More than Just Medicine: Dual Degree Programs

by Gurleen Chadha

Courtesy of www.schoolaah.com

For most pre-medical students, dedicating their lives to the study of medicine is
incredibly fulfilling in and of itself. There are others, however, who seek to combine their
passion for different subjects, like law or business, with their passion for medicine. To
serve the needs of these students, there are a number of medical colleges that offer dual
degree programs, the most common being MD/PhD, MD/MPH, MD/JD, and MD/MBA.
One of the best-known dual degrees is the MD/PhD degree, ideal for people
looking to balance medicine with research. Those who have completed MD/PhD
programs (also known as physician-scientists) often become faculty at universities,
medical schools, or research institutes. On average, the degree takes eight years to
complete, as opposed to four years of medical school and four to six years of graduate
school. It is offered at over 80 universities, including the Keck School of Medicine
(where it is a joint program between USC and Caltech). The majority of these institutions
fully fund program participants, many providing a monthly stipend in addition to a full
tuition scholarship. Applicants must indicate they are applying as MD-PhD candidates on
their AMCAS form.
A dual degree in medicine and public health (or master’s level public health) is
for people looking to work in community medicine or public health. MD/MPH programs
are offered at over 70 universities, including Keck. The curriculum usually takes around
five years to complete and is made up of four years of medical school and one year
focusing on public health (often following the third year of medical school). Depending
on the institution, students either apply concurrently with their medical school application
or after they are admitted into medical school.
While somewhat less common, combined MD/JD programs are offered at just
over 20 schools in the United States. A dual degree in law and medicine can prepare
the bearer for several careers, from hospital legislation to medical malpractice, and
programs take on average six years (as opposed to seven if the degrees were pursued
independently). While curricula vary from university to university, a general course
plan may include a year studying law, two years studying medicine, completion of law
curriculum in the next one and a half years, a half year of research, and finally, a year
finishing medicine-based courses. All programs require applicants to gain admission
from the institution’s law school and medical school, although some universities offer the
option of a dual degree after medical school matriculation (usually after completion of
the first year of medical school).
At over 60 institutions, students can apply to joint MD/MBA programs that
prepare students to work for venture capitalists interested in the health field, to work
at health care firms, or allow students a myriad of other opportunities. At Keck, the
program (in partnership with the Marshall School of Business) takes five and a half
years to complete, with students applying after completing their second or third year of
medical school, taking a year to focus on business-related courses, and finishing with
two years of medical school and half a year to finish the business curriculum. At the
majority of universities that offer it, the program takes five years to complete, though
institutions have different policies on when the applicant should declare interest/apply to
the program.
The majority of these programs are highly competitive and include additional

essays and letters of recommendation. Many of them also include additional test
requirements (such as the LSAT or the GMAT) or require participants to study during
summers. They can, however, be perfect for students who see themselves combining
medicine with a different field and taking healthcare to new heights.