Difference between PhD in Epidemiology vs. DrPH

[Ariel22]

I did a search on this forum on the difference between DrPH and PhD in Epidemiology or Public Health and I didn't find anything that explains the difference specifically. Can you still do the same work if you do a PhD in Epi. vs. DrPH?

Can someone explain?

Thanks

-A

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[fantasty]

It's been brought up a few times, but I don't think there is a clear consensus:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=310357&highlight=DrPH
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=255907&highlight=DrPH
http://drslounge.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=213311

But, overall, the main difference is that the DrPH is usually considered more of a "professional" degree, whereas the PhD is more of an academic / research degree. But, most jobs would probably consider them equivalent. I personally haven't run across too many DrPH's (mostly because the schools around here do not offer it), but I think they would be more likely involved in the "practice" of public health, such as in departments of health, CDC, WHO, etc.

 

[Ariel22]

You're right, Dante201. Thanks. But yes, there hasn't been a post that explains exact difference. I should've searched my own posts--as I have posted on one of the links you showed me.

It's been brought up a few times, but I don't think there is a clear consensus:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=310357&highlight=DrPH
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=255907&highlight=DrPH
http://drslounge.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=213311

But, overall, the main difference is that the DrPH is usually considered more of a "professional" degree, whereas the PhD is more of an academic / research degree. But, most jobs would probably consider them equivalent. I personally haven't run across too many DrPH's (mostly because the schools around here do not offer it), but I think they would be more likely involved in the "practice" of public health, such as in departments of health, CDC, WHO, etc.

 

[EEL08]

I know this is kind of late but what our Epi program explained was that the DrPH is more geared towards those who want to work in the field (i.e. public health dept. epidemiologist). The PhD is geared towards those who are more interested in researching the etiology of diseases. This is my shortened version of how they explained it. Hope that helps!

 

[Heal&Teach]

Agreed. Basically the DrPH is supposedly marketed as a "practice-oriented" degree versus the PhD, but both typically work in the same environments - academic or community-based. If anything,the DrPH is recognized widely in the public health world, but if you said you had a PhD in public health, it pretty much means the same thing. There are few differences in how the programs operate - it's just a matter of preference.