Clinical
Overview
Rotations during RAM training are about 50% clinical and 50% military courses. Clinical rotations are aimed at exposing RAM residents to a variety of clinical settings that are important in the context of aerospace medicine.
Most residents will start out with two weeks of SBP, looking at how a systems approach applies in a variety of clinical settings.
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard is a bustling hub of repair activity. The occupational health clinic keeps thousands of workers in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandated medical screening programs. Residents are exposed to the full spectrum of these programs during a 3-week rotation.
Internal medicine covers material at the core of many medical decisions. Residents rotate with the NAMI IM physician, discussing the medical conditions and their impact on flight status.
The physiology of respiration is complex, so residents rotate with pulmonologists in a variety of settings to maximize their educational experience in this field.
Like pulmonology, residents rotate in two different settings in order to see different aspects of the complex and mature field of cardiology.
Outpatient neurology is provided at NAMI to expose residents to the evaluation of neurologic diagnoses that impact suitability for flight.
Urology is an important field in military and aerospace medicine because of the patient demographic and unique work circumstances. Residents rotate for two weeks with a urologist.
Women's health is another important area of knowledge for military physicians, and residents rotate for two weeks to gain exposure to GYN evaluation and treatment and to become proficient with placing long-acting birth control.
Because of psychiatry's complex and multifactorial nature, residents rotate with inpatient, outpatient clinical, and outpatient aerospace medicine physicians in psychiatry.
During the orthopedics rotation, residents engage with musculoskeletal disorders and injuries, learning to assess their impact on flight readiness and exploring treatment options within the context of aerospace medicine.
Eye issues result in many flight physical disqualifications. Residents in the ophthalmology rotation delve into the intricate world of eye health, studying visual acuity, ocular conditions, procedures and their relevance to the aviation environment, enhancing their ability to evaluate candidates' fitness for flight.
In the dermatology rotation, residents gain insights into skin conditions and their potential effects on aviation activities, equipping them with the expertise to evaluate and manage dermatological concerns among military personnel.
The physical qualifications rotation is centered on understanding the medical standards for aviation and reviewing physicals which are forwarded to NAMI for final determination.
During the physical exams rotation, residents refine their clinical skills by conducting comprehensive medical assessments tailored to the unique demands of aerospace settings, ensuring that aspiring aviators meet the required health criteria.
According to ChatPGT 3.5, "CFAR offers residents an immersive experience encompassing flight training, academic pursuits, and research endeavors. This holistic rotation empowers residents to merge their medical knowledge with practical aviation insights and contribute to cutting-edge research within the field of aerospace medicine." The first rule of RAM? Don't talk about CFAR.