FORT KNOX, Ky –
One of the most important questions college students seeking careers in medicine ask, is how they are going to pay for it. Medical school tuition can cost up to $55,000 per year, and even higher if they are looking at private academic institutions. The U.S. Army Reserve offers a number of financial programs available to medical students and residents that can help alleviate such a high price tag.
One such program is the Medical School Stipend Program (MSSP), a federally-funded program available to students accepted into an accredited physician of medicine or osteopathy graduate-level degree program at a school of their choice.
The MSSP program provides a financial stipend of up to $2,400 per month, in exchange for a service obligation in the U.S. Army Reserve. As an Army Reserve medical officer, you will serve one year for every six months you received the stipend. The service obligation starts once you have complete your residency program.
“For many, the decision to join the Army Reserve as a physician or dentist is more about the opportunity to serve their country, travel to various countries and possibly take part in humanitarian relief efforts by providing care to victims of natural disasters”, commented, Maj. Katie Neumayer, a Medical Corps Recruiting Integration Officer with the Army Medical Recruiting Brigade at Fort Knox, Kentucky. “It is not all about the money. But, having the extra financial help while pursuing your medical degree is great. The Medical School Stipend Program does just that, giving you that monthly financial support that can go toward food, housing, textbooks, equipment or for essentials you need while in med school.”
Through MSSP, recipients will enter into the Army Reserve as a commissioned officer, but will not be pulled away from their commitment to medical school and residency training for military deployments. They will regularly report for weekend drills and train in military medical duties as a physician all while being paid an income and earning other benefits as an Army Reserve officer.
Medical students or residents interested in learning more about MDSSP, visit goarmy.com/amedd.