MD/MPH

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cupcakesandcadavers

cupcakesandcadavers

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hey all!
so i'm applying to MD programs right now but i have always had a slight interest in MPH programs (more focused towards global health/health policy, not so sure yet...). Usually, I've found that if you do this combined program, it will be 5 years. I mean, Ive been in school for 16, after med school, 20, what's one more , right? 😛
But in all seriousness, any current/past MD/MPH's who can speak about the benefits of doing this dual degree/what kind of doors it opens? It sounds awesome but I don't know if it will be worth the extra money for something that might not be beneficial for me in the future.
Thank you 🙂
 
You can actually do an MD/MPH in 4 years at a few schools!
 
Might want to ask in the Allo, you're a lot more likely to find some current students pursuing this path there.

Also there are a few 4 year combo programs if you are worried about the extra year
 
hey all!
so i'm applying to MD programs right now but i have always had a slight interest in MPH programs (more focused towards global health/health policy, not so sure yet...). Usually, I've found that if you do this combined program, it will be 5 years. I mean, Ive been in school for 16, after med school, 20, what's one more , right? 😛
But in all seriousness, any current/past MD/MPH's who can speak about the benefits of doing this dual degree/what kind of doors it opens? It sounds awesome but I don't know if it will be worth the extra money for something that might not be beneficial for me in the future.
Thank you 🙂
 
My mom recently (5 years ago) got an MPH. At her hospital is has become an unofficial/bordering on official requirement for any sort of management roles. She was approached about applying for such a role and was asked to enroll in an MPH program (presumably because other applicants all had it and they wanted to promote in-house). Basically the degree itself (information/skills) have been useless, according to her, but it came with a pay bump and minimal additional responsibilities. She has also become more involved with city-wide programs as a result of networking through the MPH...but I don't know how necessary the degree was.
 
kyamh said:
My mom recently (5 years ago) got an MPH. At her hospital is has become an unofficial/bordering on official requirement for any sort of management roles. She was approached about applying for such a role and was asked to enroll in an MPH program (presumably because other applicants all had it and they wanted to promote in-house). Basically the degree itself (information/skills) have been useless, according to her, but it came with a pay bump and minimal additional responsibilities. She has also become more involved with city-wide programs as a result of networking through the MPH...but I don't know how necessary the degree was.
Click to expand...
Did she get paid to do it? I have heard suggestions from a few people who did a combo MD/MPH and later on in residency or beyond recommended me not to do it during school if I was considering it, and waiting to see if a fellowship or other opportunity allowed me to get paid to pursue an MPH. I personally don't know how valid these claims are, but I'd also be curious to hear from people further on about the different possible pathways to an MPH.
 
U of Miami has a 4 year combined degree. I always believed that they expect students to have experiences with public health in order to apply for the program. Also, it won't cost you any more $ if you are OOS.
 
allenlchs said:
U of Miami has a 4 year combined degree. I always believed that they expect students to have experiences with public health in order to apply for the program. Also, it won't cost you any more $ if you are OOS.
Click to expand...
Your experience needn't be great. If you take classes relevant to public health that is good enough. Tufts also has a 4 year program.
 
allenlchs said:
U of Miami has a 4 year combined degree. I always believed that they expect students to have experiences with public health in order to apply for the program. Also, it won't cost you any more $ if you are OOS.
Click to expand...
I'm hesitant about Miami because they kick you out of the school for good if you decide to not do the combined anymore :/ it says on the website that if you want to drop to do MD only, you're kicked out of the whole school which is scary...
 
lmn said:
Did she get paid to do it? I have heard suggestions from a few people who did a combo MD/MPH and later on in residency or beyond recommended me not to do it during school if I was considering it, and waiting to see if a fellowship or other opportunity allowed me to get paid to pursue an MPH. I personally don't know how valid these claims are, but I'd also be curious to hear from people further on about the different possible pathways to an MPH.
Click to expand...

I don't remember for sure, but I don't think that the $20k, or whatever it was a year, was a major concern given the fact that she was an attending....the investment has certainly paid for itself. I have no idea about residency programs working an MPH in, sorry.
 
