Students who are interested in attending medical school often have big goals they’re looking to accomplish. Whatever your particular medical career goals entail, those who are hoping to have a positive effect on entire communities of patients might discover their purpose in public health.
Dual degree medical programs like the MD/MPH dual degree program at St. George’s University (SGU) enable grads to amplify their impact by earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree alongside their Doctor of Medicine (MD). The benefits gained from this interdisciplinary approach to medical education can be numerous.
But you don’t have to take our word for it. Below, you’ll hear from three SGU alumni as they share their journeys of success after completing the institution’s MD/MPH dual degree program.
MD/MPH degree program Impact on Alumni
The MD/MPH dual degree program at SGU offers a unique perspective on integrating medical care at both a universal and a patient level. In addition to medical coursework, the public health curriculum presents students with the fundamentals of epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy and management, social and behavioral sciences, and environmental health.
Many MPH courses focus on issues that affect marginalized communities, both in the US and in developing countries. Students learn to provide comprehensive patient care by considering things like social histories, economic backgrounds, cultures, and other factors that could impact a patient’s well-being.
This community-based approach to patient care has made all the difference in the career trajectories of these SGU alumni.
Dr. Shelby Parker: Emergency Medicine Physician
Before she even entered medical school, 2021 SGU graduate Dr. Shelby Parker knew she wanted to work in emergency medicine. She was also keenly aware that this specialty uniquely showcases the inextricable ties between medicine and public health.
“People utilize the emergency department for many public health-related issues, such as treatment for chemical dependency, vaccinations, infectious/sexually transmitted diseases, and poor access to housing, food, or clean water,” Dr. Parker explains. “I wanted to obtain this degree because I realized that knowledge of public health would help me better serve my future patients.”
“I wanted to obtain this degree because I realized that knowledge of public health would help me better serve my future patients.”
Upon learning about SGU’s MD/MPH dual degree program, it felt like the perfect path forward. “The option to complete a dual degree medical program at SGU seemed like a very efficient use of my time,” she recounts. “The degree could be completed through alternating semesters during the first two years of medical school, shortening the normal master’s degree time-to-completion by six months.”
This interdisciplinary course of study is certainly challenging, but she found it to be equally rewarding. “Medical school is a rigorous endeavor, and SGU is no exception,” Dr. Parker says. “As a student there, I developed the skills of leadership, time management, professionalism, patience, and determination that have enabled me to excel in my residency program and beyond.”
She currently holds the role of Chief Resident, completing her third and final year of residency training in emergency medicine at the University of Rochester-Strong Memorial Hospital in western New York.
“As a third-year emergency medicine resident, I already feel that this dual degree has benefitted my medical practice each time I care for a patient with housing insecurity, drug addiction, or lack of access to primary care,” Dr. Parker explains. “I have sufficient background knowledge to hold an understanding of the social determinants of health that brought each patient to seek care in the Emergency Department, and I feel well equipped to connect them with critical resources and treatments.”
Dr. Lucinda Dass: Internal Medicine Physician
For some practitioners, working in public health was always the goal. “I had considered pursuing my MPH before applying to medical school,” recounts Dr. Lucinda Dass, 2023 SGU graduate. “An MPH would be my way of learning about healthcare from a broader, non-physician viewpoint before becoming a doctor.”
Once she learned about SGU’s MD/MPH dual degree path, it was an easy decision. “The primary driver of my interest in public health was to be a versatile physician,” Dr. Dass explains. “This path expands upon a holistic view of patients, noting culture, economic standing, and community resources as valuable aspects of patient-centered care.”
“This path expands upon a holistic view of patients, noting culture, economic standing, and community resources as valuable aspects of patient-centered care.”
One of the most notable elements of SGU’s dual degree program for her was the focus on hands-on learning. Students in the MD/MPH track are involved in a range of field-based practicum experiences where they learn to apply classroom knowledge to real public health challenges.
“The MPH program required real-life training in the form of the practicum experience, so I was able to fill my breaks between MD terms with meaningful activities,” Dr. Dass says. “This helped me make valuable connections in the non-profit sector in New York and produce educational content for schools in Grenada, and it also served as a huge talking point during my residency interviews.”
She is now working as a PGY-1 Internal Medicine resident at Capital Health Systems in New Jersey, where she trains in two separate hospitals that serve communities with vastly different income levels. “Every day I am reminded of the disparities that exist within our country, and I am grateful for my MPH background that helps me practice medicine with a biopsychosocial framework in mind,” Dr. Dass offers.
While she notes that the dual degree path wasn’t easy, she maintains that it was more than worth it in the long run. “If you’re willing to work hard, the experience and knowledge you gain will be invaluable to whatever career you pursue.”
Dr. Sarah Cheyney: Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Physician
Regardless of which medical specialty a physician chooses, training in public health can enable doctors to provide more comprehensive patient care. That’s what drew Dr. Sarah Cheyney, 2019 SGU grad, to the dual degree path.
“I wanted a well-rounded view of health, and earning both an MD and an MPH has helped provide me with that broadened perspective,” she explains. “I’ve had an interest in preventative medicine since undergrad, and I loved that I was able to obtain both of these advanced degrees at SGU.”
Preventive medicine physicians focus on a range of different elements when treating patients, many of which fall within the scope of public health — things like cultural background, socioeconomic factors, and other social determinants of health.
“Health is more than just a doctor’s visit,” Dr. Cheyney says. “It also includes the patient’s perception, environment, and level of accessibility to quality care. Those must be considered to treat the patient as a whole.”
Pursuing her MD and MPH at SGU helped Dr. Cheyney gain the broadened perspective of patient care that she was hoping for. “It provided me with the ability to critically analyze data and determine its applicability to a specific patient population,” she shares. “With the medical field being ever-changing and evolving, this has been an extraordinary asset.”
“If you have any interest in preventive medicine or simply have a desire to gain a more well-rounded view of your future patients, I highly recommend the MD/MPH dual degree program,” Dr. Cheyney continues. “SGU provided so many invaluable resources to help me achieve my goals. I leaned on the institution’s expertise during every step of the process toward post-graduate medical training.”
“SGU provided so many invaluable resources to help me achieve my goals. I leaned on the institution’s expertise during every step of the process toward post-graduate medical training.”
Dr. Cheyney currently serves as a Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine fellow at Orlando Health, one of Central Florida’s most prominent not-for-profit healthcare systems. “I love my position because it provides balance and continues to challenge me to be a better physician,” she says.
Increase your impact with a dual degree medical program
If you’re eager to maximize your influence on community health in your pursuit of a successful medical career, studying public health can provide you with the specialized training and skills you’ll need to extend your reach. And as our graduate stories have demonstrated, this is a skill set that can be of use across medical specialties.
MD/MPH dual degree holders will complete SGU’s program with the credentials and expertise needed to have a career as a multidisciplinary and inter-professional health practitioner with a focus on holistic patient care.
You can learn more about the exciting possibilities that await by visiting St. George’s University’s MD/MPH dual degree program page today.
