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Video: Innovations in Navy Medicine: First American Physician in Space - May 22, 2023

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MEDICAL SPECIALITY VIDEOS

To learn more about some of the specialties that are offered in the Navy, please see these short videos by some of our specialty leaders.

Anesthesiology

Typically a transitional year internship followed by a 3-year residency program that specializes on perioperative care, developing anesthetic plans, and the administration of anesthetics.  Advanced training opportunities in regional, pain, cardiac, intensive care and pediatric anesthesia.

Dermatology

This specialty deals with skin conditions of all types, performing exams and procedures (surgical, laser) as needed.  Training usually starts with a transitional year that is followed by a 3-year residency program.  Advanced training opportunities in pediatric, procedural and dermatopathology.

Global Health Engagement

Though global health engagement does not have its own residency, it is a specialty that combines many different other specialties into its umbrella of coordination between foreign locals and active duty medical and line personnel to improve the health both of US military and civilian personnel as well as foreign nationals around the globe.  Additionally, global health engagement has the focus of winning hearts and minds through improvement in health and health care delivery to our current and future allies.

Intern

First year Graduate Medical Education in your selected specialty as well as preparation and opportunity to continue into residency training or to serve as a General Medical Officer, Flight Surgeon, or as an Undersea Medical Officer upon successful completion of a Navy Internship.

Internal Medicine

The specialists of adult medicine and the gateway to the subspecialties:  allergy, cardiology, critical care, endocrinology, gasteroenterology, hematology-oncology, hospitalists, infectious disease, nephrology, pulmonary, and rheumatology.

Neurology

The specialty that deals with disorders of the nervous system involving the brain, spinal cord, and other nerve- and muscle-related conditions, Neurology is at the forefront of diagnosing and treating traumatic brain injury (TBI), the signature injury of the War on Terror.  Training is a 4 year intern/residency program with advanced training opportunities in stroke, movement disorders (Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, etc), neuromuscular disease (ALS, muscular dystrophies, etc), cognitive-behavioral neurology (Alzheimer’s disease, etc), pediatrics, epilepsy, neuro-critical care, and others. After two “decades of the brain” in modern medicine, Neurology remains a medical frontier with novel breakthrough treatments every year.

OB/GYN

An Obstetrician Gynecologist is someone who has undergone four years of specialty training after residency to specialize in the care and delivery of pregnant women, and gynecologic care to include management of surgical conditions.  Some OB/GYNs have additional training (fellowship) and specialize in reproductive endocrinology (assisting patients with infertility problems), material fetal medicine (complicated pregnancies), gynecologic oncology (cancer), and urogynecology (surgical management of incontinence and pelvic floor disorders).   They are experts in providing women’s preventive and emergency health care throughout the span of their lives.

Orthopedics

A 5-year internship/residency program specializing in the surgical and non-surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system, treating injuries to bones, joints, ligaments, or tendons.  Advanced training opportunities in sports, joint replacement, oncology, hand and foot surgery.

Pediatrics

The military is committed to taking care of the family members (including children) of all active duty members.  Navy pediatricians specialize in caring for children from birth through adolescence, especially in remote locations.  In addition they are critical members of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, and have a decades-long history of success as medical officers in wartime deployments.  The career path for a Navy pediatrician involves full scope (inpatient and outpatient) pediatrics with an exciting spectrum of opportunities within pediatrics, as well as military medicine at-large.

Physical Medicine

A 4-year internship/residency program that specializes in the enhancing and restoring functional ability and quality of life to people with physical impairments or disabilities.  Also known as Physiatrists, these specialists treat musculoskeletal conditions that can occur during training which may degrade medical readiness. Navy PM&R specialists are integral in addressing the complex issues affecting wounded warriors and patients impacted by trauma including,  amputations, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, strokes,  pain or disability due to muscle, ligament or nerve damage.

Psychiatry

The medical specialists providing mental health support to Sailors, Marines and their families.  General psychiatrists complete a 4-year internship/residency program.  Advanced training opportunities include child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry and addiction psychiatry.

Pulmonary

Pulmonary critical care medicine is a specialty that is dedicated to caring for critically ill patients in the intensive care unit and patients with severe lung disease.  Pulmonary critical care specialists complete residency in internal medicine before completing a 2-3 year fellowship in either critical care or combined pulmonary/critical care medicine.   Critical care medicine can also be a fellowship after anesthesia or surgical residencies.

Trauma Surgery

Trauma surgery is a subspecialty of general surgery which requires an additional 2 years of fellowship training broadly specializing in trauma surgery, acute care surgery and critical care. Not only do trauma surgeons focus on both operative and non-operative management of the injured patients, critical care and emergency general surgery, but the specialty focuses on trauma systems and the overall delivery of forward deployed combat casualty care across all platforms and roles of care.

OPERATIONAL MEDICAL OFFICER

The Navy is unique among the military services in that there are physicians practicing in all of the domains of warfare – land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace.  You will have the opportunity to work with people in all of these settings throughout your career.  For more information, click here .