Research for Professional Military Education Programs

The Navy's Graduate Medical Education (GME) program consists of post-medical school programs to train physicians. These programs have been successful in improving the quality and dependability of sources of medical corps personnel. In recent years, the Navy has downsized GME somewhat. Further reductions in GME may be mandated because of budget constraints, but Medical Operational Support Requirements - which support the Marine Corps, ships afloat, and Navy bases outside the continental United States - may require some specialty programs to enlarge. Therefore, the Surgeon General of the Navy, via the Assistant Chief for Plans, Analysis, and Evaluation, asked CNA to study past medical corps attrition and build a model to assist with the planning of GME program size. This research memorandum addresses how the Navy can set priorities among its GME programs, a subject currently under study by staffs working for the Chief, Medical Corps, the Assistant Chief for Personnel Management, the Assistant Chief for Plans, Analysis, and Evaluation, and the former Health Services Education and Training command. This memorandum is intended to assist the work of these staffs.