I have an interest in the DPM/MPH program at Temple, however I saw that it takes five years to earn both degrees. If NYCPM has the same kind of program, but in four years, is it possible to do the program at Temple in four years as well? Are there current Temple students who have been considered for this option in four years instead of five?
Temple's DPM/MPH program
- Thread starter Gigantron
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2012
- Messages
- 57
- Reaction score
- 14
Unless you are very passionate about public health (as in you know you will somehow be involved in the public health arena as a DPM in the future), I advise that you don't purse the dual degree track. I'm a 1st year at TUSPM right now, and I know absolutely no one who is on this track. I also asked a 2nd year if any 2nd year was on this track, and the person told me that there is one person out of about 90 who is on this track. To be honest, once school starts, you do not have the time to think about anything else but studying for what's required by pod school. You might have to take summer courses to finish the public health requirement, but you really only have one summer break once pod school starts. Many of my classmates are considering doing research in the summer or taking a nice break. Hope this helps.
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2011
- Messages
- 3,413
- Reaction score
- 7,872
I have an MPH. From the bottom of my heart - don't do it. Get your DPM degree. Get a residency. If you really want to get an MPH, get one later at the program of your choice on your own terms. You'll have a whole new knowledge pool and the ability to recognize the facets of public health that you might find fascinating. This is a "more must be better, right?" revenue grab. Also, the fact that is takes an extra year is emphatic, absolute, hell no.
As a first year at Temple as well there is no one in this, and yes there would not be a way to get this done in 4 years. It would be a feather in your cap for sure, but to spend an extra year and about 50K, it is not worth it.
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2013
- Messages
- 57
- Reaction score
- 30
When I interviewed at Temple, I asked a doctor who interviewed me a question about his recommendation on the dual degree. He stumbled and said that I gave him a curveball. He had to pause for awhile with a sigh. His response was that not a lot of students do it but it's definitely an option that a student can undertake. He said yes if you really want that degree, and no if you just want the DPM and work as a podiatrist. You have to see what you want from the MPH degree. Also, some students found out they can't do it and withrew from the MPH, so you have to really think it seriously. In my opinion, the DPM will be tough enough for a student to handle and I would not recommend the MPH, even if it's an extra year. Students find that very quickly.
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2007
- Messages
- 1,995
- Reaction score
- 995
Not directly answering your question since I know nothing about Temples program, but I would say that unless you really plan on using the MPH degree, it probably isn't worth the extra year. A dual-degree program that doesn't take an extra year means that you will be taking online or night classes. That might be better, but unless you really plan on using the dual-degree in some way (and you should have a pretty clear idea of how you would use it before you start thinking about the program), I would steer clear of doing a dual-degree. Just my $0.02.
