FAQs for Aerospace Medicine Residency

Aerospace Medicine FAQs

• 1. What is Aerospace Medicine?

  Aerospace Medicine is a sub-specialty of Preventive Medicine.  AM focuses on the health of airline pilots, astronauts, commercial spaceflight participants, private pilots, commercial pilots, and operational crews performing their duties from undersea to space. We work to enhance the health and human performance of individuals, communities, and populations, and prevent disease.  We respond to disasters and aviation mishaps; we test for and reduce worker occupational hazard exposures (lead, benzene, etc.).  We create medical standards for crew selection, retention, and fitness for duty.  We conduct research on risk, human performance, life support equipment, and cockpit design.  We advise airlines and medevac companies on safe air transport. We deploy to austere environments to support our population. It’s the best job you’ll ever have.

• 2. What is the residency like? What makes UTMB unique? How long has the residency been around?

  The first year of the residency is mainly spent earning the Master’s degree.  The first year also includes longitudinal moonlighting in one’s primary specialty, an Aviation Medical Examiner course at the FAA in Oklahoma City, NASA Aerospace Medicine, Occupational Medicine and Behavioral Health, and screening applicant records for Antarctica.  You present clinical cases at AsMA’s national conference both first and second year. The second year is spent doing military Aerospace Medicine rotations, motorsports medicine, research, electives, and more extreme medicine offerings!

• 3.  What if you already have a Master of Public Health or other Master’s degree?

  We would review your previous training, transcripts, experience, background and career goals. We may substitute some of your time to add to your foundational knowledge, add more research time, or credit you for some of that year.

• 4. What kind of qualifications do I need? Any particular residency recommended?

  You must be a US citizen with an MD or DO degree (though we are interested in taking non-citizens, ITAR restrictions currently limit this). We normally prefer clinical residencies (typically Internal Med, Family Med, Emergency Med) as a prerequisite; our residents rotate in Antarctica and need to have solid clinical skills to participate in the rotation. However, we are open to other residencies on a case-by-case basis. You must be able to obtain a Texas medical license. You should be generally in good health and able to pass a physical exam for some activities (Air Force centrifuge and hypobaric chamber, NASA rotations, Antarctic rotation).

• 5. Do I need a certain USMLE/COMLEX score to apply? What if I did not do that well?

  Good scores help, but there is no minimum score to apply. We look at scores as part of your overall application.

• 6. What if I cannot pass a NASA/military physical examination? Does that mean I will not be able to do the residency?

  No, it just means you may be excluded from some activities that require a baseline physical qualification.

• 7. How competitive is the program? How many applicants are there each year?

  The program is typically highly competitive – but the number of applicants and competition level varies year to year.

• 8. What kinds of jobs are there afterwards? Are there enough jobs for the graduates?

  Graduates work many places: NASA as a civil servant; six graduates have gone on to become NASA astronauts; NASA as a contract employee supporting operations in Houston or Cape Canaveral, or deploying to Russia to support crews; commercial space companies; the Federal Aviation Administration approving special issuance cases, teaching aviation medical examiners, or creating aviation medicine policy; the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB); private aviation medical examiner practice; airline medical directors; occupational health clinics; consulting; research; teaching. The military also employs a significant number of aerospace medicine specialists. There are enough jobs for graduates.

• 9. What kinds of people have been admitted to the program in the past?

  Physicians with internal medicine/family med/emergency med backgrounds, critical care, some with engineering degrees and/or experience. Some applicants join us fresh out of prior residency training, some have worked in their specialties for several years. Learn about our current residents’ backgrounds here.

• 10. Do you need a military background to apply?

  No.

• 11. Do you need a pilot license?

  No. We provide limited flying experience during the residency. Many of our residents are private pilots when they apply.

• 12. What is the interview day like for the UTMB aerospace medicine program?

  Applicants invited for an interview will be expected to attend two full day consecutive interviews with UTMB faculty and representatives from the NASA Johnson Space Center and KBR, NASA’s prime contractor.

• 13. What would you tell individuals only applying to the residency in order to be considered for astronaut candidacy?

  The purpose of the aerospace medicine residency is to educate and produce medical professionals in the growing field of Aerospace Medicine. That being said, it is beneficial (to both NASA and the applicant) to understand aerospace medicine if you intend to be a physician selected to become an astronaut. We need a diverse team – but it’s critical that some of the physician astronauts understand the risks of the space environment. The residency provides that foundational expertise. Without it, NASA needs to add a significant amount to an already packed schedule. Six of our graduates have become astronauts. But, the industry as a whole also needs competent flight surgeons to care for astronauts and aviators. We provide a foundation in the entire spectrum of aerospace medicine, not just space medicine.

• 14. What kinds of studying would you recommend prior to applying to the residency? Any textbook recommended?

  It’s not necessary to study before applying. It’s good to attend an Aerospace Medical Association annual scientific meeting prior to applying, or attend our Principles of Aviation and Space Medicine course (enrollment is not constrained to UTMB students). Get involved with the Aerospace Medicine Student and Resident Organization (AMSRO). Jeff Davis’ Fundamentals of Aerospace Medicine is a good overall text for reading.

• 15. What should you do if you do not get in the first time around?

  Keep applying! We are hoping to increase the number of residency slots we offer and are looking for other sources of funding. Visit our display booth at AsMA/attend an AsMA meeting, talk to our faculty and residents, stay involved with AMSRO, focus on getting operational experience/research/becoming a good clinician.

• 16. What if I have monocular vision or diabetes and am worried about passing a 3rd class Pilot Medical exam/Antarctic medical exam/Dive Exam?
  • Monocular vision – this is likely not a significant barrier and would be reviewed by an Aeromedical Examiner. 
  • Diabetes – we can work around it academically, but there will be extra scrutiny around Antarctic deployment, flying, and diving.
• 17. What if I know I can’t pass the physical?
  • Look into the FAA waiver process (special issuance may be possible)
  • Make your case.
  • We still need aerospace medicine specialists, even if you can’t fly or become an astronaut
• 18. Do I have to be an ultra athletic person to apply?

  Our program offers the opportunity to participate in diving, hiking, attending training in the desert, polar, jungle, mountain environments, and deploying to an austere environment. You do NOT need to be a triathlete, a marathon runner, or ultra athletic.

• 19. What kind of people have been admitted to the program in the past?

  See our list of recent graduates.

• 20. When is the application deadline?

  The application and supporting documents must be received or post-marked no later than October 1 to be considered for an interview.