Honestly, if you have to pay for it, it makes no financial sense. That doesn't mean doing it isn't a good idea for you personally if you're really interested in public health.
 
kyamh said:
I don't remember for sure, but I don't think that the $20k, or whatever it was a year, was a major concern given the fact that she was an attending....the investment has certainly paid for itself. I have no idea about residency programs working an MPH in, sorry.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I'm not so concerned about the $20k pay or w/e to get an MPH, but more of the fact that at some schools it seems like the addition of an MPH can cost the price of another year of MD tuition. Another $50k + all the years of interest would be pretty upsetting if it was also a very viable option to get it a bit later on for no cost & interest, and in fact possibly getting an additional bonus for doing it.
 
gyngyn said:
I think Tulane and USC have 4 year programs, as well.
Click to expand...
do you know if they make you apply to them right now or can you switch into it later?
i already applied to both of those as regular MD so i'm not sure if i would have to contact them to change it now.
also since I'm not even positive that i want to..they seem like pretty rigid programs with little flexibility to explore other options to be involved in at the school
 
So, as someone who just completed my MPH between my third and fourth year I have to say the following...

I loved my MPH. It really pushed me, made me passionate all over again about medicine, healthcare and my future role as a doctor, and exposed me to so many new ideas. Not to mention, it was AWESOME taking a break from the grind of medical school. I got so burnt out on school, especially third year, that I need rehab, and my MPH was just that. Don't get me wrong, but the one year MPH is tough, especially if you are doing it at one of the top 5 institutions, but it isn't the same difficulty as medical school - it was way more pleasurable. I also got to network like crazy, meet tons of professionals in my field, completed an internship at a huge global governing body. It was nothing short of amazing.

Cons: It is expensive. I called it the best $100,000 gift I ever gave myself. You won't have the time to accomplish everything you want that year. I wanted to do so much, and while I did probably 80% of what I wanted to, I still have some unfinished business. I also focused on global/maternal health, which was exactly what I wanted to do, but in hindsight, I wish I had spent more time taking classes on statistics. A minor con is that all of your friends are gone during your fourth year coming back to med school. I am experiencing that now, and it is not fun, but I'll live.

I personally want to do lots of interventions and planning health programs in my career, and so the MPH was perfect for me. I feel like it made me aware of what my future challenges will be, and how my medical training and my health intervention goals are connected. I feel that if you are really committed to the MPH, it will serve its purpose, but if you are only kind of feeling interested, perhaps you should really explore the institutions you would be interested in applying to and reading about their courses, and figure out what the MPH would serve for your future.

Keep in mind, that most highly-ranked institutions take students between their third and fourth year. The application is due in earlish December, so you will be in full-swing third year. I was on surgery and working on my applications, NOT fun. You have to fill out another AMCAS (this one is called SOPHAS). At the end of the day, its up to you what you want to do. I wish you the best, and I hope if you do decide to get your MPH it is everything you want it to be!!
 
booferette said:
So, as someone who just completed my MPH between my third and fourth year I have to say the following...

I loved my MPH. It really pushed me, made me passionate all over again about medicine, healthcare and my future role as a doctor, and exposed me to so many new ideas. Not to mention, it was AWESOME taking a break from the grind of medical school. I got so burnt out on school, especially third year, that I need rehab, and my MPH was just that. Don't get me wrong, but the one year MPH is tough, especially if you are doing it at one of the top 5 institutions, but it isn't the same difficulty as medical school - it was way more pleasurable. I also got to network like crazy, meet tons of professionals in my field, completed an internship at a huge global governing body. It was nothing short of amazing.

Cons: It is expensive. I called it the best $100,000 gift I ever gave myself. You won't have the time to accomplish everything you want that year. I wanted to do so much, and while I did probably 80% of what I wanted to, I still have some unfinished business. I also focused on global/maternal health, which was exactly what I wanted to do, but in hindsight, I wish I had spent more time taking classes on statistics. A minor con is that all of your friends are gone during your fourth year coming back to med school. I am experiencing that now, and it is not fun, but I'll live.

I personally want to do lots of interventions and planning health programs in my career, and so the MPH was perfect for me. I feel like it made me aware of what my future challenges will be, and how my medical training and my health intervention goals are connected. I feel that if you are really committed to the MPH, it will serve its purpose, but if you are only kind of feeling interested, perhaps you should really explore the institutions you would be interested in applying to and reading about their courses, and figure out what the MPH would serve for your future.

