Spencer Reese welcomes Lieutenant Commander Webster Felix, a Navy prosthodontist, for an in-depth discussion about maximizing military medicine benefits. Webb's journey from enlisted E6 dental student to O5 prosthodontist showcases the incredible opportunities available in military healthcare. This episode unpacks lesser-known scholarship programs, specialty training funding, loan forgiveness strategies, and GI Bill transfers that enabled Webb and his wife to complete advanced degrees debt-free while building generational wealth for their family.

Lieutenant Commander Webster Felix, USN

• Specialty: Prosthodontist (restorative dentistry expert, full mouth rehabilitations)
• Current Station: Naval Medical Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
• Career Timeline: 14 years active duty, recently selected for O5
• Education:
  • Bachelor's in Biology, Temple University (2011)
  • DDS, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (2015)
  • Master's in Dental Education (completed during dental school using GI Bill)
  • Prosthodontics Residency, USC (2021-2024, funded by DUIN)
• Instagram: @prosthopapi - Features clinical cases and prosthodontic work

Personal Background: Son of Haitian immigrants who arrived in the US in 1987; first-generation college graduate demonstrating how military medicine can transform generational wealth trajectories

HSCP vs HPSP - The Scholarship Most People Don't Know About:

• HPSP covers full tuition but you're not active duty during school
• HSCP means active duty status (E6/E7 pay + BAH + TRICARE) but you take loans for tuition
• Webb entered dental school as E6, commissioned directly to O3E in 2015
• Critical advice: Apply for BOTH programs simultaneously

The $500K Student Loan Forgiveness Strategy:

• Graduated Columbia dental school with ~$400-500K in loans
• Enrolled in Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) immediately
• First payments: $170/month (based on E6 salary)
• Current payments: ~$800/month (O4E salary)
• Hitting 10-year mark in October 2025—expecting full forgiveness
• Must consolidate to federal direct loans or you won't qualify

Duty Under Instruction (DUIN) - Free Specialty Training:

• Navy funded Webb's 3-year USC prosthodontics residency
• Continued receiving full salary, BAH, and bonuses—zero out-of-pocket costs
• FTOS (Full-Time Out-Service) allows civilian residency attendance
• Competitive annual program—check BUMED notices for available slots

Strategic GI Bill Transfers:

• Webb transferred 15 months of GI Bill to his wife
• She completed UCLA nurse practitioner program debt-free
• Still has 15 months remaining for kids' education
• Transfer requires 4-year commitment—sign paperwork strategically

Career Highlights:

• Temple University → Columbia DDS → O3 commission (2015)
• San Diego (AEGD) → Port Hueneme/Okinawa (Seabees, 2 deployments) → Key West → LA (USC residency) → Pearl Harbor
• Wife completed NP degree concurrent with his residency while caring for one-year-old

Key Takeaways

Military Medicine Benefits Add Up Fast:

• TRICARE coverage during school and career
• Active duty time counting toward retirement during education
• PSLF potential for massive loan forgiveness
• Specialty training fully funded (DUIN)
• GI Bill transfers for spouse education
• No pressure to over-treat patients for profit

Civilian vs Military Prosthodontist Pay:

• Civilian side approximately 2X on paper
• But when factoring TRICARE, BAH, pension, education benefits—much closer
• Some civilian practices sacrifice autonomy for high volume/pay
• Military provides genuine patient care without profit motive

Critical Actions:

1. Apply for both HSCP and HPSP if pursuing military medicine
2. Consolidate all student loans to federal direct loans immediately
3. Enroll in PSLF and never miss payments
4. Join Facebook group: "Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Support" (216K members)
5. Sign GI Bill transfers concurrent with existing obligations

Resources Mentioned

• Kate Horrell's episodes - GI Bill expert (new book: "College Planning for Military Families")
• Dr. Pritish Sahoo episode - Army medicine path MMM Podcast #181
• PSLF Facebook Group - "Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Support"
• Naval Postgraduate Dental School (Bethesda)
• BUMED annual DUIN notices

Who This Is For

Pre-med/dental students considering military service, active duty members interested in medical careers, medical officers with student debt, anyone pursuing PSLF, families planning GI Bill transfers, or those comparing military vs civilian healthcare compensation.