MPH and PharmD

[kxydo798]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I am working on getting applications in right now for MPH programs with a concentration in health education/promotion. After my MPH, I hope to attend pharmacy school, and one day work within the public health sector as a pharmacist.

My question is, with so many schools out there, and with this "academic plan", does the name of the school that I get my MPH from extremely relevant? I know there is another post out there about whether or not the school you chooses will affect you in the future. I don't feel like it really answers this question, so that's why I'm posting a new thread.

Having attended a small private school for my undergrad, I still have some loans to pay back (about 30K). With the intention of going to pharm school afterwards, its not very appealing to me to attend a pricey private school, even if its more prestigious, to get my MPH. I don't know if this is a poor choice...

I haven't really seen any threads on anyone doing a PharmD/MPH, so any information or advice regarding this matter would be greatly appreciated! Thanks 🙂

 

[microkosm]

My question is, with so many schools out there, and with this "academic plan", does the name of the school that I get my MPH from extremely relevant? I know there is another post out there about whether or not the school you chooses will affect you in the future. I don't feel like it really answers this question, so that's why I'm posting a new thread.

Obviously if you attend a prestigious program more opportunities will be available to you after you graduate. That being said, I think the state of accreditation is more immediately important.

I plan to pursue a dual degree pharmd/mph program. However, my schools mph program is not nationally accredited so I will have limited opportunities in state/federal government and larger private firms if it fails accreditation this May.

You may want to go pharmacy school first and then get your mph. You will have a tough time paying back undergrad loans with only a mph.

 

[ffpickle]

I think that if you are working with just an MPH, the school you attend matters a lot. But since you are also pursuing a PharmD, it is the skills you learn from the MPH which matter most, not really where you went.

 

[free09]

Honestly I would just go directly to applying to a Pharm.D program. Pharm.D programs do have a lot of community health emphasis and you will gain a knowledge of public health via rotations as well. Spending an extra 2 years and several thousand dollars more on an MPH doesn't seem like a good deal to me. If you really really like public health, you can do a joint program, which will save you a year over doing the degree separately.

 

[DrJosephKim]

If you plan to pursue a career in academia, then aim for the "best" schools that are out there.

 

[kxydo798]

Thank you so much for the advice/feedback 🙂