Keep in mind, that most highly-ranked institutions take students between their third and fourth year. The application is due in earlish December, so you will be in full-swing third year. I was on surgery and working on my applications, NOT fun. You have to fill out another AMCAS (this one is called SOPHAS). At the end of the day, its up to you what you want to do. I wish you the best, and I hope if you do decide to get your MPH it is everything you want it to be!!
Click to expand...
I'm so glad you had a positive experience! I guess I am just not sure where I want my medical career to go. Obviously, I'm not even in med school yet--I'm actually a rising college senior! I have been taking GH courses at school and love it, but wish I had opportunity to do more abroad medical work. I would love to be able to participate in a program such as Doctors without Borders in the future. But maybe it would also be cool to become further educated on global healthcare policy and teach future med students about that stuff. So many options!
For either of those options, do you think an MPH would be needed/helpful?
I have also seen some 4 year combined programs...but some are intense and will kick you out of the school if you decide it isn't for you and want to do just MD.
 
cupcakesandcadavers said:
do you know if they make you apply to them right now or can you switch into it later?
i already applied to both of those as regular MD so i'm not sure if i would have to contact them to change it now.
also since I'm not even positive that i want to..they seem like pretty rigid programs with little flexibility to explore other options to be involved in at the school
Click to expand...
Was there a question regarding this in the secondary or on the website at either of these schools? That's often where this information is located.
 
I know for Tulane you apply after you are admitted. Although they did have a place where I marked that I was interested, in addition to mentioning it in the secondary.
 
I'm not verified just yet so I haven't received the secondaries for Tulane or USC. I'll do more research. I just don't want to be penalized for initially saying I'm interested and then saying "lol jk" a couple months later.
thanks for the help!
 
booferette said:
So, as someone who just completed my MPH between my third and fourth year I have to say the following...

I loved my MPH. It really pushed me, made me passionate all over again about medicine, healthcare and my future role as a doctor, and exposed me to so many new ideas. Not to mention, it was AWESOME taking a break from the grind of medical school. I got so burnt out on school, especially third year, that I need rehab, and my MPH was just that. Don't get me wrong, but the one year MPH is tough, especially if you are doing it at one of the top 5 institutions, but it isn't the same difficulty as medical school - it was way more pleasurable. I also got to network like crazy, meet tons of professionals in my field, completed an internship at a huge global governing body. It was nothing short of amazing.

Cons: It is expensive. I called it the best $100,000 gift I ever gave myself. You won't have the time to accomplish everything you want that year. I wanted to do so much, and while I did probably 80% of what I wanted to, I still have some unfinished business. I also focused on global/maternal health, which was exactly what I wanted to do, but in hindsight, I wish I had spent more time taking classes on statistics. A minor con is that all of your friends are gone during your fourth year coming back to med school. I am experiencing that now, and it is not fun, but I'll live.

I personally want to do lots of interventions and planning health programs in my career, and so the MPH was perfect for me. I feel like it made me aware of what my future challenges will be, and how my medical training and my health intervention goals are connected. I feel that if you are really committed to the MPH, it will serve its purpose, but if you are only kind of feeling interested, perhaps you should really explore the institutions you would be interested in applying to and reading about their courses, and figure out what the MPH would serve for your future.

Keep in mind, that most highly-ranked institutions take students between their third and fourth year. The application is due in earlish December, so you will be in full-swing third year. I was on surgery and working on my applications, NOT fun. You have to fill out another AMCAS (this one is called SOPHAS). At the end of the day, its up to you what you want to do. I wish you the best, and I hope if you do decide to get your MPH it is everything you want it to be!!
Click to expand...
Your MPH was $100,000?!?!
 
If you want to practice medicine, get a medical degree. If you want to practice public health, get a public health degree. There is absolutely no reason to get both unless you haven't grown up and still want to fill the world with rainbows and sunshine.
 
sinombre said:
Yeah, that is seriously insane. I'm guessing it was a 2-year MPH at a private school.
Click to expand...
Definitely crazy. Of course, as rich as medical students are these days, I'm no longer surprised. His MPH was 1 year.
 
Nope, it was a one-year program. I should clarify that I had plenty of scholarships, and funding, but the MPH at a selective program is not cheap by any means. They take two years, cram it in one, and still get their monies worth.

And Liamneesons, the field of public health and medicine are not mutually exclusive. They are actually nearly one in the same, and the many reasons our medical system in the US is failing is this mentality that they are separate, or that knowledge and experience in each isn't critical to be a doctor. Don't get your MPH, but keep in mind that this mentality is more hurtful for both you and your patients. If you do not understand what drives epidemiology, research, and health trends, then what's the point of medicine? To me medicine is not going from one room to another treating patient after patient, but rather understanding why disease happens and how to change that.

