Why an MD/MPH dual degree?

This dual degree is primarily targeted at medical students who are interested in acquiring knowledge in the public health field. The marriage between medicine and public health skills will enable physicians to be better practitioners and leaders in the fields of medicine and public health. The program will build upon the existing relationship between Albany Medical College and the School of Public Health to prepare physicians to be aware and capable of addressing public health problems and to create public health professionals adept at clinical knowledge and practice. What is the curriculum for the dual degree? Individuals interested in pursuing an MD/MPH will be able to complete the degree in five years (compared to medical school's four year curriculum). The first two years of study are primarily devoted medical education with the exception of summers where students have the option of taking public health courses. In the summer between the second and third year, students take their board examination. MPH coursework is primarily completed in the summers and in the third year of study. The MPH internships are completed in the third and fifth year and medical school is finished in the fourth and fifth year of study.

MPH Areas of Study

How do I apply?

To be considered for admission into the MD/MPH, applicants must be admitted first to medical school at Albany Medical College. Albany Medical College is in the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). The AMCAS application form is found on the Association of American Medical College's website at www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm. Applicants must then also apply separately to the School of Public Health for admission into the MPH program. Applicants should indicate on their application their intention to pursue the dual degree. Additional information regarding the application process can be found on the School of Public Health website at http://www.albany.edu/sph/ or visit www.sophas.org.

For additional information contact the School of Public Health (518) 402 0283

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MD/MPH Program of Study

Typically eight core courses are required for the MPH degree but the following course will be waived for MD/MPH students:

BMS 505 Biological
Basis of Public Health (3 credits) because its content is covered in the medical school curriculum. In addition, a six credit internship is substituted by one of the clerkships. Students will also take 15 credits in their specific area of concentration as determined by the department.

Core Curriculum for MD/MPH

EPI 501 Principles and Methods of Epidemiology I (3 credits)
Introduction to epidemiology for students majoring in any aspect of public health; covers the principles and methods of epidemiologic investigation including describing the patterns of illness in populations and research designs for investigating the etiology of disease. Introduces quantitative measures to determine risk, association and procedures for standardization of rates.

STA 552 Principles of Statistical Inferences I (3 credits)
An introduction to descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and variability, probability distributions, sampling estimation, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. Computing will be introduced and used throughout the course.

Sta 552 and Sta 553 will satisfy the core requirement in statistics for programs in the School of Public Health.

EPI 503 Principles of Public Health (3 credits)
This course introduces the students to the basic principles of public health and their application to the development of activities that benefit the health status of populations.The skills of epidemiology, biostatistics, health care planning and policy development, health care administration, and community organization are applied to the assessment of public health needs and the development of prevention and control initiatives.

EHT 590 Introduction to Environmental Health (3 credits)
Basic concepts of the modes of transmission of environmental stressors from source or reservoir to host and methods of reducing their impact on human population; basic concepts, methods and premises of environmental risk management.

HPM 500 Health Care Organization, Delivery and Financing (3 credits)
Introduction to health care policy and services; arrangements for organizing, delivering, paying for, and financing health care are examined with attention to their rationale, implementation, and effectiveness. Government interventions to ensure access, cost containment and quality are assessed and policy alternatives are considered.

HPM 525 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health (3 credits)
This course is designed to enable students to apply principles and concepts from social, behavioral and cultural perspective to public health. The intent of the course is to provide students with concepts and tools from social sciences in order to improve their ability to analyze, understand and solve public health problems. Students will: gain understanding of the significance of social, psychological, behavioral, and cultural factors in relation to health status and well-being; analyze public health problems in terms of social, psychological, cultural, economic and demographic factors that contribute to or protect from vulnerability to disease, disability and death; and gain knowledge necessary to apply social theory research and principles to the critical analysis of the appropriateness of psychological interventions.

Quantitative Requirement (3 credits)

Determined by the department. Examples include:
STA 553 Principals of Statistical Inferences II (3)
HPM 550 Financial Management (3)
HPM 647 Program Evaluation (3)
HPM 520 Fundamentals of Research Design (3)
EHT 665 Risk Assessment (3)
STA 555 Introduction to Theory of Statistics II (3)

Internship and Seminar (6 credits)

Students are expected to complete a minimum of six credits of Internship broken down into two three credit experiences. At least three credits must be in an area outside of the specific area of concentration. MPH students must also enroll in the SPH 680 seminar series. These seminars allow students to report on their internship experiences.