In this Career Choices, Siddhi Bhivandkar, MD, spoke with Captain Paulette T. Cazares, MD, MPH. Dr. Cazares is Director for Mental Health at U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Okinawa, Japan. She also is Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, and serves as Secretary of the American Medical Women’s Association, Schaumburg, Illinois.
Dr. Bhivandkar: What made you choose the Navy psychiatry track, and how did your training lead you towards this path?
Dr. Cazares: I had considered a career in the Navy early on in my education, and when I was ready to apply to medical school, I saw Uniformed Services University (USU) as one of my top choices. I wasn’t 100% sure, but after a tour and my interview, I was sold on serving those who serve.
During my clinical rotations at USU, I had great experiences in inpatient and emergency psychiatry. I became fascinated with understanding all I could about brain circuitry and chemistry, and how that interacts with the environment to create or protect individuals from disease. Once I talked with some mentors, it became clear to me that I would love a career in psychiatry, and that remains true today.
Dr. Bhivandkar: What are some of the pros and cons of working in Navy psychiatry?
Dr. Cazares: As a Navy psychiatrist, I have found great reward in caring for our nation’s volunteer force. I have had wonderful colleagues with whom I have deployed, and with whom I have served in both small military hospitals and large military training and academic centers. I have been able to work in research in military mental health, and feel I have specifically advanced the field of women’s mental health in the Navy.
I had 4 children while I have been on active duty, and had paid maternity leave for all of them, as well as practices that protected my choice to breastfeed and pump, even after returning to work. I have moved to areas of the country I didn’t expect to with the Navy, and my husband’s career took unexpected turns as a result. While this can be seen as a challenge, it can also be a surprisingly rewarding experience, seeing areas of our nation and world that I otherwise would not have seen. I have deployed and been away from family. While that was a challenge, my family came through it very strong, and I found myself a more humble human and a better clinician as a result of that time.
Dr. Bhivandkar: Based on your personal experience, what should one consider when choosing a Navy psychiatry program?
Dr. Cazares: In considering a Navy training program, one should consider that in the military, our patient population is generally young and healthy, yet also exposed to unique occupational stressors. This means that we generally see routine mental health diagnoses, and some early-break severe cases. We do not typically follow long-term patients with chronic mental illness, because those patients tend to be medically retired from active duty service.
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