MD/MPH Programs Explained: How to Earn Dual Degrees

Pursuing a joint degree in medicine and public health can amplify your career, deepen your impact, and position you to tackle health challenges at both the individual and population levels. An MD/MPH (Doctor of Medicine / Master of Public Health) program equips you not only with clinical skills but also with the public health perspective needed to understand and improve healthcare systems, address health disparities, and influence health policy.

In this guide, we explore the structure of MD/MPH programs, how to get in, the skills and experience needed, and how clinical exposure—especially global health internships like those offered through Go Elective—can help you stand out.

What Does an MD/MPH Program Combine?

An MD/MPH merges clinical training with public health education. While medical school focuses on diagnosing and treating individual patients, public health emphasizes preventing illness, promoting wellness, and understanding how social and environmental factors influence health at the population level.

Here’s how these two fields intersect:

• Medical Practice: Focuses on individualized diagnosis, treatment, and patient care.
• Public Health Practice: Focuses on prevention, community health, epidemiology, health policy, and systemic improvements.

Professionals with both degrees are uniquely equipped to identify broader causes of disease and craft solutions that improve outcomes not just for one patient, but for entire populations.

Careers with an MD/MPH Degree

Graduates of MD/MPH programs often pursue careers in:

• Hospital and clinical leadership roles
• Public health agencies (e.g., CDC, WHO, local health departments)
• Global health NGOs and nonprofit organizations
• Academic medicine and public health research
• Policy-making or health advocacy
• Epidemiology, occupational health, and environmental health

Having dual expertise opens doors in both clinical and policy arenas. Whether you’re leading a response to a disease outbreak or treating patients in underserved communities, this combination empowers you to work at the intersection of care and systemic change.

How to Prepare for an MD/MPH Program

To qualify for an MD/MPH program, you must first meet the requirements for medical school admission. Strong academics, healthcare-related experience, and a passion for public health are all crucial.

Academic Coursework

Your undergraduate major doesn’t need to be in biology or chemistry, though many pre-med students choose science-heavy paths. What matters most is that you complete the required prerequisite coursework:

• Core sciences: Biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry
• Helpful electives: Sociology, psychology, statistics, environmental science, public health, epidemiology, and global health
• Humanities/social sciences: Majoring in humanities like philosophy or political science can actually help you stand out—as long as you meet the pre-med requirements

Public health draws heavily on social sciences and population-level thinking, so diversifying your academic background with classes in sociology, environmental policy, law, or economics can provide a strong foundation for the MPH portion.

Gaining Public Health and Clinical Experience

To strengthen your MD/MPH application, you’ll want meaningful experiences that demonstrate your commitment to both medicine and public health. This includes:

• Volunteering in hospitals or clinics
• Participating in community health initiatives
• Shadowing physicians across various specialties
• Contributing to health-related research
• Attending global health internships

One of the best ways to build a public health lens is through international clinical internships. At Go Elective, students shadow physicians in underserved regions of Kenya and Tanzania, where public health challenges—like infectious disease, maternal health, and limited access to care—are highly visible. These experiences prepare future MD/MPH candidates to think globally and act locally.

GPA and MCAT Expectations

Admission to medical school—and, by extension, MD/MPH programs—is competitive. Strong academic performance and a solid MCAT score are essential.

• GPA: Aim for a minimum 3.6 overall GPA. Top-tier schools often require a GPA of 3.8 or higher.
• MCAT: The average accepted score for MD programs is around 511–514. For MD/MPH applicants at top programs, aim for a score above 515.

Use free AAMC resources and practice tests to build your MCAT strategy, and don’t hesitate to seek advice from medical students or mentors who’ve taken the test.

What You’ll Study in an MD/MPH Program

Most MD/MPH programs are five years in length. Students typically complete their MPH requirements either between the second and third years of medical school or after completing all four years of their MD program.

MD Curriculum Overview

• Years 1–2: Foundational coursework in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, and clinical skills
• Years 3–4: Clinical rotations in internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, OB/GYN, psychiatry, and more
  
  

MPH Curriculum Overview

• Core public health areas: Epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, environmental health, and behavioral sciences
• Electives: Global health, disaster response, health equity, nutrition, program evaluation
• Capstone or practicum project: Often community-based or research-focused

At many institutions, the MPH coursework is delivered through a university’s school of public health. These courses emphasize how data, policy, and prevention shape health outcomes beyond the clinic.

When and How to Apply for an MD/MPH Program

The timing of your application depends on the school:

• Concurrent admission: Some universities allow you to apply to both programs at the same time.
• After matriculating: Other programs let you apply to the MPH component after you’ve started medical school—typically after your first or second year.
  
  

Either way, you’ll need:

• A strong academic record in your pre-med or medical coursework
• A personal statement that reflects your dual interest in medicine and population health
• Letters of recommendation, often from professors or physicians
• Evidence of public health exposure, research, or volunteer work

To boost your application, you can participate in international internships that include both clinical shadowing and public health outreach—like Go Elective’s community health initiatives, which involve hygiene education, maternal care, or school-based health programs in underserved communities.

Is an MD/MPH Program Right for You?

Here’s what to consider before committing to a dual-degree program:

Pros

• Complete both degrees in five years
• Combine clinical practice with systems-level impact
• Expand your career options in medicine, public health, research, and policy
• Gain leadership training in areas like health equity and global health

Challenges

• More intensive workload and time commitments
• Higher tuition (though often less than pursuing the degrees separately)
• Need for careful planning and time management

If your goal is to improve healthcare not just for individuals but across communities and populations, then the MD/MPH path may be the perfect fit.

Build Your Foundation for a Future in Medicine and Public Health

If you're working toward an MD/MPH and want to gain clinical and global public health experience, consider applying to Go Elective. Our programs in Kenya and Tanzania allow students to:

• Shadow doctors in high-volume public hospitals
• Participate in community health outreach and education
• Understand healthcare challenges in resource-limited settings
• Build a compelling narrative for your personal statement and interview

Whether you’re a pre-med student, current undergraduate, or in a gap year, Go Elective offers transformative experiences that align perfectly with the goals of MD/MPH students.

Explore Our Programs or Apply today by contact us at hello@goelective.com

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: May 13, 2025