Combined Degree and
Physician Scholar Programs

The first step of the process is to gather information regarding the MD/MPH dual degree. Interested students have several resources:

• MPH Program — the Master of Public Health program website provides detailed information on the program and application process, as well as, Fieldwork experiences and Capstone projects.
• MD/MPH Directory — here you will find current/recent MD/MPH student profiles. Prospective students are encouraged to speak directly with current students for more complete and nuanced insights. As always, it is also a good idea to seek out advice from multiple resources (e.g. including faculty mentors, Advisory Deans, etc.) to help inform your decisions.
• MD/MPH Information Session — every fall the Combined Degree office holds an MD/MPH Information Session for medical students. Email announcements are sent out to students prior to the event.
  • MS1 & MS2s, check out the full recording of the August 24, 2022 Zoom info session here or just the PowerPoint here.
  • MS3s, check out the full recording of the December 2, 2020 BlueJeans info session here. 
• Dr. Hillary Nelson — Penn medical students are encouraged to contact Dr. Nelson to discuss the Master of Public Health program and learn how to best take advantage of the PSOM Additional Course Policy.
• Assoc Director of CD Office — students are encouraged to contact the Associate Director of Combined Degree Office, to discuss their interest in a Master's program.
• Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) Financial Aid Office — As soon as a student is considering the pursuit of an integrated dual degree program, financial aid counseling and planning is strongly advised.

Additional Public Health resources on Penn’s campus:

• Center for Public Health Initiatives - this website provides information on the Center, including free seminar series that medical students are welcome to attend.
• Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics events
• The Center for Global Health Office events
• Bridging the Gap seminar series - consists of eight evening seminars, which take place during the spring, winter and fall. The seminars highlight people and programs that offer concrete strategies for addressing specific issues affecting vulnerable populations.

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Perelman medical students who are interested in applying for the MD/MPH program are encouraged to contact Dr. Hillary Nelson, Director of the MPH program. She can advise about what MPH courses to take as part of the PSOM Additional Course Policy prior to entering the program. Once accepted into the MD/MPH program, students meet with Dr. Nelson to develop a curriculum plan. As needed, she will also refer students to members of the MD/MPH faculty, including Mario DeMarco, MD, MPH, who are available to provide career guidance, advice, and counseling.

After a curriculum plan is developed, the student must notify the Registrar for the PSOM of his/her intention to pursue the MD/MPH.

Students should also meet with a staff member in the PSOM Financial Aid Office to discuss financial issues.

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Program Requirements:

The following course units are required for the MPH degree :

• 9 required core course units
• 5 Electives (two of which are MD curriculum transfer credits*)

Required Course Units:               14

* Perelman medical students who are matriculated in the MD/MPH program will earn one transfer credit for MOD320 Health Care Systems (in place of elective) + one transfer credit for Doctoring (in place of elective) in the MD curriculum.

Students can choose electives that both satisfy their MPH degree and their interests.  Of their three electives, one of them must be a PUBH-prefix elective associated with their track within the MPH degree. The second elective must also have a PUBH-prefix. The third elective can be from outside the MPH program, as long as it has a strong public health focus.

Timing:

Perelman medical students interested in the MPH program are strongly encouraged to utilize the PSOM Additional Course Policy to take up to three MPH courses during their first three semesters of medical school, so they do not incur tuition expenses for those MPH courses later. Students will need to take each course for a grade (i.e. not pass/fail) for it to count toward the MD/MPH. However, students should note that if they do not take MPH classes in the first three semesters, we will work with them to create a plan of study that would allow them to complete the MD/MPH in 5 years.

Completion of the two degrees separately would require six years, but the MD/MPH can be completed in five years with careful planning. Students are enrolled in the MD program full time for the first three years and in MPH course work full time during year 4. Then in year 5, students will do a semester of Medical School in Fall and a semester in the MPH Program in Spring. The sample plans of study below provide details about the timing of MPH course work for those who are familiar with the PSOM curriculum. The MPH plan of study will be individualized for each student.

MD/MPH Degree Completion Time:               5 Years (with careful planning)

MD/MPH Sample Study Plans:

The following are possible scheduling scenarios that an MD/MPH student might follow. They are based on the assumption that students will complete the requirements for two transfer credits.

Sample 1: Begin PUBH courses Fall of 1st Year
(Note: PSOM Additional Course Policy pays for 3 MPH courses in the first 3 MD primary semesters.)

