Medicine With the Military

Abstract

The Military Health System is one of America's largest and most complex healthcare institutions offering myriad opportunities for medical training, research, clinical care, and operational experiences as uniformed physicians, dentists, and other allied health professionals serving as commissioned officers within the Unites States Armed Forces. This chapter provides an overview of the Military Health System to include training, research, and career opportunities; the day-to-day work of a military medical officer both in a traditional hospital setting and while on deployment; and the most common pathways to becoming a military healthcare professional through the Health Professions Scholarship Program or at the Uniformed Services University. Frequently asked questions about military medicine are addressed, and other unique pathways to a debt-free education are briefly described.