now or later

[Jennifer25]

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What are the pros and cons for getting an MPH concurrently with a MD or after the MD?

thanks!

 

[Heal&Teach]

Timeless question... make sure to search the forums for this, and other common questions. The posters here offer a lot of great information. There are many threads on this topic, the one below is just one. Just type in "md mph" into the "search this forum" function to find more.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=189824&highlight=mph

Mods, since this is a common question, can we pool some of the information or start a sticky?

Best,
H&T

 

[lulubean]

i just finished a 2-year mph program (prior to med school) and still feel like there is a whole lot more i could learn about the field. public health is such a broad discipline and there is so much to know. i personally don't think you would learn enough about public health in 1 year to make the program worthwhile.

 

[guarana]

i just finished a 2-year mph program (prior to med school) and still feel like there is a whole lot more i could learn about the field. public health is such a broad discipline and there is so much to know. i personally don't think you would learn enough about public health in 1 year to make the program worthwhile.

i think while you wouldn't learn as much per se in a one year program, you would certainly learn more than not doing it at all. not worthwhile? hmm

there are benefits for someone like myself to do a one year program. i'm in med school, and so taking two years off now (or later) is not reasonable at all. plus, it's two extra years of loans versus one. that matters when you are already looking down the barrel of a whole lot of debt. may not matter to some, however.

if you are going into an mph program to get an mph-specific job, then yes i bet a two year program may be better. but if you are looking to supplement your medical education, i'm willing to bet that the extra year is not going to make a big diff in the end.

i'm thinking about mph now versus later, and i think taking a year off from practice/residency/whatever may be less desirable. right now, i'm in school...i'll be doing more school, so what. if i plan on going back once i've started practicing, well, who the heck knows if that will ever happen....

just my 2 cents 🙂