MD/MPH ... or wait for residency?

[envirodoc]

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Hi All,

I am applying to MD programs at the following schools and want to pursue an MD/MPH or possibly another joint MS (enviro sci, anthro, ethnobotany). But MPH is probably most realistic.

My interests Public Health wise are in environmental health, planning, tropical/international health and conservation and sustainability. I have strong background in geospatial analysis (GIS).

Bearing that in mind, here is my MD school list:

BU
Drexel
EVMS
GW
Jefferson
Loma Linda
NYMC
Rosalind Franklin
Suny downstate
Temple
Tufts
Tulane
UMass
UConn
VCU

All of those schools except Rosalind Franklin and UMass have joint MD/MPH programs.

Questions:

1.Which of these schools are worthwhile to check off MD/MPH on my AMCAS?

2. Which of these schools has good MPH program for my interests?

3. Should I just go regular MD and worry about MPH later - even do MPH as part of residency in preventive medicine?



Finally, GPA 3.4 culm (one bad year pulled me down, graduated magna cum laude with 3.7 on paper at school I transferred to for last 3 years), and 27R MCAT. Publications, lots of volunteer etc other than MCAT and to an extent GPA, my app is - I hope - considered strong.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!

 

[MX health]

...

 

[DrJosephKim]

Right - you can also get your MPH through a one-year program, or part-time during residency or beyond.

 

[flipz]

bump.. same boat as OP. Would love to hear more thoughts..

 

[thedelicatessen]

AMSA has a great page on the pros and cons of doing the MPH in various points in one's career development in becoming a doctor. There is a link to it in the "Helpful Public Health Links" sticky on the front of the MPH forum.

 

[beachbum08]

i am in the same boat as the first postee. I got a 26 on the MCAT and have a 3.6 GPA. and am applying MD/MPH.

Got a year of C's... dropped out traveled around the world, got my massage license. and then went back to school... got 3 4.0s but it's hard to bring that GPA up.

anyhow. MD/MPH... i am not sure if this is true, but it might help your chances to sign up as an MD/MPH student. I wouldn't make that my reason for applying dual degree... but it might show that you would make a well rounded doctor. Plus if you applied to a school with an MPH program, even if you don't do the dual degree, then maybe you can take some of their classes as electives. Medical toxicology, etc... call me a geek. But how cool would that be??

It is interesting in the US how there is a separation in a medical education and a public health education. it seems like there should be more union with these two ideas.

 

[beachbum08]

oh yeah and w/ your interest in environmental medicine and GIS... have you seen what a great emphasis Drexel has in these areas??