Md/mph

[Buddhasmash]

---

Members don't see this ad.

What are the benefits of getting both an MD and an MPH degree? What sorts of career opportunities does it open up if you have both rather than just one or the other?

 

[chman]

I always picture it as a degree that doctors get if they are going to run a hospital, a major community health center, government job, etc. It really depends on what your specific career goals are. If you are a doctor and want to work in public health you can certainly do so without an MPH. The reverse is also true, you can just get an MPH and work in public health, obviously. Although the first, I believe, opens more doors than the latter.

I have considered different combos of the above since it is an area that interests me and have come to the conclusion that an MD will suffice for my career intentions. Although, I am currently obtaining a BS in PH.

 

[Astarael]

I always picture it as a degree that doctors get if they are going to run a hospital, a major community health center, government job, etc. It really depends on what your specific career goals are. If you are a doctor and want to work in public health you can certainly do so without an MPH. The reverse is also true, you can just get an MPH and work in public health, obviously. Although the first, I believe, opens more doors than the latter.

I have considered different combos of the above since it is an area that interests me and have come to the conclusion that an MD will suffice for my career intentions. Although, I am currently obtaining a BS in PH.

I agree with this, although as far as running a hospital goes, that would depend upon the position. Your chief of service/chief of staff might be better off with an MPH, but I think that the administrative side is most likely going to be run by someone with a degree in hospital administration.

Expanding on chman's comment though, MPH is probably more useful in an away-from-patients setting. Things like being an EMS medical director or working for the CDC would probably be where that degree comes into play (although that is a guess and not based on any concrete knowledge).

 

[DrBowtie]

If it is an extra year, financially it doesn't make sense. It won't open anymore higher paying opportunities.

Only get it if you want to do hardcore public health research of be head of a health department.

 

[loveoforganic]

MPH's have several branches, so it's hard to answer your question, but it could increase your attractiveness in some public sector/academic jobs. At any rate, I wouldn't expect to have increased earnings with the combined degree than MD alone. At any rate, I'm debating applying for MPH in social and behavioral sciences. Feel like you'd learn things directly applicable to practice, as well as method in a research area I'm very interested in

 

[IrishCalini]

The only thing I can really tell you is why I want to do an MPH/MD program. With most of the diseases people die from now being tied to lifestyle, regular MD doctors with no public health training are having to rely on public health principles such as community-based research and public advocacy in order to practice effective community medicine. I saw this in action when I worked in an asthma clinic this summer where most of our practices involved public health aspects.

I don't anticipate going into any type of administrative or legislative employment. I want to be a clinical doctor. I have felt for a long time that having a core understanding of public health gives you a holistic perspective on medicine and the surrounding community. Its not for everyone, but its something I hope to do!