MPH/DDS

[bigbutrealdreams]

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Hi guys,

I noticed that some schools offer a dual degree in DDS/MPH.
What is the advantage of having an MPH in terms of dental career opportunities?
Also, how many extra years of schooling are necessary? Most importantly, is dual degree worth the additional financial investment?

Thank you, all!

 

[DoctaFauci]

Hi guys,

I noticed that some schools offer a dual degree in DDS/MPH.
What is the advantage of having an MPH in terms of dental career opportunities?
Also, how many extra years of schooling are necessary? Most importantly, is dual degree worth the additional financial investment?

Thank you, all!

The only advantage would be if you plan to be a dentist in an academic setting, policy, or FQHC. The dual track isn't really a great option bc you have to take off a year between 3/4 and complete the MPH, whereas many programs (Hopkins, Harvard, GW, Berkeley, etc) allow DMDs to complete the MPH in 11 months anyway. So it's not really saving any time doing the "dual degree" track. However, if some programs allow you to save money or offer scholarships for the dual option, then it could be worth it. An MPH runs about $60k.

 

[fogorvostan]

The only advantage would be if you plan to be a dentist in an academic setting, policy, or FQHC. The dual track isn't really a great option bc you have to take off a year between 3/4 and complete the MPH, whereas many programs (Hopkins, Harvard, GW, Berkeley, etc) allow DMDs to complete the MPH in 11 months anyway. So it's not really saving any time doing the "dual degree" track. However, if some programs allow you to save money or offer scholarships for the dual option, then it could be worth it. An MPH runs about $60k.

Adding onto this. I did my MPH after undergrad (staring dental school in the fall) and I did it in 11 months as well. This was at UGA.

 

[Mycoalwin]

Please refer to post below.

 

[Mycoalwin]

The only advantage would be if you plan to be a dentist in an academic setting, policy, or FQHC. The dual track isn't really a great option bc you have to take off a year between 3/4 and complete the MPH, whereas many programs (Hopkins, Harvard, GW, Berkeley, etc) allow DMDs to complete the MPH in 11 months anyway. So it's not really saving any time doing the "dual degree" track. However, if some programs allow you to save money or offer scholarships for the dual option, then it could be worth it. An MPH runs about $60k.

Hate to revive an old thread, but I do have a question regarding the pursuit of an MPH during/after dental school.

Seems like most options for me as an entering dental student are either obtaining the degree between 3rd and 4th year or right after D4. Is pursuing an MPH through one of the aforementioned 11 month programs disadvantageous to a dentist / dental student if we cannot keep practicing and maintaining our hand skills during either of these periods? What's the perfect balance for this? Am I overestimating how much hand skills will be affected by a "year off" from dentistry? Maybe there's a way to volunteer at a weekend/night clinic...

Thanks in advance!

 

[DoctaFauci]

Your hand skills won't suffer, but your pocket book might. Personally, I plan to look at a professional online track so there's no major opportunity cost as I continue to work (Johns Hopkins most likely; George Washington has a good online track, too). There are programs in my state that will pay down the loans if I work at an FQHC or in academia (which I plan to do).

How are you financing dental school? You need to be sure it's financially viable to pursue an MPH and that any opportunity cost will be justified. If you enter a dual degree, will the MPH be financed or do you have to pay tuition ($50-60k)? What if you do an additional residency, like a GPR/AEGD? If you do it after school, then you can moonlight potentially. But during school, you won't be able to practice any dentistry without a degree and license.

Many dentists that transition into academia pursue the MPH later in their career or a professional track. You need to make sure it's financially viable to do an MPH as an entering student.