Hi there,

The Army does not have SEM as one our medical specialties, what we do offer is - GP, Emergency Medicine, Anaesthetics and Resuscitation, General Surgery, General Medicine, Psychiatry, Pathology, Radiology, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Occupational Medicine or Public Health. I don’t have the info when it comes to how many of each type we have I’m afraid!

You will need a full UK GMC registration to apply so will have done F1 in the UK prior to applying. Because you will need this, it is likely you would then do F2 within the Army if successful at one of the Defence Medical Group Units (Frimley Park, Northallerton, Portsmouth, Plymouth or the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham).

As ever it’s always best to get an application in so you can ask any further questions specific to you, to our AMS team. Hope this helps!

28 November, 2023 22:10

Josh is right, starting an application will give you a better idea of what options are open to you.

Generally the majority of doctors either join at medical school (but would need to be a UK med school) or they apply during FY1 and join as a direct entrant after they finish FY2 - it would be complex to move deaneries mid foundation programme, and would be an upheaval for you as well!

In regards to SEM, there are a few SEM docs, but usually they will have trained in GP or Rheumatology first. It's certainly a field there is plenty of opportunity to gain experience in if it interested you, and the Army are often open to funding diplomas in specialist areas if it improves the service we provide.

Worth noting that we have several civilian SEM doctors who work with our military personnel, so even if you decide not to join, you can still work for the MOD further down the line.

Best of luck.

28 November, 2023 22:31

Hi all,
I am also interesting in pursuing sports & exercise medicine.
Just a few quick questions.
Do the 3 years as a GDMO equate to the 2 years of internal medicine (IM) stage one? For example would I be able to do the 3 years as a GDMO and then, if SEM was still not available within the army, jump to do the 4 years of SEM specialist training with the NHS? Or would I do the years as a GDMO and then still need to do internal medicine stage 1 before starting specialist training?
Also, this is more speculation than anything else, but what are the chances that SEM gets introduced as a specialty within the army in the next 5 years?
Finally, if it’s not introduced, is there any way for me to pursue it without leaving the army?
Thank you for your help :)

23 March, 2024 10:12

Hello,

I'm afraid GDMO years don't count towards specialty training years, so you would still need to start as a CT1 or equivalent.

If you have an interest in SEM, there is a possibility you could pursue that path, but it really depends on what staffing levels are like and whether the army wants any more SEM consultants - I wouldn't dare to hazard a guess on this one, sorry! You can certainly be a GP with a specialist interest in SEM, and frequently it is GPs that run our SEM clinics in our regional rehabilitation units.

24 May, 2024 11:06