OT: Air Force application denied after 8 months. Back to square one. (Long)
It's been a long 8 months of being strung along by an Air Force recruiter. They accept medical professionals up to age 45, so I barely qualify from an age standpoint. I was very upfront about my surgery and prior medical history and was told they would submit it and see what happens.
I've had conflicting reports from the recruiter and was told it went all the way to the top medical person in the Air Force who said, "as long as he's a year out send him to MEPS for a physical exam." I no longer have any medical problems or take prescription medications. I'm up to running 4 miles at a time and can pass the Air Force's required annual physical fitness assessment no sweat. Today I received a call from the recruiter stating that the MEPS examiners who accept or reject potential applicants have basically blackballed me. They won't reject me but have put my application on indefinite hold. The recruiter said the examiners' evaluations are based on the number of successful applicants they pass that get thru training and do well in the military without flunking out or requiring medical leave. My past history of diabetes and bariatric surgery is more than any examiner is apparently willing to sign off on. I guess I understand. I just with it hadn't taken 8 months out of my life to get to this point. This was a dream of mine for quite some time. I really wish the outcome were different.
So, here I am rejected and back at square one scratching my head. Primary care is not what it used to be. Overhead is rising. Reimbursement is at an all-time low. Demands on time are higher than ever. Malpractice rates are unbelievable. It's either specialize or find another career at this point in my life. I can get qualifications in medical bariatrics fairly easily and specialize in medical weight loss, but don't want to spend my life peddling very-low-calorie-diet prepackaged foods onto people who need bariatric surgery.
Time to reconsider what I want out of life. Just feeling a little down at the moment. I have so much to be thankful for -- family first and foremost; my newfound health also being right up there towards the top. Sometimes though, even overcoming insurmountable odds doesn't mean the past doesn't reach up and take a big chunk out of your behind. My problem is I don't have much of a behind left. . . Thanks for listening.
I've had conflicting reports from the recruiter and was told it went all the way to the top medical person in the Air Force who said, "as long as he's a year out send him to MEPS for a physical exam." I no longer have any medical problems or take prescription medications. I'm up to running 4 miles at a time and can pass the Air Force's required annual physical fitness assessment no sweat. Today I received a call from the recruiter stating that the MEPS examiners who accept or reject potential applicants have basically blackballed me. They won't reject me but have put my application on indefinite hold. The recruiter said the examiners' evaluations are based on the number of successful applicants they pass that get thru training and do well in the military without flunking out or requiring medical leave. My past history of diabetes and bariatric surgery is more than any examiner is apparently willing to sign off on. I guess I understand. I just with it hadn't taken 8 months out of my life to get to this point. This was a dream of mine for quite some time. I really wish the outcome were different.
So, here I am rejected and back at square one scratching my head. Primary care is not what it used to be. Overhead is rising. Reimbursement is at an all-time low. Demands on time are higher than ever. Malpractice rates are unbelievable. It's either specialize or find another career at this point in my life. I can get qualifications in medical bariatrics fairly easily and specialize in medical weight loss, but don't want to spend my life peddling very-low-calorie-diet prepackaged foods onto people who need bariatric surgery.
Time to reconsider what I want out of life. Just feeling a little down at the moment. I have so much to be thankful for -- family first and foremost; my newfound health also being right up there towards the top. Sometimes though, even overcoming insurmountable odds doesn't mean the past doesn't reach up and take a big chunk out of your behind. My problem is I don't have much of a behind left. . . Thanks for listening.
Steve,
I am really sorry that it did not work out. Have you though about Medecins Sans Frontieres or something else similar (like this)? I am not sure if that kind of thing would appeal to you, but it might be worth a look.
S
I am really sorry that it did not work out. Have you though about Medecins Sans Frontieres or something else similar (like this)? I am not sure if that kind of thing would appeal to you, but it might be worth a look.
S
HW 315/ SW 297 /CW 173 /GW 150, size 8/10, 5'8 tall (Updated December 1)
Steve,
I'm sorry. I can't imagine going to medical school, doing my residency, getting out there, and then struggling to make it work.
I DO think though, that you could have a thriving medical bariatrics program that doesn't involve the obese. Personally, (and this is just an opinion), I think there is a lot to be said for a medical weight loss program for those with 20-40 lbs to lose.
While as a culture we deal with it in a vanity aspect, the reality is that as we age our metabolisms slow down. Those extra pounds matter more to our long term overall health. YOU have an opportunity to preven obesity before it starts in those that are "merely" overweight. And much like those who are convinced to stop smoking because of vanity, who cares WHY they are willing to pay you for a medical weight loss program if YOU know that their overall health will be the better for it?
I've been overweight my whole life. I often wonder, if when I was only 20-40 lbs overweight, if I'd gone on a medical weight loss program twenty years ago, how my health would be now. IDK. It's certainly something to think about.
Or you could do a surgical residency. But that's gotta be a hard row to ho when money's tight.
I don't know who your business manager is, but those copays and medical billing codes are uber important in light of the current climate for private practice. A good medical biller is worth his or her weight in gold!
Anyway I feel you. When I was an apprentice midwife and I realized I had no interest in hospital birth, but that homebirths wouldn't make me enough money, I stopped delivering babies. I still miss it. :(
I'm sorry. I can't imagine going to medical school, doing my residency, getting out there, and then struggling to make it work.
I DO think though, that you could have a thriving medical bariatrics program that doesn't involve the obese. Personally, (and this is just an opinion), I think there is a lot to be said for a medical weight loss program for those with 20-40 lbs to lose.
While as a culture we deal with it in a vanity aspect, the reality is that as we age our metabolisms slow down. Those extra pounds matter more to our long term overall health. YOU have an opportunity to preven obesity before it starts in those that are "merely" overweight. And much like those who are convinced to stop smoking because of vanity, who cares WHY they are willing to pay you for a medical weight loss program if YOU know that their overall health will be the better for it?
I've been overweight my whole life. I often wonder, if when I was only 20-40 lbs overweight, if I'd gone on a medical weight loss program twenty years ago, how my health would be now. IDK. It's certainly something to think about.
Or you could do a surgical residency. But that's gotta be a hard row to ho when money's tight.
I don't know who your business manager is, but those copays and medical billing codes are uber important in light of the current climate for private practice. A good medical biller is worth his or her weight in gold!
Anyway I feel you. When I was an apprentice midwife and I realized I had no interest in hospital birth, but that homebirths wouldn't make me enough money, I stopped delivering babies. I still miss it. :(
"Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius." Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
"What your heart thinks is great, is great. The soul's emphasis is always right." Ralph Waldo Emerson
"What your heart thinks is great, is great. The soul's emphasis is always right." Ralph Waldo Emerson
HW/SW/CW/GW 346/335/183/150 5'4.25"
Ms. Cal Culator
on 3/29/11 9:24 am - Tuvalu
on 3/29/11 9:24 am - Tuvalu
Well then...since you are one of the few folks on the planet with an MD after his name and a first-hand understanding of the importance of post-wls nutritional follow-up, isn't it time to consider repairing (or keeping healthy) those who have not have the benefit of good info in advance regarding staying on top of their labs, etc.? Can you not start some ground-breaking program that will cause the bariatric surgeons to send their patients to you for post-op follow-up instead of to their relatively clueless PCPs? And you can sell protein products that people actually need.
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