Residency competitiveness

[Khong]

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I am not sure if this is the right area to post this. Please direct me to the right place if this is not.

I have been debating between the MD vs. the 4 year MD/MPH programs at both University of Miami and Tulane University. In particular, I have been focusing on how the MPH could possibly affect my residency competitiveness. While I do plan on getting an MPH at some point in my career, I am not sure if I should put off my MPH until my residency or post-residency. Based on previous threads, I have found the following opinions:

1.An MPH may help with certain residencies which are more likely to utilize it (like primary care). An MPH’s benefit mostly comes later when looking for employment at a community hospital or academic institution or applying for fellowships.

2.An MPH may be looked at unfavorable due to the perception that it is used as a filler degree before getting into medical school or while taking time away from medical school.

3.An MPH is only useful if you publish research papers. However, it is more beneficial to do research with an attending who is well connected and could help you get in to other residency programs. Networking, research, leadership positions are better options than time spent completing the MPH.

However, most the opinions were based on either a 5 year MD/MPH programs or taking years off to get an MPH. I have not seen a thread that discusses the pros and cons of a 4 year MD/MPH program. What are your opinions on a 4 year MD/MPH program?

Thanks!

 

[Mad Jack]

MPH degrees are also great for CDC, WHO, and other large health organizations that will often have you doing field work to develop programs but not necessarily publishing any research. So an MPH isn't really condemning you to research only positions. Most applied public health careers just don't pay very well.

(I'm also trying to decide on the MPH program at my school that is completed concurrently, but have to decide prior to starting my degree, so I'm curious about this as well.)

 

[Neuronix]

I am not sure if this is the right area to post this. Please direct me to the right place if this is not.

The right place to post this is pre-allo because you are a pre-medical student debating about what program to attend as a medical student. Also a reminder that it is not ok to post the same (or nearly the same) message to multiple threads or forums at once.

If you wish to respond to this topic, go to:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/debating-between-md-and-4-year-md-mph.1048599/