MD-PhD in Health Economics Admissions – PhD Departments

This is a continuation of my series on joint degrees in medicine and social sciences, in response to frequently asked questions from undergraduates.

Health economics can be studied in numerous types of PhD departments, with a range of flavors.  Here I have listed some of the key considerations when deciding where to pursue a PhD.  I then discuss how these vary between Economics Department, Public Policy Schools, and Public Health Schools

Key Considerations:

  • Coursework: Coursework will consume a substantial amount of your time as an early PhD student. Those courses should teach skills and subject matter you want to learn.
  • Peer and Faculty Research Interests: Your peers and faculty will shape your research topics and provide critical feedback on your work. Your will have to convince them your research is interesting and robust. Their perspective and research background will profoundly shape your research questions and taste.
  • General Pros and Cons: Some additional considerations to have in mind.

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MD-PhD in Health Economics Admissions – Testing

This is a continuation of my series on joint degrees in medicine and social sciences, in response to frequently asked questions I receive from undergraduates.

The short version: Take the MCAT and the GRE. Do well on the MCAT and GRE quantitative section.

The longer version: Like with coursework, there are no efficiencies or shortcuts here. You have to separately prepare for MD and PhD admissions and earn test score competitive for both.

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MD-PhD in Health Economics Admissions – Coursework

This is a continuation of my series on joint degrees in medicine and social sciences, in response to the frequent asked questions I receive from undergraduates.

The coursework requirements to be eligible for a joint program are substantial. The MD and the PhD each have their own set of pre-requisites. And unlike standard MD-PhD programs, there is essentially no overlap between the two sets of courses. For medical school, the pre-requisites are highly official and easy to find information about. For PhDs, the pre-requisites are equally binding, but often not laid out as explicitly.

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MD-PhD or MD-Masters? Advice For Undergrads Interested in Health and Social Sciences

This is my first post in a series about joint degrees in medicine and social sciences, in response to frequently asked questions from undergraduates.

Introduction

As an MD-PhD student, I frequently get asked to speak to younger students about graduate school.  Students concerns are often as follows. They know they want to go to medical school and study social sciences. But should they pursue a master’s degree or a PhD in the social sciences? They find it hard to tell the difference (and justifiably – they haven’t pursued either yet).

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