Assessing the Value of Dual Physician Assistant/Public Health Degrees

Abstract

The popularity of dual physician assistant/master of public health degree programs continues to increase within US physician assistant (PA) education. The advantages and disadvantages of pursuing dual degree training have not been fully explored in the PA literature. Potential advantages of dual training include broadening of the student's perspective on health and health care beyond the "one provider, one patient" medical model, increased training in evaluation and use of the medical literature, increased skill in assessing community factors that affect the health of patients, enhanced expertise in health care administration or policy, and improved prospects for future roles as PA faculty members. Potential drawbacks include increased duration and expense of PA/MPH education, student burnout due to prolonged training, and the lack of jobs that explicitly use both halves of the PA/MPH training.