Service Learning: United Med School's Core

what constitutes service for united medical service medical school

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is a health science university and professional school of the U.S. federal government. The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine at USU is the only fully federally funded medical school. Students do not pay tuition and receive a salary exceeding $64,000 yearly. In return, they spend seven years as a physician in the Armed Forces or Public Health Service after completing their residency. USU School of Medicine students are all active-duty uniformed officers during their schooling and receive pay and benefits at the grade of O-1. The curriculum at USU includes a basic officer course, a 16-month integrated basic science curriculum, and a clerkship year, during which students rotate at Military Treatment Facilities across the country.

Characteristics Values
Name Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU)
Other Names America's Medical School, West Point for Doctors, The F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, USUHS
Location Bethesda, Maryland
Year Established 1972
Type of University Health Science University and Professional School of the U.S. Federal Government
Type of Program Associate of Science Health Science (ASHS), Bachelor of Science Health Science (BSHS)
Student Body Active-duty uniformed officers who receive pay and benefits
Post-Graduation Students are expected to serve at least seven years after residency on active duty and six years in the inactive ready reserve
Curriculum Traditional medical curriculum with a special emphasis on military medicine
Admission Requirements All students must be USA citizens between the ages of 18-36 with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited academic institution

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USU School of Medicine students are active-duty uniformed officers during their schooling

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is a health science university and professional school of the US federal government. The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, a medical school within USU, is the only fully federally funded medical school in the country. Students do not pay tuition and receive a salary exceeding $64,000 yearly. In return, they spend seven years as physicians in the Armed Forces or Public Health Service after their residency.

USU School of Medicine students are all active-duty uniformed officers during their schooling. They receive pay and benefits at the grade of O-1 (second lieutenant for the Army and Air Force and ensign for the Navy and Public Health Service). If a student was prior service at a higher rank, they will wear the O-1 rank but be paid at their previous pay grade. Upon graduation, medical students are promoted to the grade of O-3 and are expected to serve at least seven years on active duty and six years in the inactive-ready reserve.

Students accepted into the program pay no tuition and commission as officers into one of the four uniformed services before beginning classes. In return, they will complete an active-duty service commitment upon graduating: seven years for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and ten years for the Public Health Service. Students graduating from the School of Medicine receive four years' credit toward military retirement once 20 years has been reached through military graduate medical education, practicing, and prior service.

The USU School of Medicine's curriculum integrates basic science, clinical medicine, and health systems science into a comprehensive curriculum that includes over 500 hours of military-unique training. The pre-clerkship curriculum is presented via an organ-systems-based approach, incorporating instruction on military-relevant clinical care and population health. The basic sciences and clinical medicine are integrated in all facets of the curriculum, with clinical skills training and patient care-related activities beginning in the first week of medical school. During this time, students begin developing their professional identities as officers and physicians, so they can fulfill the promise of duty and expertise to their future patients and military units.

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Students receive a salary of over $64,000 per year and spend seven years as a physician in the Armed Forces after residency

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is a health science university and professional school of the US federal government. It is the nation's only federal health sciences university. The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine at USU is the only fully federally funded medical school. Students at USU do not pay tuition fees and, in return, receive a salary of over $64,000 per year. They are also expected to spend seven years as a physician in the Armed Forces or Public Health Service after completing their residency.

USU School of Medicine students are active-duty uniformed officers during their schooling and receive pay and benefits at the grade of O-1 (second lieutenant for the Army and Air Force and ensign for the Navy and Public Health Service). Upon graduation, medical students are promoted to the grade of O-3 (captain for the Army and Air Force, lieutenant for the Navy and Public Health Service) and are expected to serve at least seven years on active duty and six years in the inactive ready reserve.

The USU School of Medicine is unique in its curriculum, tuition-free education, outstanding faculty, and world-class research. However, what sets it apart is the commitment of its students, faculty, and staff to serve something greater than themselves. The school transforms incoming students into competent, caring, and compassionate uniformed services physicians. The basic officer course is followed by a 16-month integrated basic science curriculum. During these formative months, students learn to take medical histories from World War II veterans, train to insert a chest tube, and discuss how to operate in a humanitarian disaster scenario. They also rotate at Military Treatment Facilities across the country, from Hawaii to North Carolina.

USU was established in 1972 to address the military's need for career physicians. The medical school was formally chartered on September 21, 1972, with a 15-member Board of Directors appointed by the President. The university's main campus is located in Bethesda, Maryland. USU's mission is to prepare graduates for service to the US at home and abroad as uniformed health professionals, scientists, and leaders. The university conducts cutting-edge, military-relevant research and provides operational support to units worldwide.

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Students learn to take medical histories from World War II veterans, train to insert chest tubes, and discuss operating in humanitarian disaster scenarios

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is a health sciences university and professional school of the US federal government. The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, a component of USU, offers a full health sciences graduate education program. USU School of Medicine students are active-duty uniformed officers during their schooling and receive pay and benefits at the grade of O-1. Upon graduation, these students are promoted to the rank of O-3 and are expected to serve at least seven years on active duty and six years in the inactive ready reserve.

Students at USU School of Medicine learn to take medical histories from World War II veterans, train to insert chest tubes, and discuss operating in humanitarian disaster scenarios. World War II veterans may have been exposed to harmful sounds from weapons and machinery, contributing to hearing loss and tinnitus. They may also experience health issues related to ionizing radiation exposure, occupational hazards such as chemicals and paints, and extreme cold, leading to skin cancer or numbness in extremities. Learning to take comprehensive medical histories from these veterans helps future healthcare professionals understand the long-term impacts of military service and provide appropriate care.

