Implementation of Military Onboarding for Medical Students and its Effect on Student Confidence in the Health Professions Scholarship Program.

This article focuses on evaluating the impact of a military-specific orientation module designed for medical students enrolled in the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), which commissions students with minimal prior military experience. The study found that a one-hour orientation, covering topics such as reimbursements, military training, deferments, and residency timelines, significantly improved students' confidence and knowledge about the HPSP and military medical career pathways. Given the lack of formal onboarding and the differences between civilian and military medical training timelines, the orientation aimed to enhance situational awareness and potentially improve student satisfaction and retention in military service. The authors suggest that standardized orientation programs, possibly implemented through medical schools, the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS), or the Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (SAMOPS), could better prepare HPSP students for their military medical careers. Further research with larger cohorts is recommended to assess the long-term effects of such interventions on career satisfaction and retention.