Doctor of (M.D.) Medicine /Master of (M.P.H.) Public Health [dual degree]

Advanced study in medicine and public health is available through a dual degree program offered to medical students with the M.P.H. program in the School of Public Health. The dual degree M.D. and M.P.H. program allows students to earn two degrees in five years with a reduction of nine credits in the M.P.H. degree requirements, due to applicable coursework completed in the M.D. curriculum, reducing the time to earn the M.P.H. degree. The M.D.M.P.H. dual degree program provides an opportunity for medical students who wish to pursue a public health or research-oriented career to graduate from medical school trained in both clinical and preventive, population-oriented medicine. The program offers concentrations in applied public health, cancer prevention and control science, and epidemiology. The M.P.H. program trains students to develop educational competencies established by the program’s accrediting body, the Council on Education for Public Health.

To be considered for the VCU M.D.-M.P.H. program, prospective students must already be enrolled in the M.D. program. During the application process to the medical school through the American Medical College Application Service, it is appropriate, but not required, to designate “Combined Graduate/Medical Degree” on your AMCAS application. The application to the M.P.H. program is submitted separately from the application to the M.D. program, through sophas.org during the M3 year. VCU also requires a supplemental application for the M.P.H. program. Information on the application process is available on the M.P.H. program application website.