MD-MHA

Program Overview

Advanced study in health administration and medicine is available through a dual-degree program co-sponsored by the Department of Health Administration and the VCU School of Medicine. The program leads to the awarding of the Doctor of Medicine and Master of Health Administration degrees. The objective of the M.D./M.H.A. program is to provide highly motivated medical students the expertise for management and leadership competency in complex health care organizations. Students may indicate their interest in the combined program prior to matriculation or during the first three years of the M.D. program. The program may be completed in five years. Applicants for this program are required to meet the admission requirements of each program.

For the combined degree program, course work for the M.H.A. is initiated following completion of the first two or three years of the M.D. program, occupies a full academic year (fall, spring and summer) and extends into a second year, and is taken during a hiatus from the third or fourth year of the M.D. program.

Students interested in the program may contact the School of Medicine Office of Curriculum or the director of the M.H.A. program in the Department of Health Administration (College of Health Professions). For additional information refer to the School of Medicine handbook available on the school’s website at medschool.vcu.edu.

Bulletin

Contact Information

Rachel F. Haga, MHA
Director of Graduate Programs (MHA & MSHA)
E-mail: rchaga@vcu.edu

MD-MPH

Program Overview

The objective of the dual-degree MD/MPH program is to provide high quality and in-depth training in public health to qualified medical students. The MD/MPH Dual Degree Program provides an opportunity for medical students who wish to pursue a public health or research career to graduate from medical school trained in both clinical and preventive, population-oriented medicine. The five-year program includes four years of medical school and one year of study in the MPH program. Students enter the M.P.H. curriculum after the M-3 year. During the M.P.H. year, students take a minimum of 36 credit hours of course work.

The required minimum of 36 credits in the M.P.H. curriculum includes 21 credit hours of core courses, a minimum of nine credit hours of concentration courses, a minimum of three credits of elective courses and a minimum of three credit hours of a capstone project that examines a relevant public health topic. Students receive nine credit hours toward the M.P.H. degree for completion of course work in the M.D. program. No credits in the M.P.H. program apply to the M.D. program. During the final year of medical school, students complete one public health elective approved by the director of the M.P.H. program.

Bulletin

Contact Information

Lisa Anderson, M.P.H.
Director of Educational Programs
E-mail: lisa.s.anderson@vcuhealth.org

MD-PHD

About the Program

The VCU School of Medicine has been awarding combined MD and PhD degrees since 1975. In 1988, the school made a formal commitment to support and grow the program and, in 2006, to support all students with paid tuition, fees and stipend.

The VCU MD-PhD program is a medium-sized program, admitting six to eight people on average each year.

Full medical school and graduate school tuition is provided by the VCU MD-PhD program and PhD dissertation adviser. Students will receive a minimum annual stipend of $31,265 each year for all years enrolled in the program. Each student receives an additional $1,000 added to their stipend after passing their PhD candidacy exams. Each student who receives support from an NIH F30 award will have an additional $1,000 added to his or her stipend for the duration of their education.

The VCU MD-PhD Program encourages students with disabilities, underrepresented minorities, and students who are disadvantaged to apply. We are committed to student diversity and make every effort to attract and recruit applicants of all kinds with diverse backgrounds.

For more information about the MD-PhD program, click here.

Contact Information

Georgia Straton, M.P.A.
Program Administrator
E-mail: georgia.straton@vcuhealth.org

MSW-MPH

Program Overview

The purpose of this dual degree program is to prepare graduates to work with individuals, families, groups, communities and/or organizations, advocate for social and economic justice in a diverse and multicultural society, and promote physical and mental health across the life course. Through this collaborative program between the VCU School of Social Work and VCU Public Health, students complete a three-year full time program of study, including some summer course work, to obtain the Master of Social Work and the Master of Public Health degrees. 

Students are required to complete a minimum of 45 M.S.W. credit hours and a minimum of 37 M.P.H. credit hours for the dual degree program. In the M.P.H. program, the curriculum includes 25 credit hours of core and required courses, a minimum of nine credit hours in the applied public health concentration and a minimum of three credit hours of a capstone project that examines a relevant public health topic. Students spend the first year completing foundational work in the MSW curriculum, then take a mