title: Formal public health education and career outcomes of medical school graduates.
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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Formal public health education via a MPH was associated with career choice and professional outcomes among physicians.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America. mawood@tulane.edu
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Krousel-Wood
authors: Jiang
authors: J
authors: He
authors: Meredith
authors: M
authors: Booth
authors: Chung-Shiuan
authors: CS
authors: Chen
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Rice
authors: Marc J
authors: MJ
authors: Kahn
authors: Rika
authors: R
authors: Maeshiro
authors: Paul K
authors: PK
authors: Whelton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012577:Schools, Medical; D055815:Young Adult