Transferring from Army to civilian medicine

[The Guitarist]

I'm considering entering the Army as a doctor (assuming I qualify first ). To me, however, it seems that you wouldn't gain as wide an experience as remaining a civilian doctor, in a civilian hospital. Does anyone have any idea of how easy it would be to transfer from military to civil medicine?

[aspirant doc]

Army doctors spend a lot of time in NHS hospitals and have to jump through the same hoops to get qulalified to the next level (whatever that may be). So in short they face no problems. However, some areas of medicine are not of much use to the armed forces, so if you want to specialise in e.g. geriatrics then things would be tough.

[aspirant doc]

Bear in mind also that military medicine needs GPs and is prepared to pay big bucks for them...

[mummy_m]

I've just left the forces to study medicine as a second degree.
You definitely won't be disadvantaged if you choose to join the army. I spent a lot of time discussing the pros/cons with medical officers and civilian doctors.

There are valuble bursaries on offer to help you through med school (however you will have to dedicate a small amount of your holidays to training and you will face a return of service). Don't forget the RAF and RN; the RAF provides an easier life and you WILL be treated differently as an MO. The conflict between rank and medical ethics very rarely arises.

Good luck.

[Munarix]

Whilst you cant do everything there's still quite a choice of specialities if you want to be a consultant in the Army;

Anaesthetics and Resuscitation
Burns and Plastics
Dermatology
Emergency Medicine
General Medicine
General Surgery
Genito-Urinary Medicine
Maxillary-Facial
Neurology
OtoRhinoLaryngology (ORL)
Obs & Gynae
Ophthalmology
Orthopaedic Surgery
Pathology
Psychiatry
Radiology
Rheumatology and Rehabilitation

Ive lifted that of MOD if you want to read more.