HIV-Positivity, AIDS, and The Military Psychiatry Residency Experience

Psychiatry residents in the military work with a diverse population of HIV-positive and AIDS patients who are in various stages in their illnesses, military careers, and acceptance of the disease process. In this circumstance, the military psychiatry resident must be a clinician, administrator, and patient advocate. Additionally, the military resident must uphold Department of Defense regulations which mandate that soldiers be both physically and emotionally fit to perform their duties. This paper describes the unique role of the military psychiatrist in working with HIV-positive and AIDS patients in the military setting