Dual MPH/MD Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

• Offers a dual M.D./M.P.H. degree, allowing students to earn both degrees in five years.

• The M.P.H. program component is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Competencies can be viewed on the School of Public Health website .

• Focuses on training medical students in both clinical medicine and preventive, population-oriented public health.

• Features experiential learning, a highly interactive environment, accessible faculty, and student involvement in research and community-based projects.

Delivery Modes

The dual M.D./M.P.H. program is delivered on-campus and is designed for full-time study to accommodate the integrated curriculum of both degrees over five years.

Curriculum Overview

• The M.P.H. component requires a minimum of 36 graduate credit hours.

• Nine credit hours towards the M.P.H. degree are satisfied by applicable coursework completed in the M.D. curriculum.

• Core M.P.H. courses cover biostatistics, epidemiology (partially satisfied by M.D. study), health policy, public health ethics, environmental health, interprofessional complex care coordination (satisfied by M.D. study), foundations of public health, and social and behavioral health.

• Students select one concentration (9 credit hours) from: Applied Public Health, Cancer Health Equity Science, or Epidemiology.

• Includes a minimum of nine elective credit hours (one credit satisfied by M.D. study).

• Culminates in an M.P.H. Capstone Project.

• The required public health internship (PHLT 693) is satisfied by a public health elective during the M4 year, approved by the M.P.H. program director.

• Non-curricular requirements include attendance at 12 public health seminars and completion of 20 hours of community-based service-learning.

Admissions Requirements

• Prospective students must already be enrolled in the VCU M.D. program.

• The application to the M.P.H. program is submitted separately through SOPHAS during the M3 year of medical school.

• VCU also requires a supplemental application for the M.P.H. program.

Career & Practical Experience

• Prepares graduates for careers in preventive medicine, primary care, research, community-based health centers, and state and local health departments.

• Aims to increase competitiveness for residency placements.

• Develops skills to apply epidemiological research methods, analyze large datasets, assess the impact of social determinants of health, and evaluate health promotion programs.

• Practical experience is gained through a public health elective during the M4 year at an M.P.H. program-approved placement and involvement in community-based projects.