MD/MPH Program at George Washington (or anywhere)

[blutie202]

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Hi all!

I'm attending GW Med School in the fall but wanted to hear your thoughts on completing a dual-MD/MPH program. I'm HEAVILY interested in health policy (especially GLOBAL HEALTH) but am not sure where to take the MPH component as a med student:

1. If you know about GWU: is it recommended to take the MPH component at George Washington? If not, would credit transfer from an MPH program at i.e. Hopkins back to GW in conjunction w/ MD degree?

2. Do med students usually complete an MPH degree at another school? What are the advantages/disadvantages to doing this?

3. When do you feel is the best time to complete the MPH component (i.e. take time off b/w MS-3 and -4, etc)?


Thanks in advance for your comments! VERY helpful!

 

[medat101]

Hi all!

I'm attending GW Med School in the fall but wanted to hear your thoughts on completing a dual-MD/MPH program. I'm HEAVILY interested in health policy (especially GLOBAL HEALTH) but am not sure where to take the MPH component as a med student:

1. If you know about GWU: is it recommended to take the MPH component at George Washington? If not, would credit transfer from an MPH program at i.e. Hopkins back to GW in conjunction w/ MD degree?

2. Do med students usually complete an MPH degree at another school? What are the advantages/disadvantages to doing this?

3. When do you feel is the best time to complete the MPH component (i.e. take time off b/w MS-3 and -4, etc)?


Thanks in advance for your comments! VERY helpful!

I would recommend doing your MPH during your MD years, but not at GWU. Most medical schools will give their students the opportunity to obtain their MPH between their 2/3rd or 3/4th year at a different institution, so you would have to talk to GW to see how they can accommodate this. Certainly obtaining your MPH while still in med school will save you time and money (1 year vs. 2 years, and roughly depending on the school $30,000 vs. $60,000).

I just finished my MPH and I have years of experience in the public health field. I can tell you from personal experience that your MPH would best be obtained at another school, perhaps Hopkins, Emory, Harvard, etc. A big part of the MPH is "networking" with fellow classmates, faculty, visitors, alumni, etc. and your networking opportunities with really prominent figures in the PH world would be best achieved at a school globally known for producing, hiring, and housing leaders in PH. I also know that the MPH at GWU teaches essentially the same material their undergrads are given, so the focus on advanced graduate level work is lessened. I feel strongly that you would benefit most by obtaining your MPH at another school, and in the end, it will be most helpful for your future career goals. Honestly, the only advantage GW has compared to other schools of public health is its location (for internships), which you can anyway benefit from as a medical student, so obtaining your MPH there doesn't really make a difference. I want to make it clear, however, that GW as a school is great, but it is not a leader in public health, and for that reason, you should challenge yourself and strive to obtain your MPH at a more recognized institution.

 

[alibai3ah]

I wouldn't pay double for an MPH (even at a more prestigious/well known institution). Chances are as an MD/MPH, you are going to use your MPH more for background and that is it. You are not really going to be going only into the public health sector and therefore you don't need the Hopkins/Harvard tag. As for a good experience/broadening ones perspective/experience, I think GWU MPH is perfectly good enough.

 

[medat101]

I wouldn't pay double for an MPH (even at a more prestigious/well known institution). Chances are as an MD/MPH, you are going to use your MPH more for background and that is it. You are not really going to be going only into the public health sector and therefore you don't need the Hopkins/Harvard tag. As for a good experience/broadening ones perspective/experience, I think GWU MPH is perfectly good enough.

How is the cost of an MPH double at a more prestigious institution? For example, full-time tuition at Hopkins School of Public Health is $9,780 per term (2009-10 academic year). Full-time tuition at GW School of Public Health is $10,720 per term (2009-10 academic year). These figures may change a bit over time and depending on credits, but I doubt Hopkins will double it's tuition in two to three years haha.

If bluetie wanted just to gain "background" from an MPH, then he/she would save himself/herself the entire tuition and just buy a textbook to read. Truth is that if you are spending any money on an MPH, you need to take advantage of networking and other opportunities as well, and in health policy especially, it is always about who you know. Why pay almost the same for a degree that may open fewer doors? All the doors at GW are already accessible to you as medical student, so why not take the challenge and expand your horizons in another academic community?

There is nothing wrong with a medical school student obtaining their MPH at another school. For example, at my current school of public health, we have visiting medical students from Penn, Washington St. Louis, and Florida State. Many of these schools have programs in public health, but the students chose to take a year and go to another school because of the opportunities they found at more reputable schools of public health.

Whatever your decision, good luck!

 

[alibai3ah]

How is the cost of an MPH double at a more prestigious institution? For example, full-time tuition at Hopkins School of Public Health is $9,780 per term (2009-10 academic year). Full-time tuition at GW School of Public Health is $10,720 per term (2009-10 academic year). These figures may change a bit over time and depending on credits, but I doubt Hopkins will double it's tuition in two to three years haha.

