Medical HPSP?

[TrackHime]

Hello Hello,

I currently work in a government position so I found It natural to think about getting an MPH while in medical school.
Specifically, an MPH with a global health focus or an MS in global health. I also want to learn multiple languages (studying Arabic now, fluent in Spanish).
I really just want to know how the military could help me in these non-patient care aspects of medicine. I saw air force has an international health specialist job that seems to align with my interests, but how would that work with HPSP? Sorry for the long post!

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[orbitsurgMD]

Hello Hello,

I currently work in a government position so I found It natural to think about getting an MPH while in medical school.
Specifically, an MPH with a global health focus or an MS in global health. I also want to learn multiple languages (studying Arabic now, fluent in Spanish).
I really just want to know how the military could help me in these non-patient care aspects of medicine. I saw air force has an international health specialist job that seems to align with my interests, but how would that work with HPSP? Sorry for the long post!

Most people are earning their M.D. or D.O. in medical school. A combined degree program might be possible with an MPH, but with that alone there isn't much you offer of value to the military if you are going HPSP. (I did have an internship classmate who was an M.D./Ph.D. graduate, but I suspect the Navy paid only for the M.D. part --the individual was coming out of Harvard and the Ph.D. was in parasitology). Most MPH-physicians are also residency graduates in Preventative or Occupational Medicine, or have done other residencies and are headed toward public health careers. I would expect the MPH to be of value to the service once you have done a residency first.

 

[pgg]

Hello Hello,

I currently work in a government position so I found It natural to think about getting an MPH while in medical school.
Specifically, an MPH with a global health focus or an MS in global health. I also want to learn multiple languages (studying Arabic now, fluent in Spanish).
I really just want to know how the military could help me in these non-patient care aspects of medicine. I saw air force has an international health specialist job that seems to align with my interests, but how would that work with HPSP? Sorry for the long post!

The military regards "global health" mostly in the context of the idea that delivering direct healthcare or assisting the healthcare systems in developing countries might be strategically useful. This guiding principle affects where we go, what we do, when we do it, how long we do it, and how often we do it - which may or may not be the optimal places, times, methods, or frequency for really making a lasting positive difference in a developing country. For a while we (Navy) were sending the two hospital ships to Central/South America and the Pacific Rim to do that kind of thing, but COVID put a stop to it. Eventually I suppose we'll pick it up again. A minority of military healthcare personnel are involved in those missions. Lots of people go entire careers without doing any of it. There's a very real risk you take when you join the military to do something both uncommon and narrowly specific. While it's possible to choose a specialty and path that does more of that kind of work than, say, your average radiation oncologist, but it won't ever be more than a small part of what you do in the military.

If you want public health in the developing world to be a significant part of your career, you should stay out of the military and get involved with various non-governmental organizations that exist to do that kind of thing. Practice in the USA as an ordinary doctor to pay the bills part of the time, and give the rest of your time to some NGO.

Also. Don't underestimate the burden or difficulty of getting an MPH while you're in medical school. Medical school is kind of a busy time. Most people who get that Masters degree do it before medical school or after residency.

 

[TrackHime]

The military regards "global health" mostly in the context of the idea that delivering direct healthcare or assisting the healthcare systems in developing countries might be strategically useful. This guiding principle affects where we go, what we do, when we do it, how long we do it, and how often we do it - which may or may not be the optimal places, times, methods, or frequency for really making a lasting positive difference in a developing country. For a while we (Navy) were sending the two hospital ships to Central/South America and the Pacific Rim to do that kind of thing, but COVID put a stop to it. Eventually I suppose we'll pick it up again. A minority of military healthcare personnel are involved in those missions. Lots of people go entire careers without doing any of it. There's a very real risk you take when you join the military to do something both uncommon and narrowly specific. While it's possible to choose a specialty and path that does more of that kind of work than, say, your average radiation oncologist, but it won't ever be more than a small part of what you do in the military.

If you want public health in the developing world to be a significant part of your career, you should stay out of the military and get involved with various non-governmental organizations that exist to do that kind of thing. Practice in the USA as an ordinary doctor to pay the bills part of the time, and give the rest of your time to some NGO.

Also. Don't underestimate the burden or difficulty of getting an MPH while you're in medical school. Medical school is kind of a busy time. Most people who get that Masters degree do it before medical school or after residency.

Thank you for the insight! glad to know this route may not be the best for my specific career plans.
Also, some of the programs I applied to specifically have a year of time built into their curriculum where I could get a masters without worrying about Med classes. Those are the only programs I’d consider doing and MPH as a student lol I refuse to overwhelm myself more than I will be!

 

[TrackHime]

Most people are earning their M.D. or D.O. in medical school. A combined degree program might be possible with an MPH, but with that alone there isn't much you offer of value to the military if you are going HPSP. (I did have an internship classmate who was an M.D./Ph.D. graduate, but I suspect the Navy paid only for the M.D. part --the individual was coming out of Harvard and the Ph.D. was in parasitology). Most MPH-physicians are also residency graduates in Preventative or Occupational Medicine, or have done other residencies and are headed toward public health careers. I would expect the MPH to be of value to the service once you have done a residency first.

Thanks for the response! The more I talk to people, the less It sounds like a smart route for me
Since I’m so specific in my career plans. CDC internship here I come lol thanks again!