History Medical Corps (United States Army)

1 history

1.1 origins
1.2 19th century
1.3 20th century
1.4 21st century

history
origins

both army medical department , medical corps trace origins 27 july 1775, when continental congress established first army hospital headed director general , chief physician . language of congressional resolution spoke of “an hospital” in days meant hospital system or medical department. among accomplishments of army surgeons during years of revolution completion (in 1778, @ lititz, pennsylvania) of first pharmacopoeia printed in america. in 1789, department of hospital disbanded , system of regimental surgeons established in place.

19th century

the horseman in foreground infantry surgeon in uniform adopted in january 1812.

during period followed (1789–1818) congress provided medical organization army in time of war or emergency. example, in 1812 congress established medical department of northern army response need medical support during operations in war of 1812. in 1816, medical officers given uniforms (but not military rank) first time. permanent , continuous medical department not established until 1818. year “surgeon general” appointed (dr. joseph lovell, first hold specific title) , since succession of surgeons general , permanent corps organization in army medical department have followed. physicians assigned u.s. army accorded military rank in 1847, although old regimental surgeon system of additional designations ( assistant surgeon , surgeon ) retained until 1908.

in 1862, surgeon general william alexander hammond proposed establishment of army medical school in medical cadets , others seeking admission mc receive such post-graduate instruction better fit them military commissions. on 30 years, however, before surgeon general george m. sternberg found (1893) army medical school (ams), precursor institution today’s walter reed army institute of research.

20th century

congress made official designation medical corps in 1908, although term had long been in use informally among medical department s regular physicians.

the army medical school housed in army medical museum , library building in washington, dc, between 1893 , 1910.

world war brought realization of need provide more “finishing school” approach of ams military medical education , indoctrination , in 1920, medical department first established hospital internships method of acquiring new officers mc. meanwhile, part of role of ams (which become part of army medical center in 1923) taken on new medical field service school opened @ carlisle barracks, pennsylvania in 1921. purpose train both new medical officers , newly enlisted medics in practice of field medicine. (this school transferred texas in 1946, became academy of health sciences in 1973, , became amedd center & school in 1991).

the first woman receive regular army commission in mc major margaret d. craighill in 1943. assigned chief surgeon women’s army corps. in 1946, army residency programs mc officers introduced medical department, providing first time full spectrum of graduate medical education (gme) prospective mc officers. in 1954, prominent thoracic surgeon , harvard graduate, frank berry, appointed second assistant secretary of defense (health affairs). upon assuming office 1 of first acts propose plan young military physicians follow 1 of 3 pathways after completing internship:

the “berry plan” deferred doctors taking residency, army benefit of advanced education. eventually, gme became both recruiting , retention tool amedd, , board-certified specialists attracted in steady numbers. mc officers did not elect option 1, or not needed immediately, “deferred.” allowed option 3, complete residency training , entered active duty trained specialist. deferred 1 year of residency termed “partially trained specialists” , given military assignments allowed them work within specialty. many residency programs give year’s credit toward completion of residency time in military service physicians served under option 2. (this triple option program continued 19 years until military draft ended in 1973.)

during vietnam era, serious physician shortfalls experienced defense department , @ time (1966) osteopathic physicians, had been excluded active military service, first admitted mc. avoid reinstating “doctor draft”, congress took steps encourage medical students enter military physicians. completing trend, medical school training has been provided military students since uniformed services university of health sciences (usuhs) established in 1972, graduating first class in 1980. usuhs united states center military medical education. primary mission prepare graduates service in medical corps of uniformed services of country. eventually, usuhs graduates made 25% of doctors in military. (now graduates 164 physicians each year; around 90% of usuhs graduates remain on active duty until reaching retirement eligibility.) mid-1990s, strength of army s mc had risen 5,400 active duty officers, cutbacks ensued.

21st century

as of mid-2008, number of active duty doctors serving in mc met requirement of 4,448 authorized positions. primary care specialties represented greatest shortfall in endstrength numbers.