Get a MPH?

[monchi]

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Does anyone have an idea of the advantages/disadvantages/opportunities getting a MPH in addition to a MD provides? I find some aspects of public health interesting, but I'm not sure how useful the degree would be. What kinds of jobs would it be useful to have it for? Does it hurt your residency options in any way?

 

[peachgirl]

Check your PMs

 

[oldman]

there's a residency specific for MD/MPH

check out <a href="http://www.aaphp.org" target="_blank">www.aaphp.org</a> or <a href="http://www.acpm.org" target="_blank">www.acpm.org</a>

 

[megkudos]

Well I'm not sure about the range of opportunities but when I was speaking to an admissions officer once she mentioned that an MPH would be good if you were interested in working in Academia and wanted to teach or work in a med school.

 

[dr.quack]

i have applied to combined md/mph programs and i got into one (which i thought was good), but i just found out that it starts on june 17...i had planned to enjoy the summer before med school, but i'm not sure if i can if i am taking courses. my question is whether the mph is worth it in the end? does it really make a difference and is it worth the extra summer classes & the courses that i will need to take during med school?
thanks!

 

[monchi]

First, Thanks to Oldman for the websites. They gave me a better idea of the kinds of jobs out there in public health.
Looking at the jobs offered and the qualifications, I don't think a MPH would be worth it for me. (What got me thinking about it was that I was sent an invitation to apply to a program, so I haven't been seriously thinking about it.) Skimming over the job postings, very few of them were looking for a MPH. I'm sure it would help when applying for those jobs, but the required or preferred degrees were mostly PhD or MD, with experience. A lot of the positions were academic, which I have an interest in, but didn't list a MPH as a requirement. So I've decided not to tack on that extra year to med school. I don't know what your goals are Dr.Quack, but those websites might help you make a decision too.

 

[sandflea]

just because you have an MPH doesn't mean you need to go into public health per se. depending on the program, an MPH can either be a generic public health degree or you can concentrate in a specific area. i'm finishing an MPH in epidemiology, and the background i've gotten in statistics and epidemiological study design will be useful in any setting, regardless of whether i go into academia or not, and i honestly feel it will round out the education i get in med school, which is often really lacking in public health-type focus. the MD/MPH residency programs are specifically for physicians looking to go into public health--you can have an MPH and do something entirely different. whether or not it's worth it depends on what your career interests are, just like for any other degree.