MD/MPH for Emory Medical School Students
Emory University School of Medicine and the Rollins School of Public Health cooperate in a dual degree Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health (MD/MPH) program to prepare physicians for leadership roles in public health.
Some of the 17 MD/MPH students pursuing their MPH studies during 2015-2016,
along with Program Co-Directors Dr. John McGowan and Dr. Michael Goodman.
This program is intended for students with a baccalaureate degree who wish to enhance their medical training with further study in public health.
The MD/MPH program is designed to be completed within five years, four of which are spent primarily in the School of Medicine. It is recommended, but not required, that the year spent at Rollins follow the clinical rotation block year of medical school in the third year in the medical school curriculum. The program is not available to those who have already received their MD degree.
Sixteen Emory MD/MPH dual-degree students are pursuing their MPH studies at the School of Public Health in 2015-2016. One MD/MPH student from another medical school is at Rollins this academic year as well. Sixteen Emory MDMPH students completed their studies at Rollins earlier and now are in their final year at the School of Medicine.
Entry to the MPH year is contingent on satisfactory evaluation of academic standing and professional conduct in the School of Medicine. Between 32 and 35 credit hours of study at Rollins, depending on the academic department, are required to achieve the MPH degree. This includes core courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, public policy, management, environmental health, and behavioral sciences, plus additional hours of electives/directed studies/thesis in the degree concentration.
A thesis project or other capstone project is required for the MPH degree. These programs at Rollins are supplemented by work completed in the School of Medicine that allows waivering similar material at Rollins. This work in the School of Medicine typically takes place both before and after the year spent at Rollins. Therefore, the MPH degree is awarded by the Rollins at the time of medical school commencement.
Candidates for the MD/MPH orogram must apply to the School of Medicine and in addition submit a one page essay describing their interest in public health. The minimum requirements for admission to the MD/MPH dual degree program are identical to those for the School of Medicine. A copy of the School of Medicine application and the essay will be forwarded to Rollins. Students applying to the MD/MPH dual degree program will have the opportunity at the time of their medical school interview to visit Rollins and meet with faculty.
Applicants will be notified of acceptance into the dual degree program after they are accepted by the School of Medicine. Those who are not accepted into the dual degree program may complete a separate application for the MPH program. Extensive financial assistance opportunities for the MPH year are available to MD/MPH students through both schools (Medicine and Public Health).
Physicians with training in public health may work in a wide range of positions in public, private, or academic settings. The MPH degree offers the physician a significant advantage when seeking jobs which involve planning and managing health systems, performing clinical research, determining the causes of disease, or planning and implementing disease control strategies. Physicians with the MPH degree work in health departments, federal agencies, managed care and other health provider organizations, schools of public health and medicine, in the private practice arena, and in many other federal and international agencies. See the summary of positions occupied by some of the early graduates of this program and their comments about how their MPH degree helped in their current positions.
Public-health-related electives are offered in the fourth and fifth years. Electives, directed studies, and thesis projects outside North America have been pursued in Asia, Africa, Europe, the South Pacific, and Central and South America by students to date. The program also offers special opportunities such as the Global Field Experience and the Emory-CDC Elective Rotation Fellowship. The Emory Institute for Global Health also offers exciting new opportunities to our students.
Selected student activities and interests are shown in:
The Fall 2008 RSPH Magazine discusses several students and their activities.
- "Disease Detective" - "Dan Budnitz earned a combined MD/MPH degree that gave him the training to use public policy to improve health." - Spring 2004 issue of Public Health magazine.
- Docs with a public health bent - Spring 2003 issue of Public Health
- "The Big Picture - MD/MPH program offers a global perspective", by Valerie Gregg in the Spring 2001 issue ofPublic Health magazine.
MD/MPH Students from Previous Years
2013-2014
Some of the 22 students, (18 from Emory, 1 each from U. Cincinnati, U. Florida, Northeast Ohio Medical University, and U. California Irvine), along with Program Director Dr. John McGowan.
2012-2013
Along with faculty members Dr. John McGowan and Dr. Mike Goodman.
2011-2012
Along faculty members Dr. John McGowan and Dr. Carlos DelRio
2010-2011
Along with RSPH Dean Dr. James Curran and Program Director Dr. John McGowan
2009-2010
(12 from Emory,1 each from Georgetown, Mayo Medical School, University of Chicago,and University of Wisconsin),along with faculty members Dr. John McGowan and Dr. Carlos DelRio.
2008-2009
Along with Dr. McGowan,the MD/MPH Program Director. Dr. McGowan, the MD/MPH Program Director (one student absent).