Usefulness of a MD/MPH degree?

[medhopeful8]

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Hi everyone,

I was recently accepted into the Tulane University School of Medicine, and I am trying to decide whether or not to pursue the four year MD/MPH degree program there. I know a MPH degree will be useful to me because my future goal is to work with the WHO in developing countries to improve the health of rural communities. However, I also want to make sure I get into a good residency program (I'm thinking Emergency Medicine or Surgery at the moment) and I'm worried that the extra time needed for the MPH degree will take away from my regular MD studies and then later on hurt my USMLE Step 1 score. As well, I know residency programs look for students with research experience, and the MD/MPH program would probably take up all of my time and prevent me from participating in research. So I'm debating my options:
1) Do the MD/MPH degree because I will need it in the future and hope that it won't hurt my chances for a good residency program by lowering my step 1 score and taking away time that would otherwise be spent pursuing research.
Or
2) Just do the MD degree so I can focus on doing well on step 1 and so I have time to pursue research, and then do a MPH degree later on, at the expense of additional time and money.

What do you guys think? Any suggestions/comments are greatly appreciated!

 

[Praefectus]

Heads up that Tulane charges for the additional hours that you'll take for the MPH, so the cost of tuition can be negligible. At this point, I wouldn't worry about it because you might decide against working for the WHO later on. If it's really what you want to do, what's an extra year or two vs. getting into a decent residency program?

 

[medhopeful8]

Thanks for your advice Praefectus! I still have a while before I have to make a decision, but I agree with you, and right now I am leaning towards doing my MPH degree later. Thanks again for your thoughts!

 

[loveoforganic2]

I'm doing an MD/MPH at LSU (gap year between 2nd and 3rd year). I wouldn't do the combined degree at Tulane. Tacking on a masters to med school sounds unbearable

 

[Girly X]

Was considering MD/MPH too. But at this point, I think I'll wait to adjust to the med school load first and see if adding more work is even possible. Also, I believe some residencies/fellowships will pay for you to get an MPH if it is necessary for your work with them.

 

[Textbookversion]

The thought of more classes at the same time as the normal course load... gross. Just gross.

 

[NickNaylor]

Hi everyone,

I was recently accepted into the Tulane University School of Medicine, and I am trying to decide whether or not to pursue the four year MD/MPH degree program there. I know a MPH degree will be useful to me because my future goal is to work with the WHO in developing countries to improve the health of rural communities. However, I also want to make sure I get into a good residency program (I'm thinking Emergency Medicine or Surgery at the moment) and I'm worried that the extra time needed for the MPH degree will take away from my regular MD studies and then later on hurt my USMLE Step 1 score. As well, I know residency programs look for students with research experience, and the MD/MPH program would probably take up all of my time and prevent me from participating in research. So I'm debating my options:
1) Do the MD/MPH degree because I will need it in the future and hope that it won't hurt my chances for a good residency program by lowering my step 1 score and taking away time that would otherwise be spent pursuing research.
Or
2) Just do the MD degree so I can focus on doing well on step 1 and so I have time to pursue research, and then do a MPH degree later on, at the expense of additional time and money.

What do you guys think? Any suggestions/comments are greatly appreciated!

I wouldn't do the combined program. You can always take a year off after MS2 or MS3 like most people do.

 

[uva11]

i have also been debating doing this at Tulane because their MPH degree seems like a pretty unique opportunity and i also want to do work in developing countries at some point. i've mostly decided against the 4 year program due to all the reasons people have cited here. also, you have to begin classes in early june which would be right after i finish up my current job and i don't want to be burned out by august when MD classes start. when i was at my interview, our tour guides were MD only students who said that some of their dual degree classmates would have something like 6 additional hours of class on the day before an exam due to MPH coursework. yuck!

 

[whatbout2morrow]

Hi everyone,

I was recently accepted into the Tulane University School of Medicine, and I am trying to decide whether or not to pursue the four year MD/MPH degree program there. I know a MPH degree will be useful to me because my future goal is to work with the WHO in developing countries to improve the health of rural communities. However, I also want to make sure I get into a good residency program (I'm thinking Emergency Medicine or Surgery at the moment) and I'm worried that the extra time needed for the MPH degree will take away from my regular MD studies and then later on hurt my USMLE Step 1 score. As well, I know residency programs look for students with research experience, and the MD/MPH program would probably take up all of my time and prevent me from participating in research. So I'm debating my options:
1) Do the MD/MPH degree because I will need it in the future and hope that it won't hurt my chances for a good residency program by lowering my step 1 score and taking away time that would otherwise be spent pursuing research.
Or
2) Just do the MD degree so I can focus on doing well on step 1 and so I have time to pursue research, and then do a MPH degree later on, at the expense of additional time and money.

What do you guys think? Any suggestions/comments are greatly appreciated!

Yes, taking an extra year for the MPH would probably be best.

Was considering MD/MPH too. But at this point, I think I'll wait to adjust to the med school load first and see if adding more work is even possible. Also, I believe some residencies/fellowships will pay for you to get an MPH if it is necessary for your work with them.

The first year of preventive medicine residencies/fellowships usually involves completing an MPH degree.

 

[LauraJo08]

Yes, taking an extra year for the MPH would probably be best.



The first year of preventive medicine residencies/fellowships usually involves completing an MPH degree.

Can you cite references saying that preventative med residencies/fellowships often complete an MPH degree? It would be much appreciated!

 

[wholeheartedly]

Can you cite references saying that preventative med residencies/fellowships often complete an MPH degree? It would be much appreciated!

If you go to any preventive med residency program page it's usually listed there.

ie. http://www.mayo.edu/msgme/residenci...tive-medicine-fellowship-minnesota/curriculum

http://www.jhsph.edu/academics/resi...ut-the-program/program-overview/year-one.html

 

[wholeheartedly]

OP, I would do it on a gap year or during residency or fellowship. Cost is a consideration as well. Quite a few places will kick in funding if you're beyond medical school, although some medical school programs have something in place to waive tuition for students taking classes for graduate degrees as well. They just aren't as common.

I haven't gotten into medical school yet but I'm currently doing an MPH in Epidemiology (and loving it 🙂 ) but I feel like the program would be rushed, especially on top of medical school coursework and trying to do a master's project. I like that I've had time to explore some different areas and network with more faculty.

 

[whatbout2morrow]

Can you cite references saying that preventative med residencies/fellowships often complete an MPH degree? It would be much appreciated!

If you go to any preventive med residency program page it's usually listed there.

ie. http://www.mayo.edu/msgme/residenci...tive-medicine-fellowship-minnesota/curriculum

http://www.jhsph.edu/academics/resi...ut-the-program/program-overview/year-one.html

^ what he said. Also,

http://www.amsa.org/AMSA/Homepage/About/Committees/PreventiveMedicine.aspx

TRAINING: Training for preventive medicine generally requires 2 years in residency after a clinical internship or transitional year. Training includes earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree which is usually done in one of the two years.

Also, the MPH is required for board certification in preventive medicine if you are applying after having completed a preventive medicine residency without board certification in another field.

https://www.theabpm.org/requirements.cfm