DermViser - why would you assume that another medical student would be a male? Stereotype much?
 
cupcakesandcadavers said:
I'm so glad you had a positive experience! I guess I am just not sure where I want my medical career to go. Obviously, I'm not even in med school yet--I'm actually a rising college senior! I have been taking GH courses at school and love it, but wish I had opportunity to do more abroad medical work. I would love to be able to participate in a program such as Doctors without Borders in the future. But maybe it would also be cool to become further educated on global healthcare policy and teach future med students about that stuff. So many options!
For either of those options, do you think an MPH would be needed/helpful?
I have also seen some 4 year combined programs...but some are intense and will kick you out of the school if you decide it isn't for you and want to do just MD.
Click to expand...

If this is the case, I HIGHLY recommend you take time off and experience life. I took two years off after college and worked in public health, traveled the world, and experienced life. I would say my maturity level and understanding of medicine and the state of the world was very different and much more advanced than a lot of those (not all) that went straight from college to med school. It makes you all around more interesting, and gives you a firm foundation to work off of during your degree. Good for you for taking awesome classes. I will also say that MSF (doctors without borders) is awesome. An MPH an MD, or both would be greatly helpful to work there as well.
 
cupcakesandcadavers said:
Okay! I'll repost in Allo 🙂
Click to expand...

Do not do this. It is actually against the forum rules to repost questions in multiple forums as it adds unnecessary clutter. Place your question in the forum that best fits the relevant audience. In this case your question is relevant for pre-medical students thinking of applying to medical school, so it belongs in pre-allo. Medical students, residents, and even attendings from other forums regularly read pre-allo and can also offer their perspectives here.
 
Narmerguy said:
Do not do this. It is actually against the forum rules to repost questions in multiple forums as it adds unnecessary clutter. Place your question in the forum that best fits the relevant audience. In this case your question is relevant for pre-medical students thinking of applying to medical school, so it belongs in pre-allo. Medical students, residents, and even attendings from other forums regularly read pre-allo and can also offer their perspectives here.
Click to expand...
How is it just pre-allo? Many schools you can apply for MPH once you're already in-program. Further the OP was asking for advice from current med students or graduated students, not from pre-meds guessing about how it merges in med school and beyond. Just seems a bit odd to me to put in a forum with less of the desired traffic and in one where the vast, vast majority of browsers can't answer the question.
 
lmn said:
How is it just pre-allo? Many schools you can apply for MPH once you're already in-program. Further the OP was asking for advice from current med students or graduated students, not from pre-meds guessing about how it merges in med school and beyond. Just seems a bit odd to me to put in a forum with less of the desired traffic and in one where the vast, vast majority of browsers can't answer the question.
Click to expand...

The medical student forums is for questions posted by medical students related to their topics of interest. The OP is not a medical student and is applying to medical schools. While MPH's are of interest to many different students and trainees, in this situation the best fit is pre-allo. Medical students answer question in pre-allo regularly, as do some residents and attendings. I understand the seeming bizarreness of this policy as it seemed the same way to me when I first joined. However, this is to preserve the medical student forum as a place for medical students to talk about issues of general interest to current medical students, rather than a place where premeds post questions seeking answers from medical students. Similar policies exist for residency forums, dental forums, pharmacy forums, etc.
 
Narmerguy said:
The medical student forums is for questions posted by medical students related to their topics of interest. The OP is not a medical student and is applying to medical schools. While MPH's are of interest to many different students and trainees, in this situation the best fit is pre-allo. Medical students answer question in pre-allo regularly, as do some residents and attendings. I understand the seeming bizarreness of this policy as it seemed the same way when I first joined. However, this is to preserve the medical student forum as a place for medical students to talk about issues of general interest to current medical students, rather than a place where premeds post questions seeking answers from medical students. Similar policies exist for residency forums, dental forums, pharmacy forums, etc.
Click to expand...
Mmm alright, thanks for the explanation.
 
booferette said:
And Liamneesons, the field of public health and medicine are not mutually exclusive. They are actually nearly one in the same, and the many reasons our medical system in the US is failing is this mentality that they are separate, or that knowledge and experience in each isn't critical to be a doctor. Don't get your MPH, but keep in mind that this mentality is more hurtful for both you and your patients. If you do not understand what drives epidemiology, research, and health trends, then what's the point of medicine? To me medicine is not going from one room to another treating patient after patient, but rather understanding why disease happens and how to change
Click to expand...

Medicine and public health are basically the same thing. Got it.

