Doctor of Medicine / Master of Public Health, M.D./M.P.H.

I. Contact Information

Jim Kenyon, Graduate Program Director
(775) 784-1649
jlkenyon@medicine.nevada.edu

Mailing Address:

University of Nevada, Reno
Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Mail Stop 0352
1664 N. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89557

II. Brief Introduction

The School of Community Health Sciences and the University of Nevada School of Medicine (UNSOM) offer students the opportunity to pursue dual MD/MPH degrees. The dual program integrates the two areas of study and allows for 6 units to count toward both degrees. MD/MPH students may complete the training for the MPH degree between their second and third or third and fourth years of medical school.  

III. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

• Students shall acquire the body of knowledge and thinking processes necessary to become a competent physician.
• Students shall acquire the skills necessary to provide competent care for their patients.
• Students will become self-directed learners particularly within the patient care setting and will strive for ongoing professional improvement.
• Students must demonstrate effective communication skills necessary to function as a competent physician. 
• Students shall demonstrate the behaviors befitting an ethical professional at all times.
• Students shall begin to develop an understanding of the setting in which they will practice medicine and the challenges of providing cost-effective care.

IV. Admission Requirements

In order to be eligible for admission to the MD/MPH program, the applicant must meet all admission requirements for both programs (e.g., submitting MCAT scores and letters of recommendation). Applicants must be admitted first to the University of Nevada School of Medicine (UNSOM). Following that, students interested in the MD/MPH degree apply to the MPH program and must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Completing 45-units is required for an MPH. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students must complete all core courses in public health (see section 2, MPH component below) and one MPH area of emphasis in epidemiology or social and behavioral health. Students must pass all courses and 32 elective units in the medical school program. They must also pass the USMLE Step 1-Clinical Knowledge and Step 2-Clinical Knowledge (CK)and Clinical Skills (CS) examinations in order to graduate from the medical program.

V. Program Requirements

During their first two years of instruction, students are provided with opportunities to learn the concepts, skills and professional values essential to the practice of medicine. Beginning with the Class of 2016, they will experience the roll out of UNSOM’s integrated, systems-based block curriculum which is structured to approach the teaching of medical science concepts within a clinical context, with limited lecture hours, and with emphasis on lifelong learning strategies. Each block will utilize a “case of the week” format to align course content with clearly defined objectives that map out the work necessary for successful student learning. Each block concludes with an assessment week for clinical skills testing and a comprehensive examination. The longitudinal clinical skills courses, that may also include a preceptorship in ambulatory care with local physicians, run parallel to the blocks.