DVM/MPH anyone??

[Reggie2]

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Hi all, I am an incoming student at Tufts this year and have been offered a spot in the combined DVM/MPH program. Is there anyone out there who has either started or completed this type of combined program and would be willing to share their experiences?

I ask because I am torn between being very interested in infectious disease and it's applications in international veterinary medicine and committing to this particular career track before even starting school in the fall. Any insights??

Thanks!

 

[OsuVet2010]

Hey,
I'm a 2nd year vet student and I am currently working on my research for my MPH. It's not a combined program, but I can tell you that the possiblilities with the two degrees are basically endless. You can join organizations such as the WHO, most government agencies which deal with food animals/animals in general, you can serve on health boards, join emergency teams, and the list goes on! The classes I took weren't too exciting, but I think that once I have my DVM and my MPH I'll be able to choose from a wide variety of jobs. And if I don't use my MPH right away, i'll keep it if I choose to change career paths later in life.
Hope this helps a little.

 

[ghostsamurai]

I obtained my MPH and spent a summer working for a State Health Department prior to vet school. My MPH focused on human medical disease and not so much veterinary preventative medicine. I personally feel the MPH is a beneficial degree because it serves as good training to understanding population disease dynamics and is a more cost effective means for preventative medicine. Obviously, public health is more big picture than the small detail needed to practice clinical veterinary medicine but is very very essential and very very important. Lots of career options with MPH and DVM, however don't expect great $$$ and be aware that public health is really human focused and there is definitely HUGE inequity amongst MDs and DVMs in public health. good luck.

 

[hirdDVM]

Actually, veterinarians in public health/research make more money than those in clinical practices. Go to the U.S. Department of Labor website, and those working in federal jobs make nearly a third more on average than those in clinical practice. Better benefits as well, and there is an increasing need with our current population growth. It just isn't everyones cup of tea because much of it is not dealing with animals in the sense that most veterinarians do.