Originally posted by DocKW
I am looking into pursuing a MPH degree, and thereafter applying to medical school. In obtaining a MPH degree, I want to concentrate in health education and prevention in underserved communities, and incorporate what I learn in my career as a physican within these communities.
My question is as follow:
As I apply to MPH schools, would it be viewed negatively to say I want to continue to medical school after I completely my degree?
Thanks!
Schools of Public Health (SPH) tend to frown on applicants who are applying to MPH programs because they didn't get into medical school and think another degree will magically lead to acceptance. In my opinion this frowning is with good reason. However, it only makes sense that some strong public health students will see medical school as part of the plan. For those students there are several options:
-MD/DO-MPH Program
-MD/DO followed by a Preventive Medicine Residency (which usually will include a MPH)
-MD/DO preceded by or followed by a separate MPH program
Different groups will be better served by different tracks. I personally opted to do separate programs for several reasons. As a freshman in college I thought I'd do a MD/PhD and do medical research but throughout college (Biochemistry major) I realized that though I excelled in the lab it wasn't what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. (Most of my undergraduate colleagues are now doing molecular biology and I admit it's fascinating but I love what I do too) My nutrition minor led me into public health and epidemiology came alive to me. I was fortunate to be accepted by an awesome SPH where I realized that epidemiology still ruled, and that I didn't want just build rural health networks I wanted to actually work as a clinician in one. My MPH program director was incredibly supportive of my decision to apply to medical school (and wrote letters happily), my advisor threw a party when I got into medical school which basically tells me I attended a school where faculty were supportive of student achievements.
I don't know if having a MPH helped in the applications process (and technically I didn't have one when I was applying as I applied the summer in between my first and second years). I think some of the research I had done and was doing in my MPH program was probably favorable (although I already had a research background from undergrad so perhaps it was irrelevant). I think what most helped me was having a clear sense of why I was going to medical school and what my ultimate career/life goals were (ie that infamous ten year plan).
People have asked me why I didn't just do a combined medicine and public health program and I did briefly consider that late junior year of college but I wasn't completely certain about the medical school aspect and I really wanted to go to an ASPH accredited program. The way I saw it since I was sure I wanted to do public health I needed to pick the best school for public health and not have to compromise for a weaker public health program at a strong medical school. This doesn't mean MD/DO-MPH programs are a mistake for everyone and it might have been an option I considered more if I had been sure at that point I definitely wanted to go to medical school.
Preventive Medicine Residencies can provide great opportunities for physicians without previous public health training, but they don't provide clinical medical training and practicing as a clinician is the reason I went to medical school. The SPH I attended had an affiliated PM residency and I attended most of their additional core lectures (and ironically it was several of them who opened my eyes to the wonderful world of Osteopathic Medicine).
I think that your aspirations towards medical school will not be viewed negatively if you explain it in terms of your ultimate life/career goals. I participated on the admissions committee in my second year of graduate school and know that while our committee clearly didn't want students who were only applying because they didn't get into medical school or thought it would help them get into medical school (but then in honesty what admission committee would want these canidates?) students with plans for additional professional degrees were not discriminated against. Good Luck with your applications and public health studies.
