MPH in Global Health Development vs. MPH in GH focused Epidemiology

[NicapyMPH]

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Hi folks,

I'm having a hard time deciding between pursuing an MPH in Global Health and Development, Global Health Epidemiology, or even going for a dual degree MPH/MSPH in Global Health Epi.

My questions are:

1. If I choose to pursue epi with a focus in global health, will I have ample opportunity to get out in the field and do some public health practice and education, or will I mostly be confined to my research, writing papers, analyzing data, and reviewing literature?

2. If I go for the MPH in GH, will I be spending the majority of my time in the field and focus very little on the science behind the practice?

You see, the balance of these components is very important to me. Ideally, I'd like to split my time in the field doing public health practice and in the lab/in front of the computer doing research to improve the practice, and am wondering which career path most closely adheres to my preferences.

Here's my background:

Since graduating from college in May 2009, I've lived and worked abroad in two Latin American countries (8 months total), assisting in medical relief/general international development work, consisting of program development, monitoring, and evaluation, along with a few research projects and a bit of grant writing. Basically, I've gotten my hands dirty in a broad variety of global health/international development activities.

I am uncertain, however, if I want to do this sort of Global Health and Development work all my life. As a college graduate with a BS in Biological Sciences and a research background, I miss the science behind the public health. I feel like all I do is business. I'm doing the public health, but not improving the practice, and I have a feeling that managing public health programs with an MPH in Global Health won't bring me back to the science as much as it will take me to a lot of budget meetings, department oversight meetings, etc. Also, I've read that in general, epi salaries are higher, and that I wouldn't have to be out of the country as much as a GH program manager and could therefore spend more time with my family.

These feelings have turned me towards Epidemiology. I have looked at UWashington, Emory, and GWU for their global health focused epi programs and the mix of laboratory/data computing research plus working in the field is very appealing, but I am wondering too what I'd leave behind should I go down the epi path.

So, epidemiologists... what's your take? GH public health practitioners, what's yours?

Thanks so much.

 

[JMM051]

GH Epi is my immediate response.

BUT

Part of it depends on you.

GH Epi will be pretty laid out cousework wise. While there will be some choices for electives, the track will be more structured and therefore (can be) more "skills" based. GH is in general more "unstructured" at most schools. There are still some core classes but not nearly as much as many of the other concentrations. You could do the straight GH concentration and take a wealth or Epi/Biostats etc. classes and still get that background BUT it would be something you would have to plan for yourself and it would be something you would need to play up to prospective employers depending on what field you go into.

With a bunch of strong GH Epi tracks out there I would suggest going that route and getting the exposure to both with the option to pursue each at the end.


The three schools you mentioned are great schools. I don't think you would "lose out" at all going the GH Epi way. There are always ways to get involved GH health wise in addition to your coursework. At Emory there is a Global Field Experience that students can do for their practicum that offers funds for (just like it implies) global field experience. I am sure that those with GH Epi backgrounds are having no trouble finding experience overseas with that dual concentration. I am sure other schools have opportunities like that as well. Good luck!

 

[NicapyMPH]

Thanks JMM051 for the response.

Any epidemiologists or GH practitioners that can weigh in?