All Branch Topic (ABT) Considering a military career in surgery

Hello, Sorry if I ask things posted in the past but after a search I was unable to find specifics to my case. I have always been tickled by the idea of joining the military. This arises from the sense of discipline, duty and commitment, among other factors that I may state later in this post. I am a US-citizen MD who has gone through PGY1 and 2 of general surgery at a university ACGME-accredited program, currently on a 2-year research sabbatical, as I plan to apply to a very competitive fellowship after completing residency in 2018. I would like to have my own lab one day and be a teaching surgeon in academics. I do not know how well this fits with the military. Having a lab with basic science research is a big deal and funding is hard to get, but many times there are better opportunities through the VA system and the DoD. Also, I don't know if being a highly-specialized academic surgeon who researches on liver injury and regeneration fits somewhere (hospitals, academies, universities) within the military. Other questions: - What's the commitment, 'payback' policy in my case if I were to enter let's say somewhere in the next years? I mean, my undergrad/grad is completed and now I am getting paid to complete my postgrad. No debt. No more paying for school. - Which branch is the most desirable to consider? With the best balance of opportunity, ranking, perks, reasonable deployment, if any, and bang for the buck in terms of paycheck. - What do you earn as a military speci...
Source: Student Doctor Network Forums - Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Tags: Military Medicine Source Type: forums