Public
Health Residency Program
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
- How do I apply for the residency?
- When am I notified if I am selected for the
residency?
- Now that I have been selected, what do I do?
- What factors should I consider when choosing a
school of public health?
- Where am I assigned while in a civilian school of
public health?
- If I take classes, say three times a week, can I
moonlight?
- Are there any "out-rotations?
- What TDYs short courses are planned during
the practicum year?
You
apply for the residency just like you would for any other Army
residency (US Army Graduate Medical Education Link). In the
past, applications have been due in the fall.
When
am I notified if I am selected for the residency?
Typically,
the residency directors meet in Washington, DC during the first week
of December. Selectees are then notified in mid-December.
The
selectee is solely responsible for obtaining admission into an
accredited school of public health (accredited Schools of Public
Health). Unfortunately, the time between when a resident is
notified of his/her selection and the deadline for application at some
schools of public health (most notably Harvard) may be as little as
two weeks. Those applying for the public health residency should
have in hand, by mid-December, the application materials for a school
of public health. Remember, many of the materials required by
admission committees are similar to that required for medical school.
You will need to request transcripts from undergraduate institutions
and from any other school where graduate work may of been completed,
obtain recommendation letters (usually 3) from those who are familiar
with your work, request your MCAT scores be sent to the school of
public health, complete the schools' application form(s), and pay an
application few (reimbursable by the Army). Furthermore,
residents must obtain their Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in
one year. Please see the links to the respective schools of
public health for detailed information about a particular school.
One
of the foremost issues considered by past residents is the number of
PCS moves they (and their families) are willing to endure. By
attending the University of Washington (UW), a resident will undergo
one less PCS move than those who attend elsewhere. Another
consideration is the quality of education at a school of public
health. All the schools of public health accredited by CEPH have
excellent reputations. As always, every school has their fair share of
"good" and "bad" classes. Cost is never an issue
because the Army will pay all tuition and fees required by the school.
Another issue you need to be aware about is the requirement for a
master's thesis. Not all schools require a thesis for graduation
so if you are not inclined to write an extensive paper during the
academic year, then choose a school where a formal thesis is not
required (UW requires a thesis). Finally, some residents may not
like the current two-year program at the University of Washington.
Graduates of one-year programs (e.g. Harvard and Johns Hopkins) arrive
at Madigan for the practicum year with their MPH degree "in
hand." Residents who attend UW are required to write a
masters thesis during the second year of the program (Madigan
residents undergo this year concurrently with the practicum year).
While the resident is physically assigned to Madigan, he/she must
still satisfy academic requirements at UW. As such, the MPH
degree will not be awarded until towards the end of the resident's
practicum year. (US News and World Report most recent rankings
of public health schools).
You
will be assigned to the AMEDD Student Detachment at Fort Sam Houston
with duty at whichever school of public health you will be attending.
You w3ill be assigned a Program Manager at Fort Sam Houston who will
be in charge of the administrative aspects of your assignment (e.g.
SLGI, leave requests, pay issues, reimbursements, etc.) You will
be expected to maintain proper military appearance and physical
fitness. Yes, you will be required to complete two Physical
Fitness Tests during the year.
ABSOLUTELY
NOT!!! THAT IS A NO-GO!!!! AMEDD Student Detachment and Army GME
regulations forbid residents from moonlighting. You are expected
to devote your efforts full-time into the residency and learning as
much as possible. Now, you should be allowed to maintain your
clinical skills (if you desire) but you cannot be paid for it.
There is also the issue of credentialing if you wish to maintain your
skills at any treatment facility (civilian or military). All in
all, it is just better to keep your nose in the books and enjoy your
free time.
There
are no planned "out-rotations per se. However, to round out
the residents' practical and didactic experience there are several
TDYs (i.e., military short courses and medical conferences) planned
throughout the year.
Comprehensive
Review in Toxicology (MAMC): Mid-July
Fundamentals in Occupational Medicine (Fort. Sam Houston, TX): August
Force Health Protection Conference (planned for Baltimore, MD in
2000): August
Annual Sexually Transmitted Disease Update (Puyallup, WA): September
Tuberculosis Course (Denver, CO): October
Principles of Military Preventive Medicine FTX 6A-F5
(Fort Sam Houston, TX: November
Preventive
Medicine Program Management Course 6A-F6
(Fort Sam Houston, TX:) December
Annual
Prevention Conference (Atlanta, GA in 2000): March Epidemic
Intelligence Course
(CDC, Atlanta, GA: Spring US Army Research
Institute of Environmental
Medicine Course (Boston, MA): Spring
Risk
Communication Course (Seattle, WA): June
Tropical Medicine (Bethesda, MD): July
MAMC
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