How does one become the head of a department? What degrees are required? I would like to work as a General Surgeon in a hospital and work my way to the position of Head of Surgery. Would a Master's of Public Health in Health Administration and Policy and an M.D. be sufficient? I understand that it may require being employed by the hospital for several years to work my way through the ranks, but would the MPH in addition to my M.D. speed up the process? Thanks!