Career Accomplishments of Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Medical Graduates: Classes 1980–2017

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background The current study reports career accomplishments of Uniformed Services University (USU) graduates in four areas: (1) positions held over the course of their entire career, (2) military awards, decorations, and rank, (3) first residency completed, and (4) academic achievements. Method Utilizing the responses to the alumni survey sent to USU graduates in the Class 1980 to 2017, we extracted relevant data and reported descriptive statistics. Results 1,848 out of 4,469 responded to the survey (41%). 86% (n = 1,574) of respondents indicated having served as a full-time clinician (seeing patients at least 70% of the time during a typical week), while many of them serve in leadership such as educational, operational, or command leadership roles. 87% (n = 1,579) of respondents are ranked from O-4 to O-6, and 64% (n = 1,169) of the respondents received a military award or medal. Family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics were the most chosen medical specialties, which is similar to the national patterns reported by AAMC. 45% (n = 781) held an academic appointment. Conclusion USU graduates continue to make significant contributions to military medicine. USU graduates’ medical specialty preferences are similar to the past, which calls for further investigation to identify driving factors on such preference.