Search the Community

There are two common points of confusion with flight surgeons. The first is whether or not a military flight doc is a surgeon as understood by the definition of a particular type of physician who carries privileges to perform invasive surgery. The second is whether or not flight docs are pilots. Many junior enlisted members see the flight doc wearing the same uniform, patches, and rank as a pilot and assumes since they fly, they are also pilots. There is another forum post on the pilot physician program, but this makes up only a very small number of individuals. The majority of flight surgeons are: 1. Not surgeons 2. Not pilots The followup question typically questions why a flight doc has a requirement to fly. I've recently written a blog post on this topic to answer the question (http://goflightmedicine.com/flight-surgeons-fly/), but I really see three primary reasons for flight docs to participate in regular flying duties: 1. To better understand/experience aerospace physiologic stressors 2. To appreciate the particular demands of the aircraft and mission of the assignment flying unit 3. To build trust and social relationships with the flyers Flying is one of the coolest parts about being a flight doc and a required duty since the position was invented during WWI. Occasionally, however, an objection is raised as to if this is really a necessary or even a good idea. I'd be interested to hear the comments from the peanut gallery!

In case you've made it to this board, you find a growing number of military docs frustrated by interruptions in training, long deployments, in between dealing with the machine and all its paperwork/PME/AAD (this is not a typo, BTZ LT Col requires an AAD not your MD) and nurse commanders who scream and yell and throw clip boards. I invite you to peruse: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=72