MPH-MD Dual Public Health Degree

The Master of Public Health-Doctor of Medicine (MPH-MD) dual degree is a unique degree that prepares medical students to combine clinical medicine with population health training. This, in turn, prepares graduates of the program to deliver patient care while pursuing scholarly inquiry, to be leaders and advocates who address population-level issues that affect individual health and engage with communities to improve health at the local, national, and global levels.

The MPH-MD dual degree will provide students with medical knowledge, clinical skills, interpersonal and communication skills, and instruction in integrating public health skills and knowledge into the practice of medicine. Additionally, students will be able to apply biostatistical and epidemiological methods to assess the effectiveness of medical treatments, analyze disease trends, evaluate interventions, and develop strategies to improve population health outcomes. Graduates from the MPH-MD program should be able to then effectively communicate these medical findings to public health services, improve the practice environment, and manage patient care in complex health care systems.

Most MD/MPH programs take between four and five years to complete, depending on the institution and curriculum structure. Some programs dedicate a separate year to MPH coursework between medical school years, while others integrate public health training throughout the curriculum.

Graduates of MD/MPH programs pursue careers in academic medicine, public health agencies, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, global health, and biomedical research. The degree can also help to prepare students for academic residency programs.

Information updated as of June 2026.