It is becoming more clear that many health problems that doctors deal with in their work are related to social problems. For these issues to be fully addressed, it is necessary to treat not just the symptoms of the problem but the source of the problem.
That is why more professionals who are interested in medicine also consider earning their master’s degree in public health, or MPH. With a dual MD/MPH degree, you will have the opportunity to not only learn the medical field. You also will study all of the important components and fields of public health: biostatistics, epidemiology, international health, public health law and environmental health.
Professionals who earn their MD and MPH will have many exciting career options from which they can choose. With a broad grasp of health care and clinical models, you will be highly sought after for top jobs in public health, policy and research and for elite residency programs related to community and public health.
YouTube Special Feature
Students talk about their experiences during their MPH year in the UNC MD-MPH program. More information about the UNC MD-MPH program can be found here: www.hcandp.unc.edu
Universities
Some of the best dual MPH/MD programs in the country include these universities:
-
University of Miami: This is a five year program that requires 45 credits for the MPH degree. It also requires a capstone project that involves 300 contact hours.
-
New York University: This MD/MPH degree will allow you to truly integrate your medical training with public health. You will be able to augment your clinical training with the best public health skills so you will be ready to take leadership roles in public health.
-
Columbia University: This is one of the top MD/MPH programs in the country. Most students work towards their MPH in the third and fourth year of medical school.
-
Drexel University: This dual program is specially designed to prepare you to be a physician leader with strong training in public and community health. This program is founded upon health and human rights, and provides strong training to people who are interested in strong clinical training and public health.
Curriculum
A dual MPH/MD program will give you strong interdisciplinary training in clinical practice, disease prevention, health education, health behavior, policy making and implementation science.
Your curriculum will vary depending upon the program, but expect to take many classes in these areas:
-
Biomedical Science
-
Cardiovascular System
-
Integrated Patient Care
-
Physicianship Skills
-
Respiratory System
-
Renal System
-
Gastrointestinal System
-
Epidemiology
-
Global Health
-
Medical Biostatistics
-
Environmental Health
Salaries and Careers
Public health physicians work often at hospitals, public health agencies, universities and government agencies. Many doctors in public health spend 50% of their time in the office and 50% at a medical facility.
Another possible career path is as a tropical disease specialist. Most professionals in this field have an MD and an MPH. These professionals typically are employed by government agencies or universities, and often work abroad in the field.
The employment of physicians in the US is expected to increase dramatically, with a 24% rise in demand by 2020. Job growth continues to soar because of the expansion of health care services i the US. More people are living longer, and they want to live healthier lives. This causes the demand for all types of health care services to increase.
Family practice doctors earn a median salary of $189,000, while doctors of internal medicine earn around $200,000.
Some of the most common job opportunities for MD/MPH graduates include:
-
Hospital administration
-
Medical facility management
-
Research
-
Health policy
-
Public health medicine
-
International health
-
Women’s health
Combined with an MPH degree, a professional in the medical field can earn a high salary and always be in demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the median wage for epidemiologists is $63,000, but the top 10% earn nearly $100,000 per year. The job outlook for epidemiology will increase by 24% by 2020, as well.
