Hello, I am an incoming medical student class of 2016. When applying the cycle, I noticed the opportunity to gain an MD/MPH dual degree at most institutions.
I plan on using my medical education to enter into high-level administrative work on an international level, through various health care corporations with the potential of starting a company with my close associates. I understand that this will likely cut deeply into clinical practice time, but my primary concern is understanding health care from the top-down in order to make the most well-informed decisions toward where health care institutions should allocate their resources.
I have worked internationally on medical mission trips before, and I believe it is safe to say that an M.D. is universally respected and garners one the most opportunities in the health care field. I am also keenly aware that one may loosely define an M.D. pathway as a micro-scale health care endeavor, versus a macro-scale understanding generated by an M.P.H. As my career plans demand a holistic understanding of health care, it seems natural to pursue an MD/MPH.
However, my associates and I are aware that time will be our biggest issue in attaining our professional goals. And since most medical schools that offer an MD/MPH joint-degree use a 5-year format, this is a valid concern. What I am pondering is whether an MPH degree can be considered a bonus or a necessity??? I do plenty of my own individual research on current public health measures and I plan on continuing to engage in pursuing health care ventures that center around public health while in medical school, hopefully gaining valuable contacts and knowledge throughout. While I may not have every resource available to actual MPH students, I believe there will be plenty of options to continue to pursue a public health interest while in medical school if one is willing to work hard enough for it. Also, is it possible to obtain an MPH as a resident without adding on additional years of training, just combining the two at a cost of being more busy?
What it comes down to is whether or not having an MPH will open or shut doors in high-level international administrative positions, or if being a highly capable MD that clearly has a wide-range of public health knowledge will be able to gain approximately as many job opportunities as an MD/MPH, such as medical officers?
Thanks so much for your time, I really hope to hear your input!
I plan on using my medical education to enter into high-level administrative work on an international level, through various health care corporations with the potential of starting a company with my close associates. I understand that this will likely cut deeply into clinical practice time, but my primary concern is understanding health care from the top-down in order to make the most well-informed decisions toward where health care institutions should allocate their resources.
I have worked internationally on medical mission trips before, and I believe it is safe to say that an M.D. is universally respected and garners one the most opportunities in the health care field. I am also keenly aware that one may loosely define an M.D. pathway as a micro-scale health care endeavor, versus a macro-scale understanding generated by an M.P.H. As my career plans demand a holistic understanding of health care, it seems natural to pursue an MD/MPH.
However, my associates and I are aware that time will be our biggest issue in attaining our professional goals. And since most medical schools that offer an MD/MPH joint-degree use a 5-year format, this is a valid concern. What I am pondering is whether an MPH degree can be considered a bonus or a necessity??? I do plenty of my own individual research on current public health measures and I plan on continuing to engage in pursuing health care ventures that center around public health while in medical school, hopefully gaining valuable contacts and knowledge throughout. While I may not have every resource available to actual MPH students, I believe there will be plenty of options to continue to pursue a public health interest while in medical school if one is willing to work hard enough for it. Also, is it possible to obtain an MPH as a resident without adding on additional years of training, just combining the two at a cost of being more busy?
What it comes down to is whether or not having an MPH will open or shut doors in high-level international administrative positions, or if being a highly capable MD that clearly has a wide-range of public health knowledge will be able to gain approximately as many job opportunities as an MD/MPH, such as medical officers?
Thanks so much for your time, I really hope to hear your input!