Year	Fall	Spring	Summer	Tuition and Billing	Maximum Direct Loan Eligibility (2022-23)
1	1 PUBH cu MD curriculum	1 PUBH cu MD curriculum	PH fieldwork completed*	MD Tuition Fall & Spring (and MPH tuition for PUBH courses)	$42,722
2	1 PUBH cu MD curriculum	MD curriculum	MD curriculum	MD Tuition Fall & Spring (and MPH tuition for PUBH course)	$47,167
3	MD curriculum	Boards 1 MD curriculum	MD curriculum	MD Tuition Fall & Spring	$47,167
4	3 or 4 PUBH cus	3 or 4 PUBH cus		MPH Tuition Fall, Spring & Summer	$33,000
5	Residency interviewing MD curriculum**	Residency interviewing 3 PUBH cus		1 semester MD Tuition; 1 semester MPH Tuition	Fall: $20,250; Spring: $16,500

* Please contact Elaine Weigelt prior to starting fieldwork.
** Due to residency interviews, students are full-time in the MD curriculum in Fall of 5^th year.
 

Sample 2: Begin PUBH courses Fall of 4th Year
(Note: Student pays for 3 MPH courses during MPH primary semesters.)

Year	Fall	Spring	Summer	Tuition and Billing	Maximum Direct Loan Eligibility (2019-20)
1	MD curriculum	MD curriculum		MD Tuition Fall & Spring	$42,722
2	MD curriculum	MD curriculum	MD curriculum	MD Tuition Fall & Spring	$47,167
3	MD curriculum	Boards 1 MD curriculum	MD curriculum	MD Tuition Fall & Spring	$47,167
4	4 or 5 PUBH cus PH fieldwork	4 or 5 PUBH cus PH fieldwork	1 PUBH cu PH fieldwork completed	MPH Tuition Fall, Spring & Summer	$33,000
5	Residency interviewing MD curriculum*	Residency interviewing 3 PUBH cus		1 semester MD Tuition; 1 semester MPH Tuition	Fall: $20,250; Spring: $16,500

* Due to residency interviews, students are full-time in the MD curriculum in Fall of 5^th year.

Medical School Planning:

There are several things to keep in mind when making your Medical School plans:

• The MPH degree counts as your Scholarly Pursuit requirement.
• MD/MPH students need to complete: 1) 1 week of Bioethics and 2) no weeks of Frontiers (for students who MD matriculated before 2018) or 2 weeks of Frontiers (for students who MD matriculated in 2018 and later)

PSOM Additional Course Policy:

• The courses can be taken in any school in the University during the Fall or Spring semesters when the student is actively enrolled (not on a leave of absence or short-term break), and paying MD tuition (not just fees only).
• To take a course for credit in a Summer semester, MD tuition must be paid in full for the previous Spring and following Fall semesters. Only Perelman School of Medicine (such as: Bioethics, Epidemiology, Health Policy Research, Translational Research, Public Health) or School of Law courses may be taken during the Summer. A student may take only one course in a Summer semester limited to the UPenn course catalogue.
• In the event that a non-MD course requirement conflicts with an MD course requirement, the MD course must be given priority.

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Tuition Policy:

Tuition cost for the combined MD/MPH program is far less than the total tuition cost would be if the two degrees were earned separately over six consecutive years. In addition, Public Health Scholarships are available, so the MPH may be obtained at little or no additional cost. MD/MPH students will be charged 7 semesters of medical tuition (6 semesters in years 1-3 and one of the two semesters of year 5). During fall and spring semesters of year 4 and the spring semester of year 5, MPH tuition will be charged per course unit (unless the student receives a Public Health Scholarship).

Perelman medical students will be charged MPH tuition for:

9 MPH course units (unless the student receives a Public Health Scholarship)

IF 2 transfer credits have been earned via MOD320 and Doctoring,

AND

IF the student has taken 3 university registered credits during their first 3 MD primary semesters, which were paid for by the PSOM Additional Course Policy and counted toward the MPH degree.

Students will be charged for more than 9 course units if either of the above conditions are not met.  Students with questions about credits earned or needed should contact the Registrar of the Medical School.

Tuition:               ~$5,278/course. This includes a general University fee and the technical fee. (2021-2022)

Financial Aid:

As soon as a Perelman medical student is considering the pursuit of an integrated dual degree program, financial aid counseling and planning is strongly advised. Students should contact Michael Sabara, Director of Financial Services.  He is available to help explain program costs, the financial aid process, funding options and how to apply for financial aid. Here are some things to consider:

1. When paying medical school tuition and registered as a medical student, an individual can retain his/her MD Scholarship (for tuition/living expenses) and has a Direct loan eligibility of $40,500. When a student is registered as a full time MPH student, he/she is not eligible for a MD Scholarship (for tuition/living expenses) and has a Direct loan eligibility of $33,000. In accordance with federal regulations, all sources of aid (loan, scholarships, fellowships,) cannot exceed the student budget.

