MPH versus MPP or MPA with an MD

[samisab786]

Hey you guys,
I noticed that there are a lot of MD/MPH programs out there as well as a few masters of public policy/administration ones with MDs as well. I was wondering what is the difference between getting an MPH and a MPP or an MPA. For MDs or even non-MD students, what is their goal in getting an MPH as opposed to an MPP or an MPA?

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[RxWildcat]

I would lean towards the MPH over the MPA. Public administration is quite boring to me, whereas the MPH seems a lot more useful for analyzing/ publishing stuff with the PharmD.

 

[samisab786]

I would lean towards the MPH over the MPA. Public administration is quite boring to me, whereas the MPH seems a lot more useful for analyzing/ publishing stuff with the PharmD.

Oh, I notice you're doing a combo with an MPA. I just want to know what each degree entails like what would somebody with an MPH do versues somebody with an MPA.

 

[bigpharmD]

Oh, I notice you're doing a combo with an MPA. I just want to know what each degree entails like what would somebody with an MPH do versues somebody with an MPA.

MPA is geared towards administrators and policy. MPH can go in many dif. directions such as epi, global health, health policy, etc.

 

[bigpharmD]

I would lean towards the MPH over the MPA. Public administration is quite boring to me, whereas the MPH seems a lot more useful for analyzing/ publishing stuff with the PharmD.

Why are you getting an MPA then?

 

[bigpharmD]

Hey you guys,
I noticed that there are a lot of MD/MPH programs out there as well as a few masters of public policy/administration ones with MDs as well. I was wondering what is the difference between getting an MPH and a MPP or an MPA. For MDs or even non-MD students, what is their goal in getting an MPH as opposed to an MPP or an MPA?

By the way you keep askign about MDs but your pre-pharm. If you want to be an MD I suggest switching now and not going the pharm route. As I have said before though if your planning on doing public health or admin, many of these are open to pharmds as well.

 

[RxWildcat]

Why are you getting an MPA then?

Made a mistake, in too deep.

 

[bigpharmD]

Made a mistake, in too deep.

No big deal. You can always get the MPH. What do you plan on doing.

 

[RxWildcat]

I dunno yet for sure, I'm leaning towards ID/HIV though.

 

[bigpharmD]

I dunno yet for sure, I'm leaning towards ID/HIV though.

Good field. IF you ever want my opinion on good residencies/fellowships pm me sometime

 

[RxWildcat]

Good field. IF you ever want my opinion on good residencies/fellowships pm me sometime

Thanks, I definitely will when I start the search later this year.

 

[aspiringmph]

I think if you're interested in health, you're better off getting an MPH with a concentration in Health Policy. For careers in health administration, a MHA or MHS seems appropriate. And if you're interested in general administration (like government), an MBA or a JD would be a more credible choice.

But I guess it depends on your specific career goals. I know a couple people with MPAs and they find them quite useless, but they also chose the programs because they weren't sure what else to do with their time.

 

[samisab786]

By the way you keep askign about MDs but your pre-pharm. If you want to be an MD I suggest switching now and not going the pharm route. As I have said before though if your planning on doing public health or admin, many of these are open to pharmds as well.

I know, I know, I'm in a 0-6 pharmacy program so I'm technically a pre-pharmer right now. I'm only a freshman right now though and I haven't made the final decision about getting out of pharm (which is why I'm here, researching 😀). I'm thinking about finalizing and making a move by sophomore year b/c if I make a move now, I will never be able to get back in.

Thanks for the advice though.