Abstract
BackgroundFew data are available evaluating the associations of formal public health education with long-term career choice and professional outcomes among medical school graduates. The objective of this study was to determine if formal public health education via completion of a masters of public health (MPH) degree among US medical school graduates was associated with early and long-term career choice, professional satisfaction, or research productivity.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study in 1108 physicians (17.1% completed a MPH degree) who had 10–20 years of follow-up post medical school graduation. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted.ResultsCompared to their counterparts with no MPH, medical school graduates with a MPH were more likely to have completed a generalist primary care residency only [relative risk (RR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.35–2.29], obtain employment in an academic institution (RR 1.81; 95% CI 1.33–2.37) or government agency (RR 3.26; 95% CI 1.89–5.38), and practice public health (RR 39.84; 95% CI 12.13–107.38) or primary care (RR 1.59; 95% CI 1.18–2.05). Furthermore, medical school graduates with a MPH were more likely to conduct public health research (RR 8.79; 95% CI: 5.20–13.82), receive NIH or other federal funding (RR 3.11, 95% CI 1.74–5.33), have four or more peer-reviewed publications (RR 2.07; 95% CI 1.56–2.60), and have five or more scientific presentations (RR 2.31, 95% CI 1.70–2.98).ConclusionFormal public health education via a MPH was associated with career choice and professional outcomes among physicians.
Highlights
It is well-recognized that public health and medicine must work together in an integrated model if we are to train the best possible healthcare workforce, develop innovative tools and approaches through research, and achieve the maximum potential for improving health [1]
We studied a cohort of physicians (n = 1783) who graduated from Tulane University School of Medicine between 1985 and 1997 and were identified by means of the American Medical Association Physician Professional Data provided by Axciom Corporation and J
There were no differences in participation rate by age, gender, undergraduate science major or grade point average, Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores, year of medical school graduation, or completion of a masters of public health (MPH) program
Summary
It is well-recognized that public health and medicine must work together in an integrated model if we are to train the best possible healthcare workforce, develop innovative tools and approaches through research, and achieve the maximum potential for improving health [1]. We hypothesized that career choice and professional development and long-term outcomes (e.g, professional position, type of medical practice, and scientific publications) would differ among medical school graduates with versus without a MPH To address this hypothesis, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of physicians including a relatively large group completing formal public health education (i.e., MPH degree) [17] and a comparison group without a MPH degree 10–20 years after graduation from a US medical school. The objective of this study was to determine if formal public health education via completion of a masters of public health (MPH) degree among US medical school graduates was associated with early and long-term career choice, professional satisfaction, or research productivity
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