Dual Degree benefits?

[cool_vkb]

hey,

i saw tat NYCPM offers MPH along with DPM. In Scholl they mentioned abt joint PhD programs which we could apply for after 1st year.

what are the benefits of this? Can any one elaborate. and i saw a DPM who has a DPM/PA. Does having a PA benefit the DPM?

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[feetgoforward]

I am certainly not in a position to be a career advisor here, but I would consider focusing on ONE career at this point. It is not like high school or college when one could work a coffee shop job and a bike tech job at the same time. Being a proficient DPM will demand a lot of your time, energy, knowledge, and practice. The additional degrees offered at various POD schools are an MBA, MPH, and a PhD...keep in mind, these all compliment a DPM's practice down the line, but would most likely not consume the amount of time and effort required of taking on an additional medical career---an involved one at that(PA). Quality is of far greater importance than quantity (regarding degrees) and in most any other situation as well. I had considered becoming both a DPT and a DPM, but I am glad I quickly talked myself out of it. Could it be done? Sure, but do you have other things going on in your life? Family, social activities, community service, hobbies. Imagine trying to keep up life at home with two careers, the continuing education to stay on top of your game(s) with both professions, the paperwork, and making sure you are not practicing outside of your parameters in each respective field of work.

 

[Dr_Feelgood]

I can't imagine that the PA/DPM has much benefit, but the person may have been a PA and then entered a DPM program.

As for MPH, MBA, or MHA, I'm not big on those. I would concentrate on school first. You have a limited amount of time to study and for personal time. Good grades will get you just as far. As for the business end, you need to learn that by fire and mentorship not class. It may help w/ coding.

The PhD is great for those interested in teaching or research. It is definitely not necessary. It is at Scholl and Temple b/c they have large research labs. If you are working there you might as well get a PhD. But in the regular pod world, it won't get you more patients.

 

[phpodguy]

I'll just preface this by saying that I'm not a pod student yet, so I can't really comment on the time commitments for earning another degree. Also, I have a lot of bias towards public health.

I am in an MHS program at a school of public health right now because I wanted to take more courses in public health after graduating from undergrad. I know that I am going to pod school specifically go get a combined DPM/MPH degree because of how much I've learned in taking public health courses and how valuable an MPH can be in concert with my DPM degree.

I definitely think an MPH is a wonderful thing to have. If you're not into public health then don't worry about it, but if you're interested in health populations, health policy, epidemiology, global/international health, addressing health disparities, biostatistics, or just public health in general then it might be an avenue worth exploring. I can say that it will help you see medicine and its applications in a different light.

Actually, there are veterinarians, dentists, DO/MD's, nurses, NP's, and PT's at my school but no podiatrists. I've been asking around and none of the faculty or deans I've asked know of any past, present, or future podiatrists--other than me--matriculating at my PH school. I think that this is unfortunate and am hoping for some more pod representation in PH some day. I love podiatry and it has so many potential applications in the public health arena! Personally, it will be exciting for me to see how the DPM/MPH will fit together.

That said, I definitely don't think an MPH should be a supplement for padding the resume, and I'm guessing that it won't necessarily gain you more patient referrals/contact. It will definitely help you with public health research or the ability to work in a public health department/agency/school/CBO/NGO/fill in the blank if that's your interest.

I can't comment on the MBA, but I am also curious to hear what the use of a PhD would be other than a slight advantage for positions in academia. Isn't a DPM analagous to an MD/DO in that you can perform research without the PhD because one doctorate is enough? I know of a DPM doing clinical research without a PhD, and there is a DPM teaching at a medical center within my university; neither of them have PhD's.

 

[phpodguy]

So...yeah. I didn't realize any schools other than Temple had DPM/MPH programs. What are the other schools w/ similar dual degrees and what PH schools are they affiliated with? Thanks.

 

[IlizaRob]

DMU offers a dual degree with MPH or MHA. I am currently earning a DPM/MHA dual degree and should graduate with both at the same time. You do have the option of stretching the MHA/MPH degree out if you like because some classes are offered online. There are 2 reasons why I am getting an MHA. One is that it may open some doors for me in the future if I wanted to hold an administrative position in a hospital. The other is that tuition is really cheap while im a DPM student. Who knows, I may not even use it. I just thought it would be nice to have just in case since it is cheap.

