This is something I'm considering applying for when I'm ready. (I'm still in pre-req mode right now). The only concern I have right now is the experience qualifications. I'm spending my summer and possibly the next year working at a wildlife rehab center, but I'm wondering what else I should be doing? Would food production be more useful than a small animal practice? Should I try and do both? I've got about 2 years before I apply, so I want to make the most of the time I have. Thanks! I've been learning a lot from these boards.
I would think you should be looking into some public health opportunities. The first that springs to mind (esp. if you're near your state's capital) is seeing if you can do some work with the state veterinary public health officers (or more generically in the state's department of public health or local districts' departments of health). I have never done this and don't know what opportunities there are or how you get involved (you could just call and ask, maybe?) but it sounds like it could be a neat opportunity. Shelter opportunities might also give you some exposure to this (large populations of animals all in one place). I've gotten my PH exposure through government contracting, but that's kind of harder to get involved in.
I'm doing a DVM/MPH too! I don't know if this applies to your situtation but I'm going in without any practical public health experience at all. I did take a bunch of public health classes in college though (epidemiology, health policy, biostats, some courses at the grad school, stuff like that) and probably appeared slightly rabid about public health during interviews. Best of luck to you! I think public health interest/coursework is kinda the reason I got into vet schools this year at all.
I don't have any public health experience, and I got into Minnesota's program. The only things I can think of that looked good for the MPH were the things that looked good on my vet school app too: good GREs, diverse experience etc. I do have large animal experience and plan on doing the food protection focus, but were I doing epidemiology I would think a small animal background would be ok. Also, I got into their vet school (though I turned it down for IS, so that might have been in my favor). I would work on getting into vet school first, and all those things you do to get into vet school will get you into a MPH too.
You'd think sheltering might be considered public health experience, but if you're applying to Va/Md, you'd be wrong. And they will snicker at you during your interview.
I just applied to the Ohio State MPH program. I think its a relatively new program, but as I looked more into it the opportunities it offers are pretty exciting. Granted I am not accepted, but I would definitely recommend taking a look at similar programs to see if it falls in line with your goals. In the end, it could just be a resume booster that sets you apart after you earn your DVM.
I too have applied to the MPH program at OSU. However, I recently got off the waitlist for the class of 2012, and am now torn as to what direction to head. I have no genuine idea if the MPH will help me or hurt me, especially if I'm enrolled at the CVM at the same time. Can anyone give me some advice, share an experience to this effect? I'm worried that if I pursue both at once, I will severely interfere with my studies at the CVM. Thanks!
Do they have a dual degree program there? If not, it might be hard on you. I'd talk to the administration there and see if it's been done before and if they're supportive of it. All you can do is ask.
I was interested in doing the dual DVM/MPH degree at Ohio as well. I spoke with Dr. Hoet and he told me there were currently 8 other people interested in doing the dual degree in the c/o 2012. He told me that during the first two years the vet curriculum is so rigorous that we wouldn't have any time to work on our MPH degree until third year. I'd contact him if you still want to do both degrees...He's planning an information session for those of us who'd like to do both in September, I believe.
Hey pressmom, do you have any insider info on the dual program offered at utk? I've been thinking about it, but am hesitant, given the rigors of the dvm program in itself. any advice?
I don't know a ton about it since I'm not doing it, but I am hanging out with a friend tomorrow who is. If you PM your email, I'll see if I can get you two in touch. From what I know, there are some DVM electives that will also count towards your MPH and you will take MPH classes in the summer. There is a once-a-week during lunch journal club that also counts as credit towards your MPH that I've heard isn't a lot of work. (I think you present a journal article once a semester.) Most people don't start their MPH right away. They start it either 2nd semester or first summer. That's about all I know. And BTW, you don't have to decide right away. You can do the journal lunch club thing and see if you like it, then try for your MPH.
One of the people in our class is doing it (that I know for sure about). At UTK, some of the classes you take for MPH means count for both (epidemiology for instance) and vice versa. The person that's doing it seems pretty happy with it.
Thanks for the info. cateyes! I've applied to the MPH program at OSU as well, so I'm right there with you guys. Haven't heard anything yet though. As to the original post, I don't have any PH experience. I have a lot of diverse experiences (read: study abroad, agriculture-related, research), and a minor in International Agriculture. You can do the two degrees at once, or if you don't get into vet school on your first try (although I surely hope you do!!) you could always do it ahead of time. It looks pretty good on your application to have the project experiences and (if you do well) high grades.
