Navy USS Mercy & USS Comfort - Scope of Practice (Dentistry)

[sgv]

Hi. I was considering contacting Navy recruitment about the scope of practice on USS Mercy or USS Comfort but I think I'll get a more accurate response here.

Can anyone share their experience or the experience of someone else they know who served on either of these ships?

Specifically, what is the scope of dental practice of newly commissioned dental officer onboard either of these ships?

Who and what do you treat? I was hoping this would be a great opportunity to treat indigent populations of third world countries. But on the other hand, I'm slightly adverse to doing the same acute or mundane procedures (e.g. extractions/sinus drains ; fillings) but I would expect treatment options are limited.

Is there an opportunity for specialists, specifically OMFS, to serve onboard these ships? What would their scope of practice be?

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[Incis0r]

I was hoping this would be a great opportunity to treat indignant populations of third world countries.

If you really want to treat that kind of patient, why not open a private practice and advertise it as "for high-maintenance patients only?" Pretty sure you'll get your regular fill of the "indignant" patients there

 

[sgv]

If you really want to treat that kind of patient, why not open a private practice and advertise it as "for high-maintenance patients only?" Pretty sure you'll get your regular fill of the "indignant" patients there

lol dam my engrish

 

[vellnueve]

They don't send new dentists on those ships. Most of the personnel assigned to those ships already have some operational experience.

 

[Superhuntress]

Send a "newly commissioned dental officer"? Yeah right! We have to fight hard, beg, plead, and pray to get assigned to a deployment on one of those two ships. The Mercy is currently undertaking a "humanitarian" mission called Pacific Partnership, and one of the dentists assigned to this deployment opportunity is a DDS/PhD, class of 2011, who is working in the medical planning facet rather than seeing patients. It's a waste really because he's getting out to go to civilian Endo residency. Some people would die for the chance he's been given, as it would be career boosting in addition to an incredible, challenging, and rewarding experience. But no, you're not going to get a sweet deployment like that as a newbie. There are bunches of us who've been in 4, 5, 6 years begging for the chance.

 

[vellnueve]

Send a "newly commissioned dental officer"? Yeah right! We have to fight hard, beg, plead, and pray to get assigned to a deployment on one of those two ships. The Mercy is currently undertaking a "humanitarian" mission called Pacific Partnership, and one of the dentists assigned to this deployment opportunity is a DDS/PhD, class of 2011, who is working in the medical planning facet rather than seeing patients. It's a waste really because he's getting out to go to civilian Endo residency. Some people would die for the chance he's been given, as it would be career boosting in addition to an incredible, challenging, and rewarding experience. But no, you're not going to get a sweet deployment like that as a newbie. There are bunches of us who've been in 4, 5, 6 years begging for the chance.

I know the one of who you speak, worked with him for a year. Not surprised he got that job.

 

[LFA20]

Send a "newly commissioned dental officer"? Yeah right! We have to fight hard, beg, plead, and pray to get assigned to a deployment on one of those two ships. The Mercy is currently undertaking a "humanitarian" mission called Pacific Partnership, and one of the dentists assigned to this deployment opportunity is a DDS/PhD, class of 2011, who is working in the medical planning facet rather than seeing patients. It's a waste really because he's getting out to go to civilian Endo residency. Some people would die for the chance he's been given, as it would be career boosting in addition to an incredible, challenging, and rewarding experience. But no, you're not going to get a sweet deployment like that as a newbie. There are bunches of us who've been in 4, 5, 6 years begging for the chance.

so what type of deployment do new officers get instead???

 

[vellnueve]

 

[Incis0r]

They get aircraft carriers, they can get placed with the Marines, remote overseas areas like Diego Garcia, etc.