Questions about Arcadia University's Dual degree PA (Physician Asst)/MPH Program

[unify]

Hi all. I have been accepted into the dual degree PA (Physician Assistant)/MPH program at Arcadia University outside of Philadelphia to start in May 2011. I am weighing my options, trying to decide if this is the best program for me to enroll in and I was hoping to solicit advice from folks on this forum.

Firstly, it's my objective to become a clinically practicing PA. I am interested in family practice and emergency medicine. I applied to Arcadia's dual degree program because I also have a strong interest in population/community wide health prevention and health education.

Arcadia's MPH program is unaccredited by CEPH and of course I'm considering how important that is. The dual degree program is full-time 3 years. Without the MPH, the PA program by itself is 2 years.

1) What do folks know about Arcadia's MPH program? Is it strong or not? Please share any thoughts.

2) How is the unaccredited status of the program going to affect me down the line?

3) Are there any PA's out there who also have/work MPH? If so, what kinds of employment opportunities exist?

4) Please share any thoughts or discussion and any and all thoughts in relation to this. I have big decisions to make in the next few months and I could use help.

In an ideal world, I would see myself part-time in a clinical practice and part-time working on community health/education programs at the local level. It would be the best of both worlds.

Thanks!

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[RAMPA]

Hi all. I have been accepted into the dual degree PA (Physician Assistant)/MPH program at Arcadia University outside of Philadelphia to start in May 2011. I am weighing my options, trying to decide if this is the best program for me to enroll in and I was hoping to solicit advice from folks on this forum.

Firstly, it's my objective to become a clinically practicing PA. I am interested in family practice and emergency medicine. I applied to Arcadia's dual degree program because I also have a strong interest in population/community wide health prevention and health education.

Arcadia's MPH program is unaccredited by CEPH and of course I'm considering how important that is. The dual degree program is full-time 3 years. Without the MPH, the PA program by itself is 2 years.

1) What do folks know about Arcadia's MPH program? Is it strong or not? Please share any thoughts.

2) How is the unaccredited status of the program going to affect me down the line?

3) Are there any PA's out there who also have/work MPH? If so, what kinds of employment opportunities exist?

4) Please share any thoughts or discussion and any and all thoughts in relation to this. I have big decisions to make in the next few months and I could use help.

In an ideal world, I would see myself part-time in a clinical practice and part-time working on community health/education programs at the local level. It would be the best of both worlds.

Thanks!

more importantly how much more will the dual program cost versus just the PA portion?

 

[unify]

more importantly how much more will the dual program cost versus just the PA portion?

An extra $12,250 in tuition plus an extra year of living expenses.

 

[unify]

No comments?

 

[Awapi]

I think your best bet would be to contact admissions or peruse the Arcadia website for contacts for current students. I had some reservations about Emory so I emailed a girl in the program whose address I found on the website...she ended up calling me on the phone and spent almost an hour talking about her frustrations and loves of the program at Emory. It really made me feel at ease and more informed because I felt like I got the good and bad sides of the experience there from someone who had actually lived it. If you contact a few current or recently graduated students from Arcadia you may find a couple of people who can give you relevant and sound advice.

Unfortunately there isn't an "MPH/PA" group on this board so I guess you guys that are dual majoring get the shaft a little since most of the people on this board seem to be pursuing a straight MPH...Because of this the majority of people active on this board are probably more familiar with CEPH accredited schools and that may be why you aren't getting much feedback on Arcadia. (For instance, since I want to use my MPH professionally by itself I have not even considered any non-accredited schools, however, that doesn't mean that it's not a GREAT program option for someone wanting to be a PA or an MD, etc...but I would have no grounds to comment on it).

Good luck with your decision!!

 

[RAMPA]

Hi all. I have been accepted into the dual degree PA (Physician Assistant)/MPH program at Arcadia University outside of Philadelphia to start in May 2011. I am weighing my options, trying to decide if this is the best program for me to enroll in and I was hoping to solicit advice from folks on this forum.

Firstly, it's my objective to become a clinically practicing PA. I am interested in family practice and emergency medicine. I applied to Arcadia's dual degree program because I also have a strong interest in population/community wide health prevention and health education.

Arcadia's MPH program is unaccredited by CEPH and of course I'm considering how important that is. The dual degree program is full-time 3 years. Without the MPH, the PA program by itself is 2 years.

1) What do folks know about Arcadia's MPH program? Is it strong or not? Please share any thoughts.

2) How is the unaccredited status of the program going to affect me down the line?

3) Are there any PA's out there who also have/work MPH? If so, what kinds of employment opportunities exist?

4) Please share any thoughts or discussion and any and all thoughts in relation to this. I have big decisions to make in the next few months and I could use help.

In an ideal world, I would see myself part-time in a clinical practice and part-time working on community health/education programs at the local level. It would be the best of both worlds.

Thanks!

you really don't need the MPH to focus on "population/community wide health prevention and health education."

the extra year and extra tuition means one year less of experience AND income as a PA. if I were in your situation, I'd do just the PA program and in my first year out of school either do a PA residency in EM (since you stated you have a strong interest) or get a job in FM that offers loan forgiveness. At the same time it gives you a break from school and time to re-evaluate your goals once you are actually practicing as a PA. If you still decide to obtain a MPH, you can do it part time and hopefully be working with an employer that can pay for some of the tuition.

 

[espre]

The lack of accreditation would concern me. A graduate degree is an investment made with the intent of increasing future career opportunities. Although Arcadia is less expensive, the lack of accreditation may be a hindrance in the the long run. Depending on how much cost is a factor, there are other options. Drexel is a full school of public health, not just a program. UPenn has an accredited program, but would be expensive. It's possible that being a PA on the staff of either of these institutions might give you some tuition benefits. Another excellent option would be a distance/internet MPH program at a top school, such as Hopkins, UNC-Chapel Hill, Emory, among many others. This would allow you to get the degree part time while still working. See the thread about online programs at the top of the MPH board here.

 

[deleted6669]

the pa programs at U.wa/medex, george washington, yale, and touro/mare island also have pa/mph options.
If I had the option of doing this back in the day I would have. now I'm looking at spending 25k+ for an mph that you could have for 12.5k.
I want one for my international/global health/disaster work.

 

[unify]

the pa programs at U.wa/medex, george washington, yale, and touro/mare island also have pa/mph options.
If I had the option of doing this back in the day I would have. now I'm looking at spending 25k+ for an mph that you could have for 12.5k.
I want one for my international/global health/disaster work.

Yeah, but I didn't get into those programs. I'm all ready to rock with Arcadia should I chose that path. I've already been accepted. To do or not to do? Instead, I could chose to attend a different 24 month PA program and get into the job market a year earlier...