ARE THE NAVY'S TOP MEDICAL CORPS PHYSICIANS LEAVING?
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Authors
Silvey, Travis J.
Subjects
Defense Health Agency
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Advisors
Shen, Yu-Chu
Cunha, Jesse
Date of Issue
2025-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
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Abstract
The Navy struggles to retain physicians as the private sector offers higher salaries, better work-life balance, and fewer administrative burdens. Losing trained military physicians increases costs and disrupts operational readiness. Despite incentives like the Multiyear Retention Bonus, many still choose to separate. This thesis examines empirically how physician productivity is related to retention in the Navy Medical Corps using productivity data from the DHA Productivity and Leakage Database and personnel data from BUMED. I estimate linear probability models to assess how work Relative Value Units, patient encounters, years of service, and accession method are associated with separation from service. Higher productivity correlates with increased separation, particularly between eight and 12 years of service, when service obligations typically end. AFHPSP graduates leave at higher rates than USUHS graduates, and retention is not significantly different across sexes when adjusting for productivity and years of service. The Navy and the DHA should reassess workload expectations, explore performance-based compensation, and expand non-monetary incentives such as administrative support and homesteading options as means of increasing retention of the most productive physicians. Future research should include physician interviews and cost-benefit analyses of accession methods to improve retention strategies.
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Thesis
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Distribution Statement
Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.