20th century Medical Corps (United States Army)

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.