If bluetie wanted just to gain "background" from an MPH, then he/she would save himself/herself the entire tuition and just buy a textbook to read. Truth is that if you are spending any money on an MPH, you need to take advantage of networking and other opportunities as well, and in health policy especially, it is always about who you know. Why pay almost the same for a degree that may open fewer doors? All the doors at GW are already accessible to you as medical student, so why not take the challenge and expand your horizons in another academic community?

There is nothing wrong with a medical school student obtaining their MPH at another school. For example, at my current school of public health, we have visiting medical students from Penn, Washington St. Louis, and Florida State. Many of these schools have programs in public health, but the students chose to take a year and go to another school because of the opportunities they found at more reputable schools of public health.

Whatever your decision, good luck!

O I'm sorry I misread your post. I thought that you recommended that he should do the MPH separately from the MD (which is usually 2 years instead of 1).

I actually didn't even know you could do your MPH at another institution in an MD/MPH program....and that it would only be for one year?? I thought if you do GWU MD/MPH you would have to stick with their program.

EDIT: Although I still feel that most MD/MPH programs are intended more for "background". The full MPH is 2 years long if you really want to get something out of it. I would assume in a 5 year MD/MPH, a lot of the MPH stuff would get shafted....

 

[medat101]

O I'm sorry I misread your post. I thought that you recommended that he should do the MPH separately from the MD (which is usually 2 years instead of 1).

I actually didn't even know you could do your MPH at another institution in an MD/MPH program....and that it would only be for one year?? I thought if you do GWU MD/MPH you would have to stick with their program.

EDIT: Although I still feel that most MD/MPH programs are intended more for "background". The full MPH is 2 years long if you really want to get something out of it. I would assume in a 5 year MD/MPH, a lot of the MPH stuff would get shafted....

When you do an MPH at another school while in an MD program, you technically take an academic leave of absence and get your MPH from the other school. So, you would be an MD from X school and MPH from Y school. You take all the same core classes as a 2-year MPHer but you would take 18 credits per semester consisting of these core classes (public health wide core plus your concentration core). I don't think you loose any of the material a 2-year MPHer would get because you cover it all but in a much shorter period of time and you probably won't have to write a thesis (depending on the school and the concentration of course).

 

[alibai3ah]

When you do an MPH at another school while in an MD program, you technically take an academic leave of absence and get your MPH from the other school. So, you would be an MD from X school and MPH from Y school. You take all the same core classes as a 2-year MPHer but you would take 18 credits per semester consisting of these core classes (public health wide core plus your concentration core). I don't think you loose any of the material a 2-year MPHer would get because you cover it all but in a much shorter period of time and you probably won't have to write a thesis (depending on the school and the concentration of course).

O I see. Thanks for letting me know. Interesting.

 

[blutie202]

I would recommend doing your MPH during your MD years, but not at GWU. Most medical schools will give their students the opportunity to obtain their MPH between their 2/3rd or 3/4th year at a different institution, so you would have to talk to GW to see how they can accommodate this. Certainly obtaining your MPH while still in med school will save you time and money (1 year vs. 2 years, and roughly depending on the school $30,000 vs. $60,000).

I just finished my MPH and I have years of experience in the public health field. I can tell you from personal experience that your MPH would best be obtained at another school, perhaps Hopkins, Emory, Harvard, etc. A big part of the MPH is "networking" with fellow classmates, faculty, visitors, alumni, etc. and your networking opportunities with really prominent figures in the PH world would be best achieved at a school globally known for producing, hiring, and housing leaders in PH. I also know that the MPH at GWU teaches essentially the same material their undergrads are given, so the focus on advanced graduate level work is lessened. I feel strongly that you would benefit most by obtaining your MPH at another school, and in the end, it will be most helpful for your future career goals. Honestly, the only advantage GW has compared to other schools of public health is its location (for internships), which you can anyway benefit from as a medical student, so obtaining your MPH there doesn't really make a difference. I want to make it clear, however, that GW as a school is great, but it is not a leader in public health, and for that reason, you should challenge yourself and strive to obtain your MPH at a more recognized institution.

Thank you for such helpful advice! I'll certainly check in with GW and see whether there are other MPH programs in the area (unless you feel location really shouldn't matter considering you have a full year to take coursework anyway??)..

Also.. I'm not exactly sure if most MPH programs require students to write a thesis. But if there are some that do not yet still offer a rewarding opportunity to network and study, then I'll certainly prioritize them.

 

[medat101]

Thank you for such helpful advice! I'll certainly check in with GW and see whether there are other MPH programs in the area (unless you feel location really shouldn't matter considering you have a full year to take coursework anyway??)..

Also.. I'm not exactly sure if most MPH programs require students to write a thesis. But if there are some that do not yet still offer a rewarding opportunity to network and study, then I'll certainly prioritize them.

The closest "good" MPH near washington D.C. would be Hopkins in Baltimore (approx 1 hour train ride from D.C.). I believe most health policy MPH programs do not require a thesis, but it obviously depends on the schools. I know for sure all require a practicum (aka internship), which most students do in their summer.