MPH vs Preventive Medicine

[Isoprop]

I don't have a clear understanding of how general preventive medicine is different than an MPH. I've read a few articles from the ACPM on what exactly is preventive medicine and what preventive medicine docs do, but all I read are vague wishywashy descriptions of how preventive medicine is saving the world.

How are the career options different for someone with an MPH vs preventive medicine?

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[trixmd]

Typically, someone who is trained in Preventive Medicine is a physician or veterinarian, where as an MD or DVM isn't a requirement for an MPH. So the career options are widely different. An MPH allows one to work on policy, in research, or perhaps as an epidemiologist or environmental science specialist in a local health department. A Preventive Medicine doctor can do that and practice clinically (or not practice clinically, as many choose).

 

[Isoprop]

Thanks for that info.

Follow-up questions. For preventive med doctor who doesn't practice clinically (e.g. works on public policy), does their medically education essentially become "wasted"? For someone who is interested in preventive medicine, why even enter medicine? How does a preventive med doc use their specialty training in a clinical setting?

 

[calvinhobbes]

Thanks for that info.

Follow-up questions. For preventive med doctor who doesn't practice clinically (e.g. works on public policy), does their medically education essentially become "wasted"? For someone who is interested in preventive medicine, why even enter medicine? How does a preventive med doc use their specialty training in a clinical setting?

It isn't wasted because an MD/MPH is a true public health professional that is verse in both the clinical aspects and in academia based research, public policy, global health, infectious disease, etc.

A prev med doc uses their specialty training in a clinical research, alongside PhD's and DrPH and MPH's to perform research and can also see patients and diagnose whilst advocating for public health improvement.

They can travel and make assessments, and are highly regarded

 

[VQuick]

I'm very interested in a preventive medicine residency (a 3-year program after med school). I like the idea of integrating clinical practice and clinical research/public health very much, and I don't want to do more than 3 years of post-graduate training if I can help it given that I will be 32 when I graduate.

If I did the 3 year PM residency, would I be certified to practice medicine clinically even though I only have the 1 year (transitional year) of clinical work beyond med school? Could I join a group practice and see patients in a primary care setting, or does that require a separate family med/internal med residency? If not, what exactly are the limits on clinical practice for an MD with only preventive medicine certification?

 

[wiiturtledove]

Thanks for that info.

Follow-up questions. For preventive med doctor who doesn't practice clinically (e.g. works on public policy), does their medically education essentially become "wasted"? For someone who is interested in preventive medicine, why even enter medicine? How does a preventive med doc use their specialty training in a clinical setting?

Are you serious? Prevention is always better than treatment!!!!

 

[trixmd]

If I did the 3 year PM residency, would I be certified to practice medicine clinically even though I only have the 1 year (transitional year) of clinical work beyond med school? Could I join a group practice and see patients in a primary care setting, or does that require a separate family med/internal med residency? If not, what exactly are the limits on clinical practice for an MD with only preventive medicine certification?

Right now, by virtue of finishing USMLE Step 1, you're eligible for a medical license, and can practice medicine at an urgent care/doc in the box setting. The ACGME is lobbying to make changes in the Prev Med curriculum. Their position is that the MPH year isn't really a year of graduate medical education and some would like to see that year replaced by more clinical rotations. Most prev med docs find their MPH training invaluable and critical to their public health practice, and feel like the quality of their practice would be compromised.

I'm in the military and only trained in Prev Med, but I also practiced for 8 years before going back to residency. Prior to going back, I had a couple offers to moonlight and cover practices in the above settings, and probably could still do so. Hence, you could probably see patients in a group setting without primary care training, but that would depend on the job and the practice/insurer requirements.

I"m not aware of any limitations on only Prev Med trained physicians, but I do recall that one of the grads from my program (UNC) received a faculty appointment in another state a few years after graduation and had some trouble getting a medical license in the new state because she couldn't prove her clinical competency (hadn't seen patients in a while..)

Currently, (when not deployed) I see patients one morning a week in a primary care setting, but spend most of my time providing consultation services (for Navy and Marine Corps units) and research (norovirus and h1n1). I imagine when I get out of the military I'll do a combination of clinical work and research/policy work, (many former military prev med docs do research or consulting)

Hope that helps.

 

[VQuick]

Right now, by virtue of finishing USMLE Step 1, you're eligible for a medical license, and can practice medicine at an urgent care/doc in the box setting. The ACGME is lobbying to make changes in the Prev Med curriculum. Their position is that the MPH year isn't really a year of graduate medical education and some would like to see that year replaced by more clinical rotations. Most prev med docs find their MPH training invaluable and critical to their public health practice, and feel like the quality of their practice would be compromised.

I'm in the military and only trained in Prev Med, but I also practiced for 8 years before going back to residency. Prior to going back, I had a couple offers to moonlight and cover practices in the above settings, and probably could still do so. Hence, you could probably see patients in a group setting without primary care training, but that would depend on the job and the practice/insurer requirements.

I"m not aware of any limitations on only Prev Med trained physicians, but I do recall that one of the grads from my program (UNC) received a faculty appointment in another state a few years after graduation and had some trouble getting a medical license in the new state because she couldn't prove her clinical competency (hadn't seen patients in a while..)

Currently, (when not deployed) I see patients one morning a week in a primary care setting, but spend most of my time providing consultation services (for Navy and Marine Corps units) and research (norovirus and h1n1). I imagine when I get out of the military I'll do a combination of clinical work and research/policy work, (many former military prev med docs do research or consulting)

Hope that helps.

Very helpful, thank you! It's great to hear a little about your career so far and your outlook for the future.