 

[Catayst]

Hey Rob,
They've got me considering MHA too--$8000 for a masters is pretty nice.

But have you learned practical things like how to run a doctor's office day to day? How are the professors? Does it absorb too much time?

Guess I'm just asking, does it feel like it's been worth it?

 

[IlizaRob]

Hey Rob,
They've got me considering MHA too--$8000 for a masters is pretty nice.

But have you learned practical things like how to run a doctor's office day to day? How are the professors? Does it absorb too much time?

Guess I'm just asking, does it feel like it's been worth it?

Well, there are some classes that I dont care for and others that I really enjoy. I think the finance courses have been the best as far as application goes. Sont think Im ready to start my own practice though. Everything is taught on a large scale, large organizations and hospitals. Although there are some similarities, small businesses are a little different. The guy who teaches the finance courses is a CEO of a local hospital.

 

[AZPOD Rocks]

hey,

i saw tat NYCPM offers MPH along with DPM. In Scholl they mentioned abt joint PhD programs which we could apply for after 1st year.

what are the benefits of this? Can any one elaborate. and i saw a DPM who has a DPM/PA. Does having a PA benefit the DPM?

Don't let anyone talk you out of education. Most of the people on here who bag on dual degrees want to be clinicians for the rest of their lives (or they realize that the research or administration they intend on doing will not need advanced training).

However, there are very justifiable reasons one would pursue a dual degree in any of the areas that have been mentioned. I know a very wealthy DPM who has an MBA degree and who has put it to good use. I know a DPM with a Masters of Education who teaches at AZPOD. I know a DPM/PhD who does high level research which your typical podiatrist would not be able to do. Etc...etc...etc.

Don't get a dual-degree to look better on paper. If you would not pursue that course of action for the education alone, I don't think you should do it. In the end, degrees can be appealing but it is the education which is important.

I am doing a dual degree (DPM/MHPE) because I intend on being associated with an academic institution in the future and want to bring better better quality teaching/instructional design to the table, not because it makes me look better on paper. The DPM would get me in the door just as well, but the MHPE will help me to be better once I am in.

Good Luck,

AZPOD Rocks

 

[Dr_Feelgood]

My opinion is that the dual degree option should not be available to 1st year students. For all of the pre-pods, before you enter the dual degree make sure you can handle the 1st degree.

Also, DMU has a certificate in Geriatrics. I was considering this more than the others b/c you can advertise that you specialize in geriatrics. Therefore, more patients = more money.

And Rob also left out that DMU will have a MS in basic science areas (anatomy, biochemistry). They are working on accreditation which takes longer b/c we are not associated w/ an undergrad or research based program.

 

[digger]

DPM/PhD is great for those REALLY interested in research. Otherwise, others can do a research fellowship after residency and get a taste of research that way as well. PhD is very time consuming. MPH is good to have, but if you're going to be a podiatrist, do you really need a masters?

 

[Podman]

DPM/PhD is great for those REALLY interested in research. Otherwise, others can do a research fellowship after residency and get a taste of research that way as well. PhD is very time consuming. MPH is good to have, but if you're going to be a podiatrist, do you really need a masters?

You have a good point but You're also making an assumption that all podiatrists are only interested in clinical/private practice. There will always be a decent sum who will look into the academia so Masters and PhDs are very helpful. I don't we should undermine the value of those Podiatrists because research is the backbone of any successful health profession/specialty - without it, we'd go extinct! For that, a podiatric physician with a graduate degree may enter many routes in the vast field of clinical research and further progress developments within this field.

 

[krabmas]

DPM/PhD - good for research, teaching, not necessary but if you want to do research different or slightly not related to DPM the PhD in a different field can be helpful. It also has the potential to make your research more credible.

DPM/MBA - being a DPM especially in private practice is a business. it cannot hurt. If you want to be involved in hospital management it can be helpful, if you want to own an insurance company this can help...

DPM/MPH - lecturing/teaching, practice option - where the diseases are that you might want to study.

if you just have an interest that you want to persue there is nothing wrong with any of these degrees but make sure that you do not let anything slide with your pod studies.

