Physician
Navy Doctor
Becoming a doctor is one of the most challenging paths you can choose for yourself. You have to want it, and to know why you want it: to help people, to heal sickness and cure disease, to solve medical mysteries and make scientific discoveries. The reasons for becoming a doctor are noble, but there are plenty of distractions once you hit the real world.
Running your own office means watching insurance reimbursement rates dwindle while exorbitant malpractice insurance premiums skyrocket, all while dealing with healthcare industry red tape and staffing. But as a Navy Physician, all those nuisances are handled for you—from cutting through the red tape to covering the expenses—so you can focus on what really matters: treating the Sailors and Marines who keep our country safe and the families who support them.
Navy Physicians also:
- Earn excellent compensation in an established, thriving practice
- Experience manageable patient ratios for high-quality, one-on-one care
- Receive hands-on experience and Navy-funded advanced training
- Enjoy a flexible schedule that leaves more time for family and personal pursuits
Officers in the Navy Medical Corps are afforded the opportunity to attend the medical school of their choice and graduate debt-free through our scholarship and loan repayment programs. From a sign-on bonus of up to $400,000, and up to 100% tuition coverage, to a generous housing allowance, the education opportunities and financial rewards stack high for those pursuing a career as a Navy Physician. When you choose to invest your skills in the Navy, we invest in your future.
Responsibilities
As a Navy Physician and Officer in the Navy Medical Corps, you will lead the highly respected Navy healthcare team as you provide high-quality medical care for Sailors, Marines, service members, their families and, when called upon, the population at large. In this role, you may be called upon to:
- Diagnose ailments and treat injuries
- Work at the best military medical facilities on shore, at sea and in the field
- Join top health care professionals on the highly valued Navy health care team
- Collaborate with fellow military doctors and other health care officers, and partner with International Relief Teams and organizations, such as FEMA, USAID and Project Hope
- Operate as a leader within your focus area and get exposure outside your specialty
- Gain management experience that will serve you well throughout your career
Navy Medicine offers practice opportunities in more than 30 specialty and subspecialty areas:
- Anesthesiology
- Dermatology
- Emergency Medicine
- Family Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Diagnostic Oncology
- Neurology
- Obstetrics/Gynecology
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Preventive Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Otolaryngology
- Urology
Work Environment
Navy Physicians may serve at any of more than 250 Navy and medical facilities around the globe, from Hawaii to Japan, Germany to Guam, and Washington, D.C. to Washington state. As a Navy Physician, you can work at one of the highly acclaimed National Naval Medical Centers in Bethesda, MD; Portsmouth, VA; and San Diego, CA. You might even provide medical support to deployed troops aboard one of two dedicated hospital ships—the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy. Still more opportunities are available aboard a surface ship, working closely with a nearby aircraft squadron, or with the Fleet Marine Force.
Training & Advancement
Upon graduation from medical school, those pursuing a Physician position are required to attend Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, RI. ODS is a five-week program that provides a comprehensive and intense introduction to the responsibilities of Navy Staff Corps Officers. Here they learn about the military structure of the U.S. Navy, its rich history of traditions and customs, leadership development and military etiquette.
Once that training is complete, you will learn the ins and outs of life as a Navy Physician at your first assignment.
Promotion opportunities are regularly available but competitive and based on performance.
Post-Service Opportunities
Specialized training received and work experience gained in the course of service can lead to valuable credentialing and occupational opportunities in related fields.
Education Opportunities
For Residents:
Residents may get supplemental income in medical residency through the Navy Financial Assistance Program (FAP), which may offer you $275,000 or more during your medical residency, including an annual $45,000 grant, a monthly stipend and reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses.
For Practicing Physicians:
Practicing physicians can receive a sign-on bonus of up to $600,000 if they qualify.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Be a U.S. citizen currently practicing in the U.S.
- Be a graduate of an eligible medical school accredited by the AMA or the AOA
- Have completed one year of graduate-level medical education in a program approved by the AMA or AOA (interns currently in training may also apply)
- Have a current state medical license within one year of entering the Navy Medical Corps
- Be willing to serve a minimum of two years of Active Duty
- Be between the ages of 21 and 64 (qualified candidates over the age of 64 will be considered on a case-by-case basis)
- Be in good physical condition and pass a full medical examination