Should I get a MD and a MPH

[Doggo]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Pros and Cons of doing a masters of public health at the same time as an MD?

 

[libertyyne]

What are you trying to do ?

 

[Ehwic]

I feel like most people who apply for dual degree programs know why they want the other degree. It's not like I woke up today and thought, "hmm should I get an MPH or an MBA today?"

 

[libertyyne]

If you are trying to make your residency app more competitive then you are better off doing a research year. If you are trying to use it to pivot into some Public Health role and you are not interested in super competitive specialties you should apply to residencies where you can get one for free. I am unsure what value the degree would add for the added cost / effort.

 

[Master_of_Savage]

If you are trying to make your residency app more competitive then you are better off doing a research year. If you are trying to use it to pivot into some Public Health role and you are not interested in super competitive specialties you should apply to residencies where you can get one for free. I am unsure what value the degree would add for the added cost / effort.

Is that really a thing?

 

[libertyyne]

Is that really a thing?

I know Dartmouth offers it to family practice / preventive medicine residents.

 

[LizzyM]

There are plus/minuses. Getting it during med school (and there are some programs that offer 4 year MD/MPH degrees including Tufts and Tulane; others require an extra year) does appear to impress residency directors and the capstone experience required of MPH students can have a research component that is nice. It also means that you have the skillset when you begin your residency rather than acquiring it during a residency or fellowship. On the other hand, if you aren't sure of the direction you plan to take -- or if you change your mind -- you may not have a laser focus on your area of interest while taking MPH classes and doing your capstone.

Schools are cranking out MD/MPH grads so it isn't unusual and it may be valuable.

 

[1forrest1]

There are plus/minuses. Getting it during med school (and there are some programs that offer 4 year MD/MPH degrees including Tufts and Tulane; others require an extra year) does appear to impress residency directors and the capstone experience required of MPH students can have a research component that is nice. It also means that you have the skillset when you begin your residency rather than acquiring it during a residency or fellowship. On the other hand, if you aren't sure of the direction you plan to take -- or if you change your mind -- you may not have a laser focus on your area of interest while taking MPH classes and doing your capstone.

Schools are cranking out MD/MPH grads so it isn't unusual and it may be valuable.

@LizzyM what about the extra year of debt? I am interested in the dual degree but if debt is already going to be a pressure, and I want to go into Public Health, should I wait for someone to pay for it? Or are there ways around this- 40k seems like alot to not try and get for free down the road


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[LizzyM]

@LizzyM what about the extra year of debt? I am interested in the dual degree but if debt is already going to be a pressure, and I want to go into Public Health, should I wait for someone to pay for it? Or are there ways around this- 40k seems like alot to not try and get for free down the road


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

It is not going to get any cheaper than it is today unless you find someone else to pay for it which may or may not happen. The four year programs have the advantage of not adding a year of living expenses compared with the 5 year MD/MPH programs (same 5 years of living expenses though that you'd pay if you take a year out to do research).

No one has ever gotten rich in public health. That said, the additional expense may be worth it if you are looking for a position in academic medicine or in public service (e.g. US Dept of Health and Human Services) and want a head start.

 

[Doggo]

When I was interviewing at schools it seemed like most of the docs walking around had "MPH" on their badges so I was wondering if it might become an unofficial req some day

 

[Master_of_Savage]

About 82% of MD only students graduate in 4 years with 94% in 5 years. That 12% has likely over half who are spending research or project work (the smaller half are those who have academic or health issues requiring extra time. Somewhere between 1200-1800 students take a research year. BTW, 97% of medical students graduate with 8 years, accounting for dual degrees which include formal dual degree students

Interesting stats! Thanks for that but I was actually referring to residency programs including a MPH in the training. I was unaware that that was an option.

 

[libertyyne]

Interesting stats! Thanks for that but I was actually referring to residency programs including a MPH in the training. I was unaware that that was an option.

MPH is a mixed bag looking at the Match data, sometimes IMG / FMG will get it to land a residency, or weaker applicants will use it to try to enhance their app, I am not completely sold that PD's care that much about it in regular allo seniors.

 

[Master_of_Savage]

MPH is a mixed bag looking at the Match data, sometimes IMG / FMG will get it to land a residency, or weaker applicants will use it to try to enhance their app, I am not completely sold that PD's care that much about it in regular allo seniors.

That's good to know. I am one of those people who is interested in the MD/MPH but I am not 100% sure what I want to do with it, so I am hesitant to spend the extra money.

 

[choyphin]

I'm currently an MS1 doing a 4 year MD/MPH. My MPH is in Outcomes Research--very biostatistics and coding heavy and I'm interested in working with large datasets in the future. Packing in the classes during MS1 so I have fewer credits to complete during MS2. It's nice because my thesis will probably be a manuscript I submit to a journal.