Physician & Medical Corps Officer Careers

Responsibilities

As a Navy Physician and Officer in the Navy Medical Corps, you will help lead the highly respected Navy healthcare team as you provide high-quality medical care for Sailors, Marines, servicemembers, their families and, when called upon, humanity at large.

You will handle everything a typical physician does, such as diagnosing ailments, treating injuries and saving lives. You’ll also have the opportunity to move beyond routine:

Work at the best military medical facilities on shore, at sea and in the field
Join with top healthcare professionals on the highly valued Navy healthcare team
Collaborate with fellow military doctors and other healthcare 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

You will handle everything a typical physician does, like diagnosing ailments, treating injuries and saving lives. You’ll also have the opportunity to move beyond routine:

Work at the best military medical facilities on shore, at sea and in the field
Join with top health-care professionals on the highly valued Navy healthcare team
Collaborate with fellow military doctors and other healthcare 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

Work Environment

Navy Physicians may serve at any one of more than 250 Navy and medical facilities around the globe, from Hawaii to Japan, Germany to Guam, and Washington, DC, to Washington state.

As a Navy Physician, you could work at one of the highly acclaimed National Naval Medical Centers in Bethesda, MD; Portsmouth, VA; and San Diego, CA. Or you could provide medical support to deployed troops aboard one of two dedicated hospital ships: the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy.

Still more opportunities are available stateside and abroad – aboard a surface ship, working closely with a nearby aircraft squadron, or even with the Fleet Marine Force.

Serving part-time as a Navy Reserve Sailor, your duties will be carried out during your scheduled drilling and training periods. During monthly drilling, Physicians in the Navy Reserve typically work at a location close to their homes. This gives you the flexibility to expand your medical experience in the Navy without compromising your civilian practice at home.

For annual training, physicians may serve anywhere in the world, whether at sea, in hospitals stateside, or in bases and camps in countries around the world.

Take a moment to learn more about the general roles and responsibilities of Navy Reserve Sailors.

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.

Promotion opportunities are regularly available but competitive and based on performance.

Most of what you do in the Navy Reserve is considered training. The basic Navy Reserve commitment involves training a minimum of one weekend a month (referred to as drilling) and two weeks a year (referred to as Annual Training) – or the equivalent.

Physicians in the Navy Reserve serve in an Officer role. Before receiving the ongoing professional training that comes with this job, initial training requirements must first be met.

For current or former Navy Officers (NAVET): Prior experience satisfies the initial leadership training requirement – so you will not need to go through Officer Training again.

For current or former Officers of military branches other than the Navy (OSVET), as well as for Officer candidates without prior military experience: Beginning October 1st, 2019, Officer Candidates will be required to attend the Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, RI, instead of the 12-day Direct Commission Officer School. ODS is a five-week program that provides a comprehensive and intense introduction to the responsibilities of Navy Staff Corps Officers. Here you will learn about the military structure of the U.S. Navy, its rich history of traditions and customs, leadership development and military etiquette. There may be an option for attendees to request to split the five-week program into two sessions.

With flexible training options, Medical Officers in the Navy Reserve can comfortably balance civilian and military schedules. You can maintain your own life and your own practice – enriching both with the rewarding work you do for others.

The Navy Medical Corps offers you a truly diverse variety of academic, clinical and operational settings in which to practice. In some cases, you can even work in the same civilian hospital or setting you work in now. What’s more, you will enjoy an unrivaled sense of pride and fulfillment known only to those who serve.

Education Opportunities

The Navy offers generous scholarships, financial assistance and continuing education programs.

You can finish your education with little or no debt. And learn to lead others, further distinguishing your career, enhancing your credentials and expanding the boundaries of your expertise.

Plus, if you’re a student or resident, you can concentrate on your education or training, with no military/training obligation until after your program is completed.

Students

The Navy may pay for your medical education. You don’t need to attend a military medical school. Attend a school of your choice and you may emerge debt-free. A Navy Medical Recruiter can help you choose the program that offers you the greatest advantage:

With the Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), you may receive 100% tuition coverage during medical school, plus:

A monthly stipend in excess of $2,200 to help cover living expenses for up to 48 months
A sign-on bonus of up to $20,000
Reimbursement for many out-of-pocket expenses (health insurance, books, supplies)

With the Navy Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP), you may receive from $157,000 to $269,000 while attending medical school. This includes:

A monthly military salary
A generous housing allowance*
A comprehensive health-care benefits package

Offers have many variables. To get details and find out which offer would benefit you most, request that a Navy Medical Recruiter contact you.

*Navy HSCP housing allowance based on medical school location. Increased offer amounts available in areas with a higher cost of living.

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. This includes:

An annual grant of $45,000 for up to four years (on top of normal resident pay)
A monthly stipend in excess of $2,200 to help cover living expenses for up to 48 months
Reimbursement for many out-of-pocket expenses (health insurance, books, supplies)

Offers have many variables. To get details and find out which offer would benefit you most, request that a Navy Medical Recruiter contact you.

Practicing Physicians

Practicing physicians can receive a sign-on bonus of $180,000 to $400,000* when you qualify. Offers have many variables. To get details and find out which offer would benefit you most, request that a Navy Medical Recruiter contact you.

*Offer depends on specialty and service requirement.

Practicing Physicians

As a Navy Reserve Sailor in the Navy Medical Corps, you’ll receive a first-rate benefits package – including your choice of any one of these three generous financial offers:*

Up to $50,000 per year in specialty pay
Up to $250,000 in medical school loan repayment assistance
An immediate one-time sign-on bonus of up to $10,000

*Offers cannot be combined and depend on specialty.

Medical Residents

Navy Reserve Sailors joining the Navy Medical Corps as residents can get:

A monthly stipend in excess of $2,200 while completing residency
Plus up to $250,000 in medical school loan repayment assistance

Note: Offers based on service commitment. Contact a Navy Reserve Medical Officer Recruiter for complete offer details.

Qualifications & Requirements

To qualify for employment consideration in the Navy Medical Corps, you must:

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

General qualifications may vary depending upon whether you intend to serve Active Duty or Reserve Duty, and whether you are currently serving, have served before or have never served before.

To qualify for employment consideration in the Navy Medical Corps, you must:

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

General qualifications may vary depending upon whether you intend to serve Active Duty or Reserve Duty, and whether you are currently serving, have served before or have never served before.

Specialties

Navy Medicine offers practice opportunities in more than 30 specialty and subspecialty areas:

Aerospace Medicine

Anesthesiology

Dermatology

Emergency Medicine

Family Medicine

Fleet Marine Corps Medicine

Geriatrics

Internal Medicine

Allergy/Immunology
Cardiology
Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
Hematology/Oncology
Infectious Disease
Nephrology
Pulmonary/Critical Care
Rheumatology

Neonatology

Neurology

Nuclear Medicine

Obstetrics/Gynecology

Occupational Medicine

Ophthalmology*

Osteopathic Medicine

Otolaryngology

Pain Management

Pathology*

Pediatrics*

Physical Medicine

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Preventive Medicine

Psychiatry*

Radiology

Diagnostic Radiology
Interventional Radiology
Radiation Oncology

Sports Medicine

Surface Medicine

Surgery*

Cardiothoracic Surgery
General Surgery
Neurosurgery
Orthopedic Surgery
Transfusion Medicine

Tropical Medicine

Undersea/Diving Medicine

Urology

*[Additional] subspecialties may be considered.