Child is considering applying to the academies next year (USNA is top choice but also considering USMMA), has always wanted to work in a medical lab(specifically cancer related and/or research); is it possible to have a job in medicine after the military?
Jobs in medicine
- Thread starter Girlmom2
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There is a medical route. It’s highly selective. And honestly it’s to produce MDs in the clinical space. I wouldn’t say research is big in the DoD medical world for the kinds of things you mention. But, for after service, plenty of opportunities for additional education that could lead to that. I have seen plenty of grads pursue all kinds of paths.
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I've seen grads of different SAs serve...and then leave to pursue other fields. One of my classmates did 26 years, retired, and went to law school. Another gent I know went to USNA...did five as a SWO, then left for med school; he's now an orthopedic surgeon. And there are others...
Some...did it right after graduation: med school and law school were the most common...some went to get MS, and then PhDs, and then became AF scientists.
SO many possibilities!
Some...did it right after graduation: med school and law school were the most common...some went to get MS, and then PhDs, and then became AF scientists.
SO many possibilities!
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I know USNA grads who have gone directly to USUHS to start their MD (or maybe DO?) program. I also know USNA grads who go directly to civilian medical schools; a guy I rowed with at Canoe U came home to Philadelphia to attend PCOM. He became an ophthalmologist who retired as a CDR.
I believe that the USNA grads who go directly to medical school are usually Chemistry majors.
I believe that the USNA grads who go directly to medical school are usually Chemistry majors.
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A masters degree is entry level in most jobs in this arena. Lots of the Army and Navy researchers are civilians but we also have scientists in the Medical Service Corps. I would recommend your child's bachelors be in a hard science, e.g. Biology, Chemistry, and then when possible, pursue a masters and probably PhD in whatever they have an interest. My Biotech students have plans to major in Biotechnology, Biomedical Technology, and Biomedical Engineering to name a few.
You can go directly into the Medical Corps out of USNA though it is highly competitive (12-14 slots/year). You can also begin your time in the line and then transfer into the Medical Service Corps (where the lab scientists reside) in what they call the Lateral transfer process after approx 3 years in the line. The last option is to do the 5 payback and then pursue the new career in research. I agree you should major in a science (bio, chem etc) and plan to pursue at a minimum a master degree but more likely a PhD