MD/MPH chances?

[Bosatsu]

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After searching through old threads, I still have a few questions about MD/MPH programs:

- Anyone know if applying to MD/MPH programs noticeably improves or worsens one's chances of being accepted to that medical school?

- Are they usually separate admissions processes, or are they considered as one program like MD/PhD (and thus more competitve than just the MD)? If they're looked at separately, can you get into the MD program if MPH turns you down?

- Again, generally, can you apply to MPH programs once you've started an MD program?

I am finishing up my secondaries, and was planning on just applying to MD programs at this point; but I'm very interested in preventive medicine (a fact I'm talking up in my applications), would like to get my MPH at some point in my career, and am considering applying to dual degree programs now - especially if it helps my chances of acceptance. Thanks for any thoughts on this.

 

[deleted77919]

Most schools that offer an MPH program will allow you to take a year off to pursue that degree. Even schools that do not offer an MPH are usually willing to let students take a year and pursue an MPH somewhere else. Not too big a deal if it's something you really want.

 

[Stolenspatulas]

After searching through old threads, I still have a few questions about MD/MPH programs:

- Anyone know if applying to MD/MPH programs noticeably improves or worsens one's chances of being accepted to that medical school?

- Are they usually separate admissions processes, or are they considered as one program like MD/PhD (and thus more competitve than just the MD)? If they're looked at separately, can you get into the MD program if MPH turns you down?

- Again, generally, can you apply to MPH programs once you've started an MD program?

I am finishing up my secondaries, and was planning on just applying to MD programs at this point; but I'm very interested in preventive medicine (a fact I'm talking up in my applications), would like to get my MPH at some point in my career, and am considering applying to dual degree programs now - especially if it helps my chances of acceptance. Thanks for any thoughts on this.

every school is different.

for example, emory will give you automatic admittance towards the mph degree if you're admitted for the md; duke has a 3rd year where students go to unc for the mph degree that you apply to during your second year of med school; northwestern you have to apply md/mph from the get-go (i believe...)

 

[KAI1927]

Tulane has a really welll known school of public health, and it is the only school that has the 4-year md/MPH option. I am doing it now, and it is a little more summer work, but really not bad.If tulane was a potential choice, you should look into it.

 

[dottore07]

Tulane has a really welll known school of public health, and it is the only school that has the 4-year md/MPH option. I am doing it now, and it is a little more summer work, but really not bad.If tulane was a potential choice, you should look into it.

There are other schools with a 4 year MD/MPH-- Northwestern has one, and there are some schools that allow you to get it in 4 years with some work (Mount Sinai comes to mind at the moment, but I know there are others)

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

After searching through old threads, I still have a few questions about MD/MPH programs:

- Anyone know if applying to MD/MPH programs noticeably improves or worsens one's chances of being accepted to that medical school?

Don't do it for that reason, it is not a walk in the park.

- Are they usually separate admissions processes, or are they considered as one program like MD/PhD (and thus more competitve than just the MD)? If they're looked at separately, can you get into the MD program if MPH turns you down?

Admissions usually depends on the school, usually they are separate entities.

- Again, generally, can you apply to MPH programs once you've started an MD program?

Again, depends on the school.

I am finishing up my secondaries, and was planning on just applying to MD programs at this point; but I'm very interested in preventive medicine (a fact I'm talking up in my applications), would like to get my MPH at some point in my career, and am considering applying to dual degree programs now - especially if it helps my chances of acceptance. Thanks for any thoughts on this.

I'm doing the same thing. I'm looking to go into primary care/preventive medicine and I applied to mostly MD/MPH. The epi/biostats combined with basic public helath will help alot.

 

[LizzyM]

every school is different.

for example, emory will give you automatic admittance towards the mph degree if you're admitted for the md; duke has a 3rd year where students go to unc for the mph degree that you apply to during your second year of med school; northwestern you have to apply md/mph from the get-go (i believe...)

Here's a list of the 71 med schools that offer MD/MPH with links to the med school's home page.

http://services.aamc.org/currdir/section3/degree2.cfm?data=yes&program=mdmph

According to Northwestern's web site, those interested in the MD/MPH can apply after admission to the medical school -- up to August 1 before med school begins.

 

[notdeadyet]

There are other schools with a 4 year MD/MPH-- Northwestern has one, and there are some schools that allow you to get it in 4 years with some work (Mount Sinai comes to mind at the moment, but I know there are others)

Tufts has a 4 year MD/MPH as well.

 

[DrMichelle]

Tufts and EVMS both have four year combine programs. From my experiencees so far, it looks like they deal with the MD first and then the MPH seperately. Seems like that if you are qualified enough for an MD that you should be able to get into an MPH - as long as you have the relevent experience.

In terms of increasing your chances, the MPH is a way to make yourself stand out, if you play it right.

 

[boyz of 4d]

NYMC has 4 year md/mph.

 

[LizzyM]

Northwestern and UConn are combined 4 years programs.

 

[jules922]

If you want to do a combined MD/MPH, I would definitely find out whether or not the medical school you end up going to has an accredited public health school ... schools like Northwestern do NOT have a seperate public health school that's accredited. If you want to have a serious career in a public-health related speciality, it's much better to get your MPH from a university that actually has a school of public health (unlike some places where the medical school just has related departments or an unaccredited program).
Good resources here:
http://www.asph.org/document.cfm?page=725
http://www.asph.org/document.cfm?page=200

 

[LizzyM]

If you want to do a combined MD/MPH, I would definitely find out whether or not the medical school you end up going to has an accredited public health school ... schools like Northwestern do NOT have a seperate public health school that's accredited. If you want to have a serious career in a public-health related speciality, it's much better to get your MPH from a university that actually has a school of public health (unlike some places where the medical school just has related departments or an unaccredited program).
Good resources here:
http://www.asph.org/document.cfm?page=725
http://www.asph.org/document.cfm?page=200

Or realize that there are schools of public health and programs in public health and both are accredited by the Council on Education in Public Health
www.ceph.org

Tufts and Northwestern (and many others) are accredited by CEPH just as the schools of public health are!

Schools of public health are separate from the medical school whereas public health education within medical schools recognizes that you are training to be a physician with expertise in public health and doesn't separate the two disciplines in separate silos.