Formal Public Health Education and Career Outcomes of Medical School Graduates

Marie Krousel-Wood, Jiang He, Meredith Booth, Chung-Shiuan Chen, Janet Rice, Marc J Kahn, Rika Maeshiro and Paul K Whelton

PLOS ONE, 2012, vol. 7, issue 6, 1-9

Abstract: Background: Few 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. Methods: We 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. Results: Compared 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). Conclusion: Formal public health education via a MPH was associated with career choice and professional outcomes among physicians.

Date: 2012
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0039020

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039020

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