Expert: Howard Lorenz - 5/15/2008

Question
Dear Mr. Lorenz,
My son had a military scholarship for medical school.  He is now completing his second year of a 5 year surgery residency.  He has had difficulty with anxiety attacks and developed ulcers.  He told his dad and me that he knows now that medicine is not his calling -- he is getting too stressed with the idea of having responsibility in a life and death situation on a daily basis, and he plans to quit his residency.

With that being said, how will this be handled with the Air Force in regard to his scholarship?  Will he serve, or will he pay back the money he used in medical school and be discharged?  His psychologist is sending a letter to the Air Force explaining his panic attacks, and his fragile state right now.  She told us that he needs to be away from medicine and take a break from any stressful situations.

I would most appreciate your advice.

Thank You

Answer
Gail,

With out the actual contract he signed in front of me I can say one way or the other what the Air Force will do. Common sense will tell me that he will have to repay the government what he has to. My question is medicine is a very broad career now, is there a chance that he can get into a less stressful area like family practice or a specialized area like sports medicine working with joints & ankles etc. I can understand that surgery is not his bag, but he may be well suited for family practice? I am sure that if he was able to continue with most of his committment, then he will not have to pay it all back if any at all.