What is an MD/MPH Dual Degree?

The Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Public Health (MPH) is a dual degree program offered by the Drexel College of Medicine (DUCOM) and the Dornsife School of Public Health.

The MD/MPH dual degree focuses on population and community health while equipping students with the clinical skills needed to understand the health and wellness of different patient populations.

Why Pursue an MD/MPH?

Unique benefits of the MD/MPH program at Drexel include:

• Interdisciplinary opportunities for research, health program design and evaluation, and community health assessment
• Opportunities to participate in Global Health courses during the summer between 3rd and 4th years (includes experiences in Africa, Cuba, Israel and other locations)
• Integration of public health coursework with students’ clinical interests 
• Renown faculty with a mix of practice and research backgrounds, led by MD/MPH program director Esther Chernak MD, MPH, FACP
• Generous tuition support available for the MPH component of the dual degree

The MD/MPH Dual Degree program trains students to be physicians with a public-health approach to developing and evaluating health care programs and policies.

The program, built on a foundation of health and human rights, provides strong interdisciplinary training in clinical medicine and population health sciences, including:

• Community Health and Prevention
• Health Care Management and Policy
• Epidemiology
• Biostatistics
• Environmental Health

Program Overview

Most students begin the combined MD/MPH curriculum during the first or second years of medical school, although students can also enter the program after the 3rd or 4th years of medical school.

Students generally complete both degrees in 5 years, adding a year exclusively for public health coursework between years 3 and 4 of medical school:

• Years 1-3: Students complete MD Program curriculum
• Year 4: In year four, students complete all required MPH courses
• Year 5: Students finish MD Program required courses

Visit the MD/MPH Dual Degree Program page on the Drexel College of Medicine's website to learn more about courses and structure in depth.

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The Drexel University College of Medicine and the Dornsife School of Public Health seek highly qualified and motivated students who demonstrate the desire, intelligence, integrity, sound motivation and emotional maturity to become excellent physicians. Because of the schools' unique backgrounds, the College of Medicine and Dornsife are committed to a diverse student body.

MD/MPH Dual Degree Admissions Requirements

Medical students at the Drexel College of Medicine are eligible for admission to the Dornsife School of Public Health's Master of Public Health (MPH) program.

Prospective MD/MPH students may apply for the dual program before they begin their first year of medical school.

To learn more about admissions recommendations for the MD program, please visit the link below:

Admissions Recommendations

Application Requirements for the MD Program

To have an application be reviewed by the College of Medicine, applications must submit the following:

• AMCAS application
• Supplemental application and $100 fee (or AMCAS waiver)
• Letter(s) of recommendation
• MCAT score
• CASPer test

To learn more about application requirements and process, please visit the link below.

Application Process

MD/MPH Application Process

Eligible applicants to the MD/MPH program must first submit their application to the Drexel University College of Medicine.

On the College of Medicine’s supplemental application, please check the "public health interest" box to be automatically considered for the MD/MPH program. If an applicant is accepted to the College of Medicine, they will then be reviewed for admission to the dual degree program.

Students currently enrolled in the College of Medicine also have the opportunity to apply to the MD/MPH during their first year of the program. Second year MD students may apply to the MD/MPH on a case-by-case basis. 

Complete this application release form for the MPH portion of the degree:

Application release form (PDF)

Submit the completed application release form to:

David A. Wood, MBA, MS
Director of Recruitment, Enrollment, and Retention
267.359.6092
daw348@drexel.edu

To learn more about the MD/MPH application requirements and process, please visit Drexel University’s College of Medicine website below.

How to Apply

MD/MPH Dual Degree Program Curriculum

The MD/MPH Dual Degree program offers students an unmatched course curriculum that combines hands-on, clinical work with deep analysis to encourage students to understand population health issues from local and global perspectives.

This joint five-year program is for Drexel University College of Medicine students who wish to pursue both a medical degree and a master's degree in public health.

Students generally complete both degrees in five years, adding a year exclusively for public health coursework at the Dornsife School of Public Health between years three and four of medical school.

Students develop an expertise around several core concepts, including:

• Health Disparities and the Social Determinants of Health
• Clinical Research Methods
• Environmental and Occupational Health
• Global Health
• Health Policy and Economics
• Urban Health
• Public Health Ethics

Required Coursework

During the full-time MPH year, MD/MPH students pursue a generalist MPH degree, in which they take a minimum of four courses within their chosen "pathway" to focus their public health coursework.

Students choose a pathway based on interests and career goals:

• Research Methods in Health Services and Clinical Science
• Health Management, Leadership and Policy
• Environmental and Occupational Health
• Community Health and Prevention

Core public health courses in the program include:

• BST 571 Introduction to Biostatistics - 3 credits
• EPI 570 Introduction to Epidemiology - 3 credits
• HMP 505 Qualitative Data and Mixed Methods Analysis - 3 credits
• PBHL 510 Public Health Foundations and Systems I - 4 credits
• PBHL 511 Public Health Foundations and Systems II - 4 credits

MD/MPH students also complete an Integrated Learning Experience and participate in seminars, research presentations, and professional development activities sponsored by the MD/MPH program and by the academic departments in the Dornsife School of Public Health.

To learn more about the MD/MPH curriculum, course structure, and to see a sample plan of study, please follow the links below.

Review Degree Requirements and Courses

Sample Plan of Study

What Can You Do With an MD/MPH Degree?

A dual MD/MPH degree broadens understanding of public health and policy and provides the research experience and skills necessary for a career in government, health care administration, academic medicine, or a public health organization. This degree can also help to prepare you for academic residency programs.

The MD/MPH program can fast-track graduates into physician leadership positions. An MD/MPH dual degree holder may pursue a variety of career options, including:

• Public Health Official
• Medical Director
• Hospital Administrator
• Clinician Researcher

MD/MPH Salary Scale

Although salaries range across industries, the mean annual wage for a general internist was $239,200 in May 2023 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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