Training in chest tube insertion is a crucial skill for managing traumatic injuries, which are often prevalent in humanitarian disaster scenarios. Chest tube insertion can be life-saving for patients with chest injuries, pneumothorax, or haemothorax. This procedure involves creating an opening in the chest wall to insert a tube that drains air, blood, or fluid, relieving pressure and improving respiratory function.

Humanitarian disaster scenarios present complex challenges for healthcare professionals. Academic research in this field explores the nexus between disaster and conflict, highlighting the interplay between government, international and national responders, and affected communities in disaster response. USU's mission includes conducting military-relevant research and providing operational support worldwide, contributing to the university's focus on preparing graduates for service in diverse contexts, including humanitarian disaster relief.

Through their education and training, USU School of Medicine students develop the skills and knowledge necessary to serve as uniformed health professionals domestically and abroad. By understanding the unique health challenges faced by World War II veterans and acquiring practical skills like chest tube insertion, they enhance their ability to provide medical care in various settings, including humanitarian disaster zones.

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Students participate in the Antietam road march, learning about the Civil War's medical advances

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is a health science university and professional school of the U.S. federal government. The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, a medical school within the USU, is the only fully federally funded medical school. Students do not pay tuition and receive a salary exceeding $64,000 yearly. In return, they spend seven years as a physician in the Armed Forces or Public Health Service after completing their residency. USU School of Medicine students are all active-duty uniformed officers during their schooling and receive pay and benefits at the grade of O-1.

The USU School of Medicine offers a unique curriculum that prepares its students for service in the military and public health sectors. As part of their education, students participate in the Antietam road march, where they learn about the Civil War's medical advances. The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, took place on September 17, 1862, and resulted in nearly 23,000 casualties, making it the bloodiest single day in American military history. The management of casualties was organised at the unit level, with first aid provided at the regimental level and triage at mobile field hospitals. The battle also highlighted the crucial role of nurses like Clara Barton, known as the "Angel of the Battlefield," who bravely brought medical supplies to the front lines.

During the Antietam road march, USU School of Medicine students gain valuable insights into the medical advances that emerged during the Civil War. They learn about the challenges of providing medical support on the battlefield, including the difficulty of communicating between cooperating parties and managing a high volume of casualties. The road march also provides an opportunity to discuss the impact of the war on military medicine, such as the establishment of the ambulance corps by the U.S. Army Special Order 147 in August 1862. Letterman's model of casualty management, for example, became the standard for the Union Army by an act of Congress in March 1864.

In addition to the Antietam road march, students at the USU School of Medicine participate in various other hands-on experiences. They train to insert chest tubes, discuss operating in humanitarian disaster scenarios, and complete clerkships at Military Treatment Facilities across the country. These experiences provide a well-rounded education that prepares them for their future roles as physicians in the Armed Forces or Public Health Service.

Overall, the Antietam road march is an integral part of the curriculum at the USU School of Medicine, offering students a unique perspective on the history of medicine and the advancements that have shaped modern military medical practices. By learning from the past, these future physicians gain valuable skills and knowledge to serve their country and save lives.

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USU School of Medicine is the only fully federally-funded medical school

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine (USU) is the only fully federally-funded medical school. Students do not pay tuition and instead receive a salary exceeding $64,000 yearly. In return, they are expected to spend seven years as a physician in the Armed Forces or Public Health Service after completing their residency. USU is a health science university and professional school of the U.S. federal government. The university's main campus is located in Bethesda, Maryland, and it was established in 1972 under legislation sponsored by the U.S. government.

USU's mission is to prepare its graduates for service to the U.S. at home and abroad as uniformed health professionals, scientists, and leaders. The university consists of the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, which includes a full health sciences graduate education program, the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, the Postgraduate Dental College, and the College of Allied Health Sciences. USU is home to many different research centers and institutes, which help advance the university's education and public service missions.

USU School of Medicine students are all active-duty uniformed officers during their schooling and receive pay and benefits at the grade of O-1. Upon graduation, medical students are promoted to the grade of O-3 and are expected to serve at least seven years after residency on active duty and six years in the inactive ready reserve. Students graduating from the School of Medicine receive four years' credit toward military retirement once 20 years has been reached through military graduate medical education, practicing, and prior service (if applicable).

USU's curriculum is designed to advance health and science education for students as they prepare for the challenges of military medicine. The current coursework design is called "Molecules to Military Medicine," which connects basic and clinical sciences to military leadership and training over a four-year period. Students start their military journey with a basic officer course, then move on to the sixteen-month integrated basic science curriculum. During these formative months, students learn to take medical histories from World War II veterans, train to insert a chest tube, and discuss how to operate in a humanitarian disaster scenario — all while mastering the material that medical students everywhere are required to learn.

USU is the only medical school in the country with a department of military and emergency medicine. Its students participate in the Antietam road march, where they learn about the Civil War's incredible medical advances, and sharpen their skills with Summer Operational Experiences at places like the Navy's Top Gun training grounds. Each year, first- and fourth-year learners deploy with nursing and psychology students in the Pennsylvania woods for a full-scale, hands-on medical field exercise wherein they roleplay as patients, physicians, and triage officers making life and death decisions.

Frequently asked questions

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences is a health science university and professional school of the U.S. federal government. It is the nation's only federal health sciences university.

The USU School of Medicine is the only fully federally funded medical school. Students do not pay tuition and receive a salary exceeding $64,000 yearly. In return, they spend seven years as a physician in the Armed Forces or Public Health Service after completing their residency.

Students at the USU School of Medicine are all active-duty uniformed officers during their schooling. They are paid and receive benefits at the grade of O-1. Upon graduation, medical students are promoted to the grade of O-3 and are expected to serve at least seven years on active duty and six years in the inactive ready reserve.

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