Medical Undergraduate Interested in MD/Ph.D in Epidemiology and Public Health. How do I go about this?

[Goro]

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For starters, get into public health and have publications or other evidence of research productivity.

 

[Goro]

I'm currently a public health minor as my school does not offer a major and this entails me taking classes in both public health, epi, and biostatics. When you mean by research productivity, does this necessarily have to be in public health? I'm currently doing wet lab research because I enjoy it and its also necessary that I do so for my chemistry major. My pre-med advisor also suggested that I continue to do chemistry research when I suggested my plans in doing epi/ public health. However, I am getting some public health research through a community health research class, where I will be spending 8+ hours a week getting research experience without joining a formal lab group, so I'm not sure if I would get published.

This is getting too granular for my expertise, sorry. But merely taking a research course is not going to help you be competitive.

 

[lord999]

Ok, as above, Public Health is not a common MSTP PhD subject at most schools, there is a current list:

MD/PhD Programs in the Social Sciences & Humanities - American Physician Scientists Association

physicianscientists.site-ym.com

Also, you are going to need a decent math and statistics background for epidemiology. You should be able to have both single and multivariable calculus done, a course in linear algebra, a class in mathematical probability, and as a stretch, a class in analysis. You might already have this if you have to take physical chemistry for majors as DiffEq is usually a required prerequisite. If you are going for a different Public Health PhD, this is something that is really subject specific as to the preparation.

Research productivity in the subject you intend to major in for the PhD portion is also more or less required in addition to the usual portfolio.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I'm currently a public health minor as my school does not offer a major and this entails me taking classes in both public health, epi, and biostatics. When you mean by research productivity, does this necessarily have to be in public health? I'm currently doing wet lab research because I enjoy it and its also necessary that I do so for my chemistry major. My pre-med advisor also suggested that I continue to do chemistry research when I suggested my plans in doing epi/ public health. However, I am getting some public health research through a community health research class, where I will be spending 8+ hours a week getting research experience without joining a formal lab group, so I'm not sure if I would get published.

I doubt you'll get published from a research methods class. I also doubt that a PH minor would give me enough confidence that you are ready to do public health for a research degree like a PhD. Why not MD and add MPH coursework while in school before doing a PhD later on? I am familiar with a few people who did that.

I will also differ in opinion from my colleague. You may have some background in math but I find undergraduate level statistics to be insufficient for graduate coursework. Even if you have DiffEqs, applying them to epidemiology is another game.

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