Air Force AFSC · Medical
48AX Aerospace Medicine Specialist/Flight Surgeon
Overview
Aerospace Medicine Specialists and Flight Surgeons provide primary care to pilots and crew members who travel in air or space. They identify, prevent, and manage physiological responses caused by the stresses and conditions of exceptional environments.
Core Skills
- clinical assessment and diagnosis
- occupational and aerospace medicine
- human performance and fatigue management
- medical risk assessment for flight operations
- emergency and trauma care
- preventive medicine and public health
- medical data interpretation and documentation
- policy development and medical standards enforcement
- coordination with safety and operations teams
- briefing leadership on medical readiness
Civilian Software & Tools
- Epic Systems
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Acrendo Medical Software Family Practice EMR
- Allscripts Professional EHR
- Billing software
Civilian Career Paths
- Physician
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
- Administration
- Project Management
Training & Development
Getting Started
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
Career Growth
- Board Certification in Aerospace Medicine
- Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- Medical Review Officer Certification (MRO)
Also Common
- Medical Review Officer Certification (MROCC or AAMRO)
What the Work Involves
- Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
- Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.
- Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
- Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
- Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
Related Occupations
- Emergency Medicine Physicians
- General Internal Medicine Physicians
- Pediatricians, General
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Typical preparation for these civilian roles: graduate-level education or extensive experience.
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.
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