Job Description

As a Navy Podiatrist, your skills will treat the feet, ankle and the lower extremity issues of servicemembers, their families and those in need. Besides normal issues, you’ll treat bunion deformities, torn ligaments and stress fractures.

You’ll partner with first-rate health-care providers such as orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists, and have the opportunity to use your direct-access skills and practice as a critical part of a multidisciplinary team.

Specific Responsibilities

As a Podiatrist and Officer in the Navy Medical Service Corps, you will:

• Examine and diagnose patients with ailments of the foot, ankle and related structures
• Provide a full scope of treatment services, ranging from conservative care to invasive surgery
• Work with amputees, in both military and humanitarian settings, to improve the hemodynamics critical to a higher quality of life

You could also:

• Assume a leadership role, both within your area of medical expertise and throughout the Navy medical community
• Accept assignments in a variety of locations, including major treatment facilities, branch clinics and Marine Corps recruit depots in the U.S., as well as bases overseas

Work Environment

As a Navy Clinical Care Provider, you’ll practice podiatry at hospitals across the globe. From Hawaii to Japan, Germany to Guam, and Washington, D.C., to Washington State. The sun never sets when you’re part of America’s Navy.

You could also find yourself working at one of the highly acclaimed National Naval Medical Centers in Bethesda, Maryland; Portsmouth, Virginia; and San Diego, California. Or, you could provide podiatric support aboard one of two dedicated hospital ships: the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy.

No matter where you serve, you’ll provide leadership and expertise to support your country. In support of the men and women who defend it. And the world at large.

Education Opportunities

Wherever you are in your professional career, the Navy can help ease your financial burdens and advance your career with generous scholarships, financial assistance and continuing education programs.

Graduate Students

Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) – Receive 100% tuition assistance while completing an eligible podiatry education program plus a monthly stipend of $2,088 to help cover living expenses for up to 48 months.

Navy Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP) – Receive up to $201,900 while finishing your residency. This amount includes a generous monthly salary and housing allowance ranging from $3,280 to $5,610 for up to 36 months.*

Offers have many variables. To get details and find out which offer would benefit you most, request that a Navy Officer Recruiter contact you.

*Navy HSCP housing allowance based on graduate school location. Increased offer amounts available in areas with a higher cost of living.

Practicing Professionals

Navy Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP) – Receive up to $80,000 to help repay your graduate school loans by applying to receive $40,000 each year for up to two years.*

To be eligible, you must serve as an Active Duty Medical Service Corps Officer for each year you receive the loan payment.

Offers have many variables. To get details and find out which offer would benefit you most, request that a Navy Officer Recruiter contact you.

*Offer depends on specialty, service requirement and availability.

Qualifications

To qualify for Active Duty employment consideration as a Podiatrist in the Navy Medical Service Corps, you must meet these basic requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen currently practicing in the U.S. (contact a
  Navy Medical Recruiter for details)
• Doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) degree from a college of podiatric medicine, accredited by the Council on Education of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
• Current licensure in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia
• Successful completion of surgical residency or an equivalent formal surgical training program
• Be willing to serve a minimum of three years of Active Duty
• Be between the ages of 18 and 41
• Be in good physical condition and pass a full medical examination

You may also be expected to meet certain preferred requirements:

• GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (undergraduate and podiatric medical school)
• Completion of a two- to three-year postgraduate residency training program (APMA-approved) with an emphasis on surgical experience
• Hospital staffing with privileges and credentials in good standing
• Board-qualified and board-certified

After the Navy

“I am a leader, but also I am at the helm of a ship where I have to be responsible for my corpsmen. I have to be responsible for the physician assistants that are assigned to me. I have to be responsible for the civilians who also play a team role in my day-to-day activity. So I don’t look at it as … just me running a department. I look at it as if I’m the leader of a team that is supposed to render effective medical treatment.” – LT Kittra Owens

In the Navy, you’ll find unrivaled training and educational opportunities. Incomparable benefits and experience. Deeper pride and purpose. And superior career advancement opportunities that will pay off long after you return to the civilian world.