 

[deleted6669]

a dpm/pa could work for an ortho group and have full autonomy regarding foot and ankle issues but also be able to eval shoulders, knees, wrists, etc with min. oversight. they could do their own foot/ankle procedures and 1st assist with all other ortho procedures. might be a valuable addition to an ortho practice.
I know someone who does this.

 

[IlizaRob]

a dpm/pa could work for an ortho group and have full autonomy regarding foot and ankle issues but also be able to eval shoulders, knees, wrists, etc with min. oversight. they could do their own foot/ankle procedures and 1st assist with all other ortho procedures. might be a valuable addition to an ortho practice.
I know someone who does this.

I think in most states, pods can already 1st assist in any type of surgery. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[molldoll2010dpm]

I'm going to do a dual degree at Scholl with DPM/MHA. I'm also considering a certificate in Women's Health. There is nothing wrong with doing a dual degree. There is plenty of time to do it. At Scholl you can't start your dual degree till you have a grade in a class. I will be starting mine in the summer. I don't see any negatives in having a masters, it can only help you in the future.

 

[deleted6669]

I think in most states, pods can already 1st assist in any type of surgery. Correct me if I am wrong.

maybe so....but can you independently eval shoulder, neck, low back, and wrist injuries?
a dual pa/dpm would have no restriction on what they do in clinic or with inpatients...

 

[Podman]

maybe so....but can you independently eval shoulder, neck, low back, and wrist injuries?
a dual pa/dpm would have no restriction on what they do in clinic or with inpatients...

I don't see why a DPM would need to evaluate the shoulder, neck and wrist injuries - we're foot and ankle physicians not orthopoedic surgeons.

I do agree with you in principle that a duel degree has more professional freedom since he or she is working with an expanded scope. However, it seems to me that a DPM/PA is spreading him/herself all over the place - The whole essence of the DPM degree is to specialize in one region with all its systemic manifestations. To me, it seems like we'd be doing extra schooling without a definite purpose/cause.

 

[whiskers]

You have a good point but You're also making an assumption that all podiatrists are only interested in clinical/private practice. There will always be a decent sum who will look into the academia so Masters and PhDs are very helpful. I don't we should undermine the value of those Podiatrists because research is the backbone of any successful health profession/specialty - without it, we'd go extinct! For that, a podiatric physician with a graduate degree may enter many routes in the vast field of clinical research and further progress developments within this field.

I don't know about you, but the current JAPMA articles didn't do much for me.

I can't help but mention the sheer volume of advertisements, number of foreign authors, non DPM authors and the zaniness of some of the articles...

Personally speaking, if these are the only articles that our profession can produce on a bi-monthly basis, I'd be fully content with limiting the publication to once a year as to get some higher quality articles. They'd probably just have to charge 6 times as much for the advertising.

 

[IlizaRob]

maybe so....but can you independently eval shoulder, neck, low back, and wrist injuries?
a dual pa/dpm would have no restriction on what they do in clinic or with inpatients...

You're right, if we are talking about treating shoulder injuries than pods cant do it. I wonder if there are any laws that prevent or limit someone from practicing as a PA and a DPM at the same time. I am not familiar with those circumstances. Interesting thought though. I guess if it were possible than the DPM could help out on other patients in clinic when not working on foot/ankle, at least for those who work in ortho groups.

 

[Podman]

I don't know about you, but the current JAPMA articles didn't do much for me.

I can't help but mention the sheer volume of advertisements, number of foreign authors, non DPM authors and the zaniness of some of the articles...

Personally speaking, if these are the only articles that our profession can produce on a bi-monthly basis, I'd be fully content with limiting the publication to once a year as to get some higher quality articles. They'd probably just have to charge 6 times as much for the advertising.

Quite a few respectable DPM's also publish at the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery. I do agree with you that we don't have enough, and thats part of the reason why I feel that as a profession we need to further expand into the research direction if we want to continue progressing with major strides.

Personally, I don't mind reading case studies from foreign authors and non-DPMs because I enjoy learning from different specialists and physicians. However, I will join your voice with regards to the excessive advertisements in that bimonthly journal. However, I will say that there are other medical and scientific journals that pertain to the foot and ankle. So JAPMA isn't the only source out there.