The healthcare system is failing because doctors (not politicians) don't understand public health. Got it.

My patient in room 9 is worse off because I reduced their fracture but didn't ponder the health belief model before sending them home. Got it.

Epidemiology and research are nowhere to be found in medical school. Got it.

Medicine IS going from one room to another to treat patients. See my previous statement on why a medical degree is not necessary if you would rather sit under a tree and make up theories than see patients.

That's great that you love public health, want a career in it, and wasted your time on a medical degree. However, that is not good advice for people who want to practice medicine.

I have a MPH. I will never use it. The only good classes were epidemiology and biostatistics--relevant principles of which are on step 1. I have no "greater perspective." Therefore, it was a waste of my time and money.
 
My experience in public health:

There is a very religious following with lots of koolaid, similar to the NP movement where everyone is trying to feel important. But instead of seeing patients, the public health people are just creating paperwork and checking boxes while billing the tax payers.

"Hey Bill, did you get those boxes I created for you?

"Yea, I checked those already."

"Alright thanks. Please let my assistant know. She needs work too."

Allow me to get everyone up to speed....

In 1796 Edward Jenner discovered the vaccine.

In 1854 John Snow discovered the source a cholera outbreak using a number 2 pencil and a map.

In 1866 the first public health organization was built and public health experts have been taking credit for everything before them since.

Oh, cigarette smoke is bad, and seat belts keep you inside of your car when it crashes.

There you have it, your increased perspective. You are now a complete physician.
 
Do you mind sharing what you did in your gap years? Sounds like you've done exactly what I want to do!

booferette said:
If this is the case, I HIGHLY recommend you take time off and experience life. I took two years off after college and worked in public health, traveled the world, and experienced life. I would say my maturity level and understanding of medicine and the state of the world was very different and much more advanced than a lot of those (not all) that went straight from college to med school. It makes you all around more interesting, and gives you a firm foundation to work off of during your degree. Good for you for taking awesome classes. I will also say that MSF (doctors without borders) is awesome. An MPH an MD, or both would be greatly helpful to work there as well.
Click to expand...
 
LiamNeesons said:
My experience in public health:

There is a very religious following with lots of koolaid, similar to the NP movement where everyone is trying to feel important. But instead of seeing patients, the public health people are just creating paperwork and checking boxes while billing the tax payers.

"Hey Bill, did you get those boxes I created for you?

"Yea, I checked those already."

"Alright thanks. Please let my assistant know. She needs work too."

Allow me to get everyone up to speed....

In 1796 Edward Jenner discovered the vaccine.

In 1854 John Snow discovered the source a cholera outbreak using a number 2 pencil and a map.

In 1866 the first public health organization was built and public health experts have been taking credit for everything before them since.

Oh, cigarette smoke is bad, and seat belts keep you inside of your car when it crashes.

There you have it, your increased perspective. You are now a complete physician.
Click to expand...

And this, my friends, is why the MPH is a waste of time before medical school if your goal is med school. My advice: wait until you have been admitted to med school then decide if the MD/MPH is right for you. The options at that point are doing it during med school (4 year combined or 4+1), during fellowship (the downside is you don't have the skills earlier the benefit being that you can better target your classes and projects to your specialty), or later in your career (I know physicians who went back to school for the MPH in their 40s, 50s and even 60s). Also, LiamNeesons ignorance is showing regarding physicians in public health. Many of them do some combination of patient care, teaching, research and advocacy as academic physicians.
 
LizzyM said:
Also, LiamNeesons ignorance is showing regarding physicians in public health. Many of them do some combination of patient care, teaching, research and advocacy as academic physicians.
Click to expand...

My ignorance? I'm saying I completed a MPH, and I didn't learn anything that medical school didn't teach me.

You're argument is MD/MPH's have jobs. That's wonderful. Not disagreeing. Please name something you absolutely cannot do unless you have both a MD and MPH.

No one is arguing that you can't do two jobs with two degrees. I'm saying you don't need two degrees to do either job more effectively.
 
LiamNeesons said:
My ignorance? I'm saying I completed a MPH, and I didn't learn anything that medical school didn't teach me.

You're argument is MD/MPH's have jobs. That's wonderful. Not disagreeing. Please name something you absolutely cannot do unless you have both a MD and MPH.

No one is arguing that you can't do two jobs with two degrees. I'm saying you don't need two degrees to do either job more effectively.
Click to expand...

