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I just thought I would offer some of my general thoughts on the MD/MPH program. Granted, these are just my opinions, so take them for what they are worth. I will be coming into med school with an MSPH already so the MD/MPH is something I obviously won't be pursuing.
First, I think MPH or MSPH programs produce two types of graduates: those with a discernable skill set and those with extra letters behind their name. Unfortunately, the vast majority of graduates are in the latter category. This is no reflection on the students but rather the individual track one is in. I have found that individuals in epidemiology and biostatistics tend to acquire strong skill sets. People in other departments..not so much. I think this is a particular danger for general, bare bones programs like San Antonio's. You will be exposed to public health in a broad manner but will not develop a specific skill set. Their program simple lacks the depth. This is particularly problematic if you do want to do something like infectious disease epi, biostatistics or health policy. Having said all this, there is certainly value in just getting the degree-networking being one.
Some people also take issue with the combined MD/MPH route. It is felt by some that you are short changing your public health experience because you have to take less elective work. I can't really offer an opinion on that though.
The one thing I have noticed here at Tulane, and I am sure it is the same for other schools of public health, is that the people that gain the most from the MPH program seem to be MDs with prior clinical experience. They know exactly what skills they wish to acquire from the program. I believe this is why Harvard limits its MPH program to clinicians. There are plenty of opportunities to get an MPH later down the road. Many ID fellowships allow one to pursue an MPH if it is available. For example, here at Tulane many of the ID fellows are enrolled in either the epi MPH program or the trop med MPH&TM program. There are also preventive medicine residencies and combined residencies (IM/PM).
So, I guess my opinion could be summed up as followed: if you are just wanting a broad exposure to public health and feel that the credentials would be helpful then the San Antonio program may be just the thing for you. If, on the other hand, you have very specific learning goals (e.g. health policy, infectious disease epi, refugee health, etc.) and you want to learn from faculty that are world class experts in their field then waiting to get the MPH may be the appropriate thing to do.
Just my two cents.
First, I think MPH or MSPH programs produce two types of graduates: those with a discernable skill set and those with extra letters behind their name. Unfortunately, the vast majority of graduates are in the latter category. This is no reflection on the students but rather the individual track one is in. I have found that individuals in epidemiology and biostatistics tend to acquire strong skill sets. People in other departments..not so much. I think this is a particular danger for general, bare bones programs like San Antonio's. You will be exposed to public health in a broad manner but will not develop a specific skill set. Their program simple lacks the depth. This is particularly problematic if you do want to do something like infectious disease epi, biostatistics or health policy. Having said all this, there is certainly value in just getting the degree-networking being one.
Some people also take issue with the combined MD/MPH route. It is felt by some that you are short changing your public health experience because you have to take less elective work. I can't really offer an opinion on that though.
The one thing I have noticed here at Tulane, and I am sure it is the same for other schools of public health, is that the people that gain the most from the MPH program seem to be MDs with prior clinical experience. They know exactly what skills they wish to acquire from the program. I believe this is why Harvard limits its MPH program to clinicians. There are plenty of opportunities to get an MPH later down the road. Many ID fellowships allow one to pursue an MPH if it is available. For example, here at Tulane many of the ID fellows are enrolled in either the epi MPH program or the trop med MPH&TM program. There are also preventive medicine residencies and combined residencies (IM/PM).
So, I guess my opinion could be summed up as followed: if you are just wanting a broad exposure to public health and feel that the credentials would be helpful then the San Antonio program may be just the thing for you. If, on the other hand, you have very specific learning goals (e.g. health policy, infectious disease epi, refugee health, etc.) and you want to learn from faculty that are world class experts in their field then waiting to get the MPH may be the appropriate thing to do.
Just my two cents.
