title: Assessing the value of dual physician assistant/public health degrees.
abstract: The popularity of dual physician assistant/master of public health degree programs continues to increase within US physician assistant (PA) education. The advantages and disadvantages of pursuing dual degree training have not been fully explored in the PA literature. Potential advantages of dual training include broadening of the student's perspective on health and health care beyond the "one provider, one patient" medical model, increased training in evaluation and use of the medical literature, increased skill in assessing community factors that affect the health of patients, enhanced expertise in health care administration or policy, and improved prospects for future roles as PA faculty members. Potential drawbacks include increased duration and expense of PA/MPH education, student burnout due to prolonged training, and the lack of jobs that explicitly use both halves of the PA/MPH training.
authors: The George Washington University, Department of Prevention and Community Health, School of Public Health and Health Services 2175 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20037, USA. purljfc@aol.com
authors: James F
authors: JF
authors: Cawley
authors: Tamara S
authors: TS
authors: Ritsema
authors: Darwin
authors: D
authors: Brown
authors: Colleen
authors: C
authors: Wight
authors: Grace
authors: G
authors: Landel
authors: Venetia
authors: V
authors: Orcutt
authors: Megan
authors: M
authors: Winsor-Lovely
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003479:Curriculum; D006801:Humans; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012576:Schools, Health Occupations; D040443:Students, Public Health; D014481:United States