You were making is sound as if MDs with MPH were not doing patient care. That is not true. I do believe that an MS in epidemiology may be better than a MPH for some academic physicians... While there have been notable exceptions, most Surgeons General have MD and MPH. Same goes for most Commissioners of Health of big states and cities.
 
LizzyM said:
And this, my friends, is why the MPH is a waste of time before medical school if your goal is med school.
Click to expand...

Because having a MPH certainly taints your medical school application. Aren't you supposed to be a premed advisor? This is terrible advice.
 
LizzyM said:
You were making is sound as if MDs with MPH were not doing patient care. That is not true. I do believe that an MS in epidemiology may be better than a MPH for some academic physicians... While there have been notable exceptions, most Surgeons General have MD and MPH. Same goes for most Commissioners of Health of big states and cities.
Click to expand...

Please quote me where I said MD/MPH's are not doing patient care.

The surgeon general has a MPH?? Guess what, if I become president of the United States some day, I'll have one too.
 
LiamNeesons said:
Because having a MPH certainly taints your medical school application. Aren't you supposed to be a premed advisor? This is terrible advice.
Click to expand...
Obvious, although you did get into medical school, the MPH education was wasted on you.

I am not a premed advisor. I'm a med school admissions committee member.
 
LiamNeesons said:
My experience in public health:

There is a very religious following with lots of koolaid, similar to the NP movement where everyone is trying to feel important. But instead of seeing patients, the public health people are just creating paperwork and checking boxes while billing the tax payers.

"Hey Bill, did you get those boxes I created for you?

"Yea, I checked those already."

"Alright thanks. Please let my assistant know. She needs work too."

Allow me to get everyone up to speed....
Click to expand...


Is this what you implied regarding physicians with MPH degrees... checking boxes and doing paperwork.
 
From my perspective, I see people doing MPH as a form of grade repair. My problem is that coursework in "Global Reproductive Health" or "Community and Global Health Issues" are a lot harder to gauge than a post-bac course in Physiology or Anatomy.

Thus, I tend to view people who do well in an MPH less highly than those who take SMPs or other types of post-bacs.

LizzyM said:
And this, my friends, is why the MPH is a waste of time before medical school if your goal is med school. My advice: wait until you have been admitted to med school then decide if the MD/MPH is right for you. The options at that point are doing it during med school (4 year combined or 4+1), during fellowship (the downside is you don't have the skills earlier the benefit being that you can better target your classes and projects to your specialty), or later in your career (I know physicians who went back to school for the MPH in their 40s, 50s and even 60s). Also, LiamNeesons ignorance is showing regarding physicians in public health. Many of them do some combination of patient care, teaching, research and advocacy as academic physicians.
Click to expand...
 
I'm planning on getting a combined MD/MPH because I work in public health now and recognize how important it is. With the MPH, you learn how to address health concerns on a population level. I want to use my knowledge from both degrees to improve the health of populations. In addition, I want to be involved in the administration for programs that reach out to urban communities.

OP, don't listen to the people who are saying it's a waste of time and money! If you want to do it and have a plan for what you want to do with the degree, do it.
 
Goro said:
From my perspective, I see people doing MPH as a form of grade repair. My problem is that coursework in "Global Reproductive Health" or "Community and Global Health Issues" are a lot harder to gauge than a post-bac course in Physiology or Anatomy.

Thus, I tend to view people who do well in an MPH less highly than those who take SMPs or other types of post-bacs.
Click to expand...

I concur.
 
While I have not been admitted to a program yet, here's my two cents....

There are a lot of joint degree programs (MD/MBA, MD/JD, MD/MS, etc.) because clearly medical students have a love of patient care AND another field they are passionate about. If they have a vision for a career that may not follow the traditional MD path, it makes perfect sense that they enroll in one of those programs. If you want to experience the doctors patient relationship with one patient, while also working on advocacy/large scale projects, then I think an MD/MPH is a perfect fit. In my mind, it is no different from the MD/PhD who only spends 1 day per week with patients and 4 days doing research. It combining patient care with another passion.

And with the rising rates of preventable diseases happening, maybe more people should be looking into involvement with public health on some level.
 
LizzyM said:
Is this what you implied regarding physicians with MPH degrees... checking boxes and doing paperwork.
Click to expand...

"Public health people" refers to those with a MPH only who are doing public health work.

"Vitamin C causes cancer."

"Vitamin C does not cause cancer."

"Vitamin C causes cancer."

"Vitamin C does not cause cancer."

Etc.
 
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