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HPSP (Health Professions Scholarship Program)

What does it pay for?

The scholarship pays for all of your tuition, fees, books, and health insurance.  Also, you are given a stipend each month of $1907, and a signing bonus of $20,000.  These three things are paid for without you doing anything.  Additionally, the scholarship pays for your books.  To get that money, you simply buy your books and send in a reimbursement form (AFIT 31) along with your receipts.  Below is a typical benefits statement:

 

      a. Payment of tuition, required fees, and approved book costs (paid directly to the university)
      b. Monthly stipend will be $1,907.00 for 10.5 months per scholarship year of $20,023.00 (taxable)
      c. Base pay during annual 45-day Active Duty Tour of $3,832.00 (taxable)
      d. Basic Allowance for Subsistence during 45-day Active Duty Tour of $304.00 (nontaxable)
      e. Basic Allowance for Housing during 45-day Active Duty Tour of $1,150.00 (nontaxable)

 

Total Gross Annual Income is: $25,309.00

 

Don't forget that you can also take out your usual student loans for living expenses.  At Creighton, you are allowed roughly $1,700 per month.  Adding this to the Scholarship amount, you will have about $65,000 for the first year (this includes the $20,000 bonus), and $45,000 per year after that.

 

Is it worth the money?

Many people begin looking at a military scholarship because of money.  Clearly, though, no one should take the scholarship for the money alone.  The military is not for everyone.  If the military is for you, it very comforting to not have the massive financial burden after graduating.  If you want to know why people choose this path, read what they have to say here, or just email someone in the program. 

 

What do I owe back?

If you are on a three year scholarship, you owe three years after completing your residency.  If you are on a four year scholarship, you owe four years after residency.  At this point, you will be in the reserves for 3 or 4 years (again, depending on your scholarship).  However, it is unlikely that you will be called for active duty during this time.  You are essentially done after your active duty time is up.

 

What about deployment?

After residency, you will be available for deployment.  You will given a time period of 4 to 6 months to expect deployment.  At any point during this time period, you can be deployed.  You may get called up on the first day, or 3 months in.  You then serve until the end of that time period.  In other words, almost all cases result in a maximum of 6 months deployment.  Not everyone gets deployed.  Just because you're eligible doesn't mean you will go for sure.  Deployments can be anywhere, domestic or abroad.  Often they are part of a humanitarian effort, such as the tsunami of 2004 or hurricane Katrina.  Of course, the middle east is always a possibility, but don't forget that the military is stretched out all over the globe. 

 

Yes, it is frustrating having this uncertainty down the road.  However, if leaving everything behind for a few months to practice medicine sounds exciting, military medicine is a good match for you.

 

Do I have to do a military residency?

No.  However, there are many reasons to prefer a military residency.  For instance, you are paid as an active duty Captain, which is considerably more than civilian counterparts (about a $25,000 difference).  For more information on the process of applying to a residency, including civilian deferrals, click here.  There is also a new website (as of January 2009) all about Military Graduate Medical Education (residency). Click here to see it.

 

How much will I be making during residency and after?

The way you will be paid when you are a practicing military physician can be very confusing.  you are paid a basic pay, basic housing allowance, basic subsistence allowance, and up to 5 additional pays for being a physician.  Here is a pay chart which shows your income if you go into family practice with the Air Force, just as an example.  The information includes your residency, four year "payback", as well as four additional year for those who continue on in their military career. 

Just as in the civilian world, primary care generally receives less compensation.  You will be paid more depending on your specialty.

 

What is Commissioned Officer Training (COT)?

Here's the official link for COT.  Between your first and second year, you will travel to Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama for your official introduction to the military, Commissioned Officer Training (COT).  This will take place for either 30 days in June or July.  During COT you will be paid the current active duty rate, plus a food allowance, plus a cost of living allowance.  The living allowance is based on your permanent residence, and varies by location.  You can expect roughly $1500 for the 45 day program.  (Don't forget that you are away from home for the first 30 days).  All in all, you will be paid roughly $6000 for your time.  However, you will buy all of your military uniforms, which will cost you around $750.

Here are some pictures and a more complete description of COT.

 

 

What is the timeline during medical school? (taken from www.afit.edu/cip)

First and Second Year:

  • Student is accepted into the HPSP program.

  • Student goes to Commissioned Officer Training (COT) Before entering the 1st year of medical school if on a four year scholarship.  The following summer he/she will attend MSOAM, the Medical Student Orientation to Aerospace Medicine.  If on a four year scholarship, the student will attend COT during the summer between 1st and 2nd year if on a three year scholarship.  MSOAM is not required for students on a three year scholarship. EXCEPTIONS: if the student is former active duty, Academy graduate, or ROTC, he/she will not be required to attend COT, but will attend MSOAM.

  • 1 June each year annual certification is available online.  This is a short document which must be filled out by 30 September each year.

Third Year:

  • Take STEP 1 over summer between 2nd and 3rd year.

  • During 3rd year, the student will begin planing Active Duty Tours (abbreviated ADTS - these are your Clerkships) at Air Force Training facilities.  These must be scheduled at least 90 days in advance to allow clerkship coordinators to make all arrangements for your tour.

  • The student has 2 active duty tours to complete, but may request a deferment until the 4th year.  The deferment period is 1 October - 30 September each fiscal year.  Deferment request forms are available at www.afit.edu/cip

  • 1 June each year annual certification is available online.  This is a short document which must be filled out by 30 September each year.  It can be completed online at www.afit.edu/cip

Fourth Year:

  • During the summer between 3rd and 4th year medical students begin doing the ADTS (Clerkships) in training facilities (or when academic schedule permits).

  • 1 June the Reserve Component Health Risk Assessment (RCHRA) is emailed to graduating class.  This must be completed with and signed by a military or civilian physician.  This should be returned to AFIT by 1 AUG.

  • 1 June each year annual certification is available online.  This is a short document which must be filled out by 30 September each year.  It can be completed online at www.afit.edu/cip

  • June prior to beginning of 4th year - Joint Service Graduate Medical Education (JSGME) applications become available on Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) website for downloading by graduating class.  This link will be available on 1 June each year annual certification is available online.  This is a short document which must be filled out by 30 September each year.  It can be completed online at www.afit.edu/cip.

  • 4th year medical students have until the end of October to complete ADTS.  This ensures that they have evaluations and required interviews included in their JSGME application.  This is for the JSGME Board only.  If you have another ADT to do after October but before you graduate, this is permitted.

  • JSGME Board meets the week following Thanksgiving for residency selection

  • JSGME Board results released to students by mid-December.

  • In January the HPSP Office sends emails to all graduating students along with a scholarship completion certificate.  Students take the certificate to the school registrar to obtain verification of academic completion and formal graduation dates and returns it to the HPSP office by 1 April.

  • Graduating student should receive a re-appointment oath package from AFPC no later than 3- April.  If you do not receive this package call 1-800-531-5811 select prompt 2.  John Wren handles A-K, and Paula Leos handles L-Z.

  • Graduate needs to request degree posted transcripts be sent to AFPC and AFIT/SCIB.

  • HPSP member enters active duty or deferred civilian residency.

Still need more information? 

Try this website: http://lukeballard.tripod.com/HPSP.html  It's written by someone who went through the Air Force HPSP program years ago.  It's a very extensive explanation of the program, although it was last updated 4 years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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