Benefits of an MD/MPH?

[ekb1701]

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What would I gain from attending a school that offers a 4-year MD/MPH combined degree? The only reason I'm thinking about this is because I'm not sure if I want to actually practice medicine my entire life. I'm interested in politics/health policy/administration, so would this help me out in those areas?

Anyone else thinking about this?

 

[somethingpositi]

You might want to look at an MPP, a masters in public policy. It sounds like it is more down your alley.

Also, if you're not that interested in practicing medicine, why are you applying for medical school? You can get an MPP directly and then just start working in health policy, etc.

Lastly, I might recommend against a 4 year program. There are some 5 year programs (AECOM, Yale) that allow you to stay for a fifth year without extra tuition. It is worth spending the extra year to get to take some elective in public health, etc.

 

[ekb1701]

I can't wait to practice medicine. It's something I want to do, but I want to do other stuff as well. Just trying to keep my options open. Thanks for the advice.

I guess it is possible to get the MD and decide to go back to school later in life if I ever want to.

 

[DrMidlife]

I agree that adding an MPH to a 4yr MD program is a lot to take on. Adding a year for the MPH is probably more common, but getting it paid for is probably not.

I suggest that you look up some physicians at a community/public hospital who have both degrees, and ask them directly about what their MPH is enabling them to do. Or look up how their activities compare to non-MPH physicians, and non-PhD physicians.

In my limited experience, an MPH sets you up to publish on behavior, where a PhD sets you up to publish on harder science. For instance, an MPH would publish on how trends in seatbelt usage (or non-usage) impact MVA trauma and rehabilitation, where a PhD would publish on novel vascular shear damage that just happens to be due to steering wheel impact. Obviously there's overlap. And publishing is just one way to influence an audience.

Best of luck to you.

 

[UVABranch]

An MPH can be very helpful especially if you are interested in other areas of health care and/or health policy. It's also a good idea if you're interested in research because it will provide good background for the fundamentals of study design and analysis. Many schools are set up such that you can apply during your first yr of med school so you have a better feel for the school and maybe some opportunities to learn more about the degree before deciding if you want to apply and spend the additional time (usually 1 yr rather than 2 if you didn't do a joint degree). It's a generalists degree, so you learn a little about a lot of stuff, unless you pursue a DrPH. It also helps if you are specifically interested in policy going to school in a place like DC or ATL (because of the CDC). Worth investigating, and these days A LOT of MDs are going back and getting their MPH. G'luck

 

[Law2Doc]

What would I gain from attending a school that offers a 4-year MD/MPH combined degree? The only reason I'm thinking about this is because I'm not sure if I want to actually practice medicine my entire life. I'm interested in politics/health policy/administration, so would this help me out in those areas?

Anyone else thinking about this?

I guess I would caution that you might want to look into whether you can get to your goal job without bothering with the MD. If you don't want to practice medicine, it seems like an awfully hard road just for a credential you'll never use. And all med schools are going to be geared toward making you into a clinician, so if that doesn't appeal to you, it will be 4 very rough years, perhaps plus residency (if you want to keep MD doors open). There are lots of MPH's (sans MD) working in health policy/politics/administration, so maybe you want to try that route first..

 

[whoisthedrizzle]

I guess I would caution that you might want to look into whether you can get to your goal job without bothering with the MD. If you don't want to practice medicine, it seems like an awfully hard road just for a credential you'll never use. And all med schools are going to be geared toward making you into a clinician, so if that doesn't appeal to you, it will be 4 very rough years, perhaps plus residency (if you want to keep MD doors open). There are lots of MPH's (sans MD) working in health policy/politics/administration, so maybe you want to try that route first..

x2

Its cliche, but the road to doctordom is hard enough that if you can't see yourself practicing medicine the rest of your life, there's no reason to put yourself through all this ****.

 

[AppleseedCast]

if one wants to apply to such a program (i.e. MD/MPH or MD/MPP) do they apply for these programs while applying to med school or is it generally after you've gotten into the MD only program (after the first yaer).

 

[moomix906]

most people who are getting an MD and want to be MD/MPH apply for an MPH program during their 3rd year and take a year off between 3rd and 4th year. I applied to some schools which did not have an MPH program, with the idea that I would apply out to other institutions with a one year MPH program, but my top choices for med school all had a school of public health or at least a program of public health. For the most part most MD/MPH programs at a single institution are very much like, if you decide you want to do it when 3rd year rolls around you can, not at all like MD/PhD, I think rarely ever does someone apply to formal MD/MPH programs. But obviously for that you will need to go to a MD school that has a school of public health, that way you defintely know that you can do it if you ultimately decide to

 

[Nave]

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