| Academics | Military Medicine Program

MILITARY MEDICINE PROGRAM

The Military Medicine Program is designed for Rocky Vista University (RVU) College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) students who are slated to enter active duty service with the United States Army, United States Navy, or the United States Air Force. The majority of students in this Program have earned a Health Professions Scholarship through their respective military branch and, as such, have acquired a military service obligation of two-four years, relative to the length of their scholarship. On occasion, other RVUCOM students who are assigned to the National Guard or Reserves, or those with prior military experience, may constitute a portion of the Program members. Regardless of their affiliated pathway, military medicine students should exhibit a high level of academic achievement and express a strong interest in becoming a military physician.

Our unique Program provides an overview and introduction to military medicine through immersion-based reality training, surgical simulation, lectures, and personal military experiences related to Medical Corps Officer obligations. Special emphasis is placed on leadership, discipline, customs and courtesies, participation in field exercises, introductions to disaster stabilization and evacuation, and hands-on triaging in simulated combat environments. Working in close partnership with community leaders, program managers and military officers at United States military installations, medical centers, hospitals, etc., occurs in order to achieve the goals and objectives of this Program.

This Program spans a total of 3.5 years of the students’ core educational experience at RVU, beginning in the second semester of their first year.

Additional Resources

Graduate Medical Education

Military Medicine Program

Office of Research and Scholarly Activity

Office of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery

Tracks and Special Programs

Ultrasound Program

INTENSIVE TRAUMA AND SURGICAL SKILLS COURSE

The capstone experience of the Military Medicine Program is the Intensive Trauma and Surgical Skills course. This course is a full immersion, hyper-realistic and experiential learning training course, employing state-of-the-art Hollywood battlefield special effects to create high-stress, high-takes scenarios where students have the opportunity to practice lifesaving trauma skills in an operational environment similar to what they may encounter during military service.

RESOURCES

Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine has developed several specialized educational tracks and programs to further develop the education of interested students. These range from 3.5-year-long tracks to single-semester elective courses.

Office of Research and Scholarly Activity at RVU

Student research/scholarly activity is a vital part of health provider education. Research enhances critical thinking skills and increases medical knowledge, as well as preparing students for graduate medical education. Therefore, all students are encouraged to participate in research activities while at RVU.

During their third and fourth years of medical school, students work on clinical clerkships, under the guidance of preceptors. RVU students have clerkships available to them through Colorado and the other Mountain West states.