Department of Aviation Medicine

GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION ARMY AEROSPACE MEDICINE TRAINING
Aerospace Medicine & Occupational Medicine

MISSION

Conduct advanced aviation medicine qualification training through specific graduate medical educational programs that train and graduate military physicians who; Possess the competencies to integrate, sustain, and protect the Warfighter in the full spectrum of operational health care; Focused on the occupational and environmental health care challenges associated with combat systems and the battlefield; and Capable of developing and managing the full spectrum of aerospace and occupational health programs for military and civilian personnel.

TARGET APPLICANTS

Army Aerospace Medicine (AM) is actively and aggressively recruiting recent medical school graduates, interns, junior active duty physicians, and qualified civilian physicians wanting to join and train in the Army and focus on operational medicine systems, policies, and initiatives (i.e. Readiness, MEDEVAC, Pre-hospital combat casualty care, etc.)

TRAINING OVERVIEW

The Department of Army Aviation Medicine provides combined training in two graduate medical education programs: Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Medicine. Interested medical students may complete any ACGME/AOA accredited internship before entering SAAM`s combined residency program. Once selected, residents are assigned to SAAM with duty in Fort Novosel, Alabama. Training consists of a 36-month program (post-internship), including a concurrently completed Master of Public Health degree from the University of West Florida (UWF). Training leads to board eligibility in both Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Medicine with the American Osteopathic Board of Occupational and Preventive Medicine or American Board of Preventive Medicine.

The combined training program is heavily weighted in clinical medicine. The clinical core is Aviation Medicine, but residents also complete aeromedically-focused rotations in Behavioral Health, Optometry, Audiology, Physical Therapy, Disability Evaluation and Aeromedical Physical Qualifications. Additionally, residents engage in local sub-specialty rotations including Cardiology, Internal Medicine/Pulmonology, Orthopedics, Emergency Medicine, Otolaryngology, Dermatology and Occupational Medicine. Their Occupational Medicine exposure is complemented by multi-week rotations at Anniston Army Depot, Bell Helicopter Textron, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and integration into local Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) site visits. Residents will also enjoy several weeks dedicated to military flight time, academic pursuits, and research.

During the 2nd and 3rd years, residents complete a military unique curriculum including the following courses: Army Flight Surgeon Primary, Aviation Safety Officer, Joint Enroute Care, Medical Evacuation Doctrine, Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation , Medical Management of Chemical and Biological Casualties, Global Medicine (or Military Tropical Medicine), Brigade Surgeon or Division Surgeon, Army Space Cadre Basic, Medical Review Officer, Preventive Medicine Senior Leaders, Fundamentals of Occupational Medicine, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Certified Medical Examiner, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aeromedical Examiner Basic.

Aerospace & Occupational Medicine Program Brochure 2021

UWF MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEGREE MAP

Public Health Care Policy and Administration
Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health
Epidemiology for Public Health Professionals
Survey of Environmental Problems
Internship in Public Health
Biostatistics
Public Health Preparedness
Epidemiological Study Design and Statistical Methods
Fundamentals of Occupational Safety and Health
Applications in Public Health
Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene
Aerospace & Occupational Toxicology
Accident Investigation, Risk Management, and Mitigation

POST RESIDENCY

After graduation, Army Aerospace Medicine Specialists are typically assigned as Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) Surgeons leading and training 5 other flight surgeons, 6 Aeromedical Physician Assistants, and up to 30 Flight Paramedics and medical personnel. Combat Aviation Brigades have about 115 helicopters and 3000-5000 aviators, aircrew, aviation maintainers and support personnel. The CAB Surgeon provides direct care within a robust Aviation Medicine and Occupational Medicine Program. Army Aerospace Medicine Specialists also supervise and serve as the medical director of the CAB’s Air Ambulance units. These Blackhawk Air Ambulances provide point of care medical evacuation and inter-hospital transport of the critically wounded and ill. CAB Surgeons and Army flight surgeon routinely participate in aerial flight with their units and fly critical care missions.

Army Aerospace Medicine Specialists remain as direct patient care providers and tactical leaders from Captain through Major serving in tactical units. LTCs serve in a variety of senior Aerospace Medicine (61N9B), Occupational Medicine (60D9B), and Operational Medicine (60A) assignments. Army Aerospace Medicine Specialists are very competitive with their peers for promotion, advanced military professional education and Operational Medicine assignments because of their operational medicine career path. Army Aerospace Medicine Specialists are very well represented in senior officer assignments across the AMEDD and the Army.

Transition to civilian future employment for Army Aerospace Medicine is fairly seamless because both Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Medicine remain significantly understaffed and in high demand by the civilian health care sector.