MD/MPH and political science

[jendrassikMan]

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Hi everyone,

I am currently a student in a 6 year BS/MD program. I will be graduating this semester with a bachelors and am taking a gap year before medical school to get an MPH (making this a 7 year program for me). I want to take a clinical route with my MD/MPH aimed towards research but want to be involved in the political aspect in terms of creating public health policies. I was considering doing some study of politcal science in my summers in between medical school years. What are your thoughts on this? Is this necessary or would it be a waste of time?
Any advice/thoughts on these plans would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot.

 

[DoctwoB]

Various specialty societies, the AMA, and AMSA all have advocacy/lobbying arms, some of which may have internships geared towards medical students, I would start there.

In terms of actually getting positions in health policy organizations, that may be more a matter of connections and experience. Regardless of what you do though, please do a residency/practice before trying to do policy. Lord knows we don't need more administrators/policy wonks that have no idea what practicing medicine entails.

 

[jendrassikMan]

Thanks for the advice
The program I will be entering has informed me of the possibility for internships. I have aso thought to look for opportunities at the Ohio Department of Health and similar organizations.
I will absolutely be checking through AMA and AMSA.
I agree with you there, doesnt really make sense to get involved until you have had the real time experience.
Any advice on specific residencies/areas of study that would be of benefit? I was thinking primary care/internal med may be the most applicable.

But would you say that extra education is not necessary?