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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Flight Surgeon

💰 $150,000 - $280,000+

HealthcareAerospace MedicineAviationMilitaryGovernment

🎯 Role Definition

As a Flight Surgeon, you are the cornerstone of aviation health and safety. You will serve as the primary care physician, occupational health specialist, and trusted medical advisor for a unique population of military aviators and aircrew. This role extends beyond the clinic, placing you directly in the operational environment to advise commanders, investigate human factors in mishaps, develop safety protocols, and optimize the performance of flight personnel. You will be responsible for applying advanced principles of aerospace physiology and psychology to ensure our teams are medically prepared to meet the demands of flight and execute their missions safely and effectively.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Medical Doctor (MD/DO) with Residency (e.g., Family, Internal, Emergency Medicine)
  • Commissioned Officer in a military medical corps
  • Residency-trained Aerospace Medicine Specialist

Advancement To:

  • Chief of Aerospace Medicine / Chief of Flight Medicine
  • Squadron, Group, or Wing Surgeon
  • Command Surgeon at a Major Command or Combatant Command
  • Medical Group Commander

Lateral Moves:

  • Occupational Medicine Physician
  • Public Health Officer
  • NASA Flight Surgeon or Medical Officer
  • Civilian Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) for the FAA

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Serve as the primary medical advisor to unit commanders on all matters concerning crew health, human performance optimization, aviation safety, and the aeromedical aspects of mission planning.
  • Conduct comprehensive periodic, special-duty, and pre/post-deployment physical examinations for pilots, navigators, and other aircrew to determine medical fitness for flight in accordance with stringent military and/or FAA regulations.
  • Provide direct, evidence-based primary and acute clinical care to the flying population and their families, managing a wide range of medical conditions in a primary care setting.
  • Act as a first responder and medical expert during aviation mishap investigations, analyzing human factors, physiological events, and life support equipment performance to determine root causes and prevent future incidents.
  • Develop, manage, and execute robust health promotion and disease prevention programs tailored to the specific risks of the aviation community, including fatigue management, nutrition, and fitness.
  • Administer the aeromedical waiver program, meticulously evaluating complex cases and preparing detailed documentation to support waiver requests for aviators with potentially disqualifying medical conditions.
  • Maintain a high state of medical readiness for a designated population, overseeing immunization programs, deployment health screenings, and medical contingency planning.
  • Provide expert medical consultation and oversight for aeromedical evacuation (AE) missions, ensuring the safe transport of patients and the proper functioning of in-flight medical equipment.
  • Supervise and mentor a team of aerospace medical technicians, independent duty medical technicians (IDMTs), and administrative staff within the flight medicine clinic.
  • Plan and execute the medical aspects of squadron and wing operations, including participation in field exercises and potential deployments worldwide.
  • Manage and review all medical records for flying personnel to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with all applicable standards for continued flight duty.
  • Deliver specialized aeromedical training to aircrew on critical topics such as spatial disorientation, G-force induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC), hypoxia, and survival skills.
  • Oversee the health and safety of personnel working in unique operational environments, including conducting hyperbaric and hypobaric chamber oversight and training.
  • Investigate and report on physiological events (PEs) experienced during flight, collecting data and collaborating with engineering and life support teams to identify solutions.
  • Evaluate the human-machine interface of aircraft cockpits and life support systems, providing medical input to engineers and program managers to enhance safety and performance.
  • Direct medical response and public health measures in the event of a communicable disease outbreak or environmental health threat within the unit.
  • Serve on and provide expert medical input to various installation-level committees, including the Aviation Safety Council and the Disaster Preparedness Committee.
  • Manage the administrative and logistical functions of the flight medicine clinic, including budget, supplies, and equipment maintenance.
  • Maintain proficiency in advanced life support protocols and emergency medical response to effectively manage in-flight emergencies or ground-based medical crises.
  • Advise on and manage health aspects of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defense programs as they relate to aircrew and aviation operations.
  • Participate in the selection and screening process for new aviation candidates, assessing their medical and psychological suitability for the rigors of flight training.

Secondary Functions

  • Participate in or lead aeromedical research projects to advance the understanding of human performance and safety in the aerospace environment.
  • Develop and deliver aeromedical training programs for medical residents, students, and other healthcare professionals rotating through the aerospace medicine clinic.
  • Act as a liaison with external medical facilities, civilian agencies, and allied medical forces to coordinate complex patient care and aeromedical evacuations.
  • Author and review local medical policies, procedures, and protocols to ensure they align with higher headquarters directives and evidence-based best practices.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Board Certification or Board Eligibility in Aerospace Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, or Emergency Medicine.
  • Deep knowledge of military (e.g., USAF/USN/USA) and/or FAA medical standards for aviation duty.
  • Expertise in the aeromedical waiver submission and management process.
  • Proficiency in conducting aviation mishap investigations and human factors analysis.
  • Competency in occupational and environmental health risk assessment.
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Basic Life Support (BLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications.
  • Clinical proficiency in diagnosis, treatment, and management of common and complex medical conditions.
  • Knowledge of aerospace physiology, including the effects of altitude, acceleration, and spatial disorientation.
  • Experience with aeromedical evacuation principles, procedures, and equipment.
  • Public Health and Preventive Medicine program management.
  • Familiarity with electronic health record (EHR) systems and medical informatics.

Soft Skills

  • Decisive judgment and critical thinking, especially under pressure.
  • Exceptional leadership and the ability to advise senior-level commanders.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills for patient care and team collaboration.
  • High degree of adaptability and resilience in dynamic operational settings.
  • Ability to effectively instruct, train, and mentor both medical and non-medical personnel.
  • Complex problem-solving for unique and challenging aeromedical cases.
  • Empathy and a strong patient-centered approach to care.
  • Cross-functional team collaboration with safety officers, engineers, and operators.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from an accredited school in the United States or Canada.
  • Successful completion of a residency program in a relevant specialty (e.g., Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine).

Preferred Education:

  • Completion of a Residency in Aerospace Medicine (RAM).
  • Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science (MS) in a related field, or a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Occupational Medicine
  • Preventive Medicine / Public Health
  • Human Factors Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-10+ years of post-residency clinical and/or operational experience.

Preferred:

  • Prior commissioned service as a medical officer in a branch of the armed forces.
  • Experience as a rated military aviator or significant flight experience providing a deep understanding of the aviation environment.
  • Previous deployment experience in an operational or flight medicine capacity.
  • Demonstrated experience in a leadership or supervisory medical role.
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