Dual MPH/MD Program

Program Highlights

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) offers a specialized M.D./M.P.H. dual degree program designed for current VUSM students. This five-year program enables future physicians to gain a comprehensive understanding of population-level health issues, the social determinants of health, and develop strong research skills for academic inquiry. The program emphasizes contextualizing health beyond individual patient care and equips students with the research skills needed to engage in academic research.

Professionals with MD/MPH degrees may have interests in the following areas:

• Prevention

• Health literacy

• Education and advocacy

• Policy analysis and development

• Evidence-based practice

• Academic research

• Quality improvement

• Monitoring and evaluation

• Health services research

• Health disparities

• Leadership and management

• Clinical research

Program Structure and Delivery

The M.D./M.P.H. is a five-year dual degree program. The Master of Public Health (MPH) coursework is completed over one academic year, consisting of fall, spring, and summer terms. This intensive year of study is integrated into the M.D. program. The program is delivered on-campus, with the MPH year requiring a full-time commitment. Students have two options with respect to the timing of their year of MPH course work, which can be compared using the link: Compare the two options .

Curriculum Details

The MPH degree component requires the completion of 42 academic credit hours. This includes core public health coursework, a hands-on practicum experience, and the development of a thesis based on research.

The curriculum for the MPH year is structured across three academic terms (fall, spring, summer). The summer term includes didactic courses and dedicated time for independent work on the public health practicum and thesis.

The MD Program’s Research Immersion Phase may be completed before matriculating in the MPH Program, or it may be integrated with the MPH Program’s thesis and practicum requirements. This should be planned in advance with input from the MPH Program.

Admissions for VUSM Students

Eligibility for the M.D./M.P.H. dual degree program is limited to medical students currently enrolled in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM).

Applicants must be in good academic standing within the M.D. program and receive approval for their proposed plan of study from the MPH Program director before matriculating into the MPH component.

VUSM students should apply to the Vanderbilt MPH Program via SOPHAS in the fall of their second year or in the fall of their third year of medical school. For application deadlines, please click here .

Before matriculating in the MPH Program, Vanderbilt medical students must successfully complete the following courses:

• Foundations of Medical Knowledge

• Foundations of Clinical Care

• Research 1 (Case)

• Research 2 (Discovery)

Career Interests and Practical Experience

The M.D./M.P.H. dual degree prepares graduates for careers that bridge clinical medicine and public health. Professionals with this combined expertise are equipped to work in diverse areas such as those listed under Program Highlights, including prevention, health literacy, policy analysis and development, academic research, quality improvement, and addressing health disparities.

Key practical components of the MPH program include a supervised practicum experience and the completion of a research-based thesis. These elements provide students with real-world public health skills and can be integrated with the M.D. program's research requirements, such as the Research Immersion Phase.