Go Army and go to Medical school for free
0By: Cari Leigh Moore
UPIKE is well known for its medical campus, the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM). Unfortunately, the high cost of education- coupled with regional poverty- is discouraging for a lot of would-be health professionals. U.S. Army’s Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) is a program that offers financial assistance to students in a broad range of health related fields: medical, dental, optometry, psychology, and even veterinary studies.
The program covers up to four years of school. During school and after graduation the student is a Commissioned Officer in the United States Army. According to the Army’s website- www.goarmy.com – the years of service owed reflect, in part, the number of years the scholarship was granted. There are also minimum service requirements based on a student’s specific field. Residencies and fellowships come with further commitments and payoffs. Second Lt. with the US Army Reserve, Jamie Humes, is a second-year osteopathic medical student at KYCOM, and an HPSP participant. She is also the president of KYCOM’s Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (SAMOPS). “They have some of the best residencies in our country,” Humes said of the Army. Commenting on the program, she said, “You’re an officer. You’re treated like a professional.” Staff Sergeant and U.S. Army medical recruiter Amanda Rollins said she recommends the program, “because it’s free medical school when it comes to tuition, books and fees.” Plus, the Army offers students a monthly stipend of $2,157, and provides them with health and dental insurance.
There is also a $20,000 accession or sign-on bonus. Goarmy.com said that graduates will also receive financial compensation while on active duty. If the financial pay-offs aren’t enough, when you serve in the Army post-graduation, Rollins said, HPSP scholars attain the rank of captain in four years- half the normal time. “I highly suggest it to anybody who’s ever considered the military,” Humes said. When asked about her own service, Rollins said that she was the first enlisted Army female stationed in Gitmo, as a Preventive Medicine NCO, non-commissioned officer. “I’ve been in 16 years, and now I want to retire with 30 years, instead of 20. I love it,” Rollins said.
The Army provides medical students with valuable training and practice. Goarmy.com said that students will be given officer’s pay during college breaks, time that they will spend “[training] as part of [the Army’s] health care team.” Humes said, “Medical training wise, I have a lot of interesting opportunities. I got to do a really cool rotation as a first year student.” She was actually able to cut into someone during a medical procedure. “That’s really uncommon,” she said. In addition to allowing their students to dive rather than wade in, Humes said that the Army is “…really concerned about training their future doctors.” Plus, she said that the Army’s HPSP opened up networking opportunities for awardees. Your test scores and your GPA have a greater bearing on your eligibility.
Rollins said that the “Army is more strict than the Navy and Air Force” in this regard. Recent changes to the eligibility requirements have also made the standards more stringent. Medical schools require an MCAT of 22, but the Army will only accept a score of 24 or higher. Students must obtain an eight in every category. Hopeful applicants must also maintain a minimum of a 3.2 GPA. Plus, future dentists will need a DAT score of 19 or greater. Applicants will need to fill out an application, take the MCAT, and have a recruiter assist you with filling out an Army commissions packet. Rollins can be contacted at amanda.d.rollins2.mil@mail.mil or at 1-443-694-1016. SAMOPS president, Humes, can be reached at jamiehumes@upike.edu