1. Direct loans have aggregate limits, which are cumulative and include any undergraduate, graduate, and medical school loans borrowed in the Direct loan program. For any semester when a student is a full-time MPH or a full-time MD student, the program aggregate limit is $224,000.

1. Students who require funds in excess of their Direct loan may apply for a Direct PLUS loan. Details on this loan and instructions for applying can be found at the PSOM Financial Aid Office.

Part-time Student Status Implications:

If a student is considering a Master's curriculum plan that would include one or more part-time Masters semesters, we urge students to consider the following:

Part-time student:

- Is registered for 2 cus or 2.5 cus in a Masters primary semester.

- Is eligible for student loans and loan deferment.

- Part-time students’ health insurance (PSIP) coverage is not mandated by the University.  Students are strongly encouraged to continue health insurance of some kind and are eligible to opt-in to the PSIP plan.  

- To opt-in to PSIP: Online application during open enrollment periods. See PSIP website for open enrollment schedule.

- A student who is full-time in the fall is considered subject to the insurance coverage requirement. This means that they must be enrolled in PSIP or waive out, and that enrollment or waiver is good for 12 months. If this student becomes part-time in the spring term, the PSIP enrollment or the waiver will not be terminated.

- A student who is part-time in the fall, and becomes full-time in the spring term will at that point become subject to the insurance requirement for the spring term and must then waive out or be enrolled for that term. 

- The clinical fee, which provides access to Student Health Services (SHS), is mandatory when on PSIP. A Primary Care Physician (PCP) designation needs to be considered for students who are not opting into SHS and who used SHS before for this purpose. If a part-time student is not enrolled in PSIP, they can opt-in to the clinical fee to have access to SHS. Students can stop by SHS for the application or call the insurance office at 215-746-3535 to request it.

- Is not eligible for Penn gym membership, but the student pays less in fees, which hopefully offsets this expense.

Public Health Scholarships:

The MPH Program has Penn Public Health Scholarships available on a competitive basis. Each scholarship covers 9 cus of MPH tuition. The scholarship is designed to reduce the cost of the dual degree, so the average MD student would have minimal or no additional tuition costs to pursue the MD/MPH. Applications for admission (including scholarships) are due by February 1 of the third year of medical school. Contact Dr. Hillary Nelson for more information.

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The admissions process for the MD/MPH program is competitive. A Perelman medical student may apply to the MPH and to the Public Health Scholarship sonly during his/her third year of medical school.

Admissions process:
There are two steps to applying:

1. Apply to the Master of Public Health Program
   Submit the MD/MPH application to Nicholas Van Meter. The application is directly through the program, not through SOPHAS. Students are encouraged to contact Dr. Hillary Nelson prior to applying for more information.
2. Submit Master's Program Registration Form to the Combined Degree Office
   In addition to submitting an MD/MPH application, Perelman medical students must also submit a Master's Program Registration Form to the Associate Director of the Combined Degree and Physician Scholar Programs Office (6th Floor JMEC).

Application Deadline:               January 15 of third year (for competitive funding); April 15 (for general applications)

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For more information about the MD/MPH program, contact:

MPH Program: Hillary C.M. Nelson, PhD MPH Director of MPH Program Assoc. Prof, Perelman School of Medicine Dept. of Biochemistry and Biophysics 215-573-7473 hnelson@pennmedicine.upenn.edu Mario DeMarco, MD, MPH Associate Professor, Perelman School of Medicine Dept of Family Medicine and Community Health Mario.DeMarco@uphs.upenn.edu Moriah Hall, MPH Associate Director, MPH Program 215-573-8841 moriahh@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Perelman School of Medicine: Francia G. Portacio, MPH Associate Director Combined Degree and Physician Scholar Programs Office Jordan Medical Education Ctr, 6th Floor 3400 Civic Center Blvd, BLDG 421 Philadelphia, PA 19104-5162 215-746-2359 francia.portacio@pennmedicine.upenn.edu Registrar Jordan Medical Education Ctr, 6th Floor 3400 Civic Center Blvd, BLDG 421 Philadelphia, PA 19104-5162 215-898-1165 psomregistrar@pennmedicine.upenn.edu Michael Sabara Director of Financial Services Financial Aid Office Jordan Medical Education Ctr, 6th Floor 3400 Civic Center Blvd, BLDG 421 Philadelphia, PA 19104-5162 215-573-3423 msabara@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

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