National Capital Consortium (USUHS) Program

The Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency at the National Capital Consortium-Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences is a specialized two-year program designed for military physicians, accredited by the American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) since 1993. This program is recognized as the largest residency training program in this specialty in the United States.

Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) focuses on the health of workers and the broader implications of environmental exposures on population health. The residency encompasses various competency areas including clinical care, regulations, environmental health, toxicology, disaster preparedness, and health management. OEM physicians play a crucial role in maintaining the health of uniformed service members and their families while fostering mission readiness, and addressing environmental health issues both domestically and during military deployments.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum comprises eight months dedicated to coursework within the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, followed by 16 months of clinical and elective rotations. Residents are expected to engage in at least eight months of clinical training, during which they gain practical experience in various settings. The curriculum is tailored to develop physician leaders skilled in both occupational and environmental health.

Clinical Rotations

Residents rotate through a comprehensive array of military and civilian occupational health clinics, specialty clinics in relevant fields such as pulmonology and sports medicine, and additional training at sites including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Office of Occupational Medicine. Non-clinical required rotations are added based on military service branches.

Elective Rotations

During the second year, residents have the flexibility to select elective rotations which can occur across the United States and internationally. Opportunities include rotations at the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Lincoln Financial Insurance, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. International rotations available through the Tropical Medicine Training Program exist in locations such as India, Peru, Thailand, and Cambodia.

Competencies and Skills

Graduates acquire competencies expected in civilian residency programs alongside specialized military-focused training. These include courses in Military Mountain Medicine, Cold Weather Medicine, and NASA Aerospace Medicine clerkships. Military training specific to Public Health Emergency Management and the Medical Management of Chemical and Biological Casualties is also required.

Residency Locations

The program offers diverse training sites for rotations, including:

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Office of Occupational Medicine
• National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health
• Lincoln Financial Insurance
• Comcast Universal
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Various military installations across the United States
• International locations such as India, Peru, and Thailand

Eligibility and Application Process

Applicants must be active duty physicians, completed (or currently completing) a PGY1 year at an ACGME-accredited program, and must have passed all three steps of the USMLE or COMLEX examinations. Additionally, a state medical license is required by the start of the PGY3 year. Civilian physicians interested in transitioning to military service are also eligible if they meet the academic criteria.

Application processes are coordinated through the Joint Graduate Medical Education Selection Board, with changes and updates communicated by the respective military services. Typically, each service releases its application instructions in early July.

Visa Support and Competitiveness

The program offers sponsorship for the J-1 visa for international medical graduates (IMGs) who wish to train in the United States. It is recognized for being friendly towards DOs and IMGs, thereby enhancing its accessibility for diverse applicants.

Admission into the program is competitive, requiring successful completion of previous medical training and examinations. The structure encourages a robust learning environment, fostering a collaborative educational experience that enhances the skills necessary for future public health leaders.

The continued success of graduates is evident in the 100 percent pass rate on board certification for the American Board of Preventive Medicine over the past five years, with approximately 97 percent of all residency graduates passing on their first attempt.