then Air Force. Recruiting and developing medical doctors don't seem to be a priority for the Air Force at this time.
 
Yeah momba they told us at the AFASS that they sent 3 to med school last year I think. That's why my second plan is to become a pilot because who doesn't want to be a pilot right? As for the sociology major, I really wouldn't expect them to go to med school, but they would definitely stand out. The curriculum for all cadets is rigorous, even that English major so I would believe that a sociology major would be prepared in some way for medical school, but at the same time a Chem or bio major has been exposed to more difficult courses in that field so I think they would go into med school knowing more, but in the end both majors are taught the same thing in medical school. Either route chosen to become a doctor, the person would be just as qualified because they were exposed to the same curriculum in med school. I mean you won't learn about how to become a brain surgeon during the 4 years at USAFA so why does it matter if I majored in Spanish? As long as I got through med school I know I would be qualified to be a doctor. This is just the thoughts of a up and coming high school senior though
 
That being said the only anyone would catch me majoring in sociology at USAFA is if I struggle in all my classes my first semester and get told to change majors. It's just common sense if you want to go to med school you should major in a science to be fully prepared
 
Plus, you can't major in Sociology at USAFA which is occasionally referred to as "The Little Engineering College in the Rockies" (though that point has been debated here and elsewhere).
 
Plus, you can't major in Sociology at USAFA which is occasionally referred to as "The Little Engineering College in the Rockies" (though that point has been debated here and elsewhere).

There is Behavioral Science, though, which is similar. That was my son's major along with a Spanish minor. Of course, he will never become a doctor....but he is a pilot. :cool:

Stealth_81
 
Fencersmother, you have no idea what your doctor majored in during undergrad, they learned all their skills in medical school and residency.
This is similar to the kids who go to Usafa thinking they want to major in aero to be a pilot. We all know an English major can be a pilot and a darn good one!
 
Well, I granted that a Soc major COULD become a doctor, but for the record, I do know what all my docs majored in UG. I ask. Where they studied, what they studied, all that stuff.
 
Many people believe that you must have some sort of biology major to be a good doctor. This is simply not true. Depending on the type of biology degree, you may learn some information during undergrad that you will need to learn in med school. There is a problem in the medical field where Doctors are book smart but are not able to effectively communicate or connect with patients. If you are a radiologist looking at x-rays, MRIs and CAT scans all day or are doing medical research in a lab, this isn't an issue. But if you treat patients, then good communication is often what enables a doctor to make a speedy and correct diagnosis.
 
Granted, medicine is both an art and a science.

As a person who has had several bad bouts with some pretty nasty disease processes (hence 12 MAJOR surgeries), I will state again: I don't care what their UG degree is in. But I will say that I have not had one surgeon, oncologist, radiologist, pathologist, or orthopedist, who did not major in a pure, lab, science. I did once have a PCP, a "GP", who majored in Psych.

Seems we have really usurped our OP's thread! Sorry about that!
 
I think good communication stems from doctor being a native English speaker, but that's my own prejudice.
 
I think good communication stems from doctor being a native English speaker, but that's my own prejudice.

Outside of fluidity in the language, there are other aspects to communication which are problematic. You ever meet people who are really really smart but are very "socially awkward." I am not talking about what fork to use or what attire to wear or unable to ask a girl out on a date or etc., I am speaking of ability to look someone in the eye, effectively communicate ideas in such a way that others understand, etc.. These are the people who don't seem to know how to form and maintain connections with other people. Some people are too inwardly focused on the "science" and not on the person.
 
I find with all my docs, no matter their bedside manner, communication is facilitated by:

bringing along a person you trust, into your actual appointment,

bringing a notebook (have your companion record the conversation too),

keep copies of your own medical records (they do belong to you, no matter what a doc tells you),

ask for typed notes if his/her handwriting is illegible.

For me, because of my history, if I have to see a new doc, I request at least a week in advance that s/he review my 7-inch thick medical file before I get there. I remember having one doctor say "OMG! this is too much to read!" and one other say, "Whoa! that's a lot of surgery!!" No kidding, I was there. :)
 
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Fencer'

I couldn't resist jumping in on this thread to fully stir up the pot!!;)

My father had no major in college, in fact did not graduate...was Phi Beta Kappa in 3 at UNC, went straight into U PA med school as one of their youngest back in 1955!! Continued on into Surgery and Orthopedics and was a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon for many years. Not having his senior college year... he was, I think 14+ years post-secondary!!
So you never can be too sure:bleh2:
 
I find with all my docs, no matter their bedside manner, communication is facilitated by:

bringing along a person you trust, into your actual appointment,

bringing a notebook (have your companion record the conversation too),

keep copies of your own medical records (they do belong to you, no matter what a doc tells you),

ask for typed notes if his/her handwriting is illegible.

Add to this electronic copies of any MRIs and CAT Scans and a list of questions to address with the doctors.

Also do a sense of humor test. My favorite surgeons usually were those with a sense of humor. ;)
 
While we are sorta on the topic, what are the chances of getting a scholarship for say a nursing program or physical therapy post graduation?
 
I know every year there are a few USAFA grads who return to the classroom to study nursing. I know of none who study PT (which doesn't mean there aren't any; I just don't know of any).

The chances that the AF will pay for it?
 
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