Cameron Culver, a student in the first M.D./M.P.H. class said, "Within the first year, many students felt that the dual degree program had already shifted our perspectives in career- and life-changing ways." Culver has been named the incoming chair of the American Public Health Association's Student Assembly.

The Institute of Medicine defines a public health physician as one whose training, practice and world view are based in a large part on a population focus rather than individual practice. A public health physician assures the availability of essential public health services to a population using skills such as leadership, management and education as well as clinical interventions.

There are currently more than 75 M.D./M.P.H. programs across the country; however, less than 10 offer a curriculum that can be completed in four years, according to Cooper. The UT School of Public Health currently offers five-year M.D./M.P.H. degrees with The University of Texas Medical School at Houston and Baylor College of Medicine.

In addition to traditional courses, online courses allow students to begin their public health studies prior to beginning their medical school curriculum. According to Cooper, this contributed to the viability of the program. M.P.H. classes focus on five core disciplines: biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health administration/policy and health behavior. Students may also choose an M.P.H. concentration in global health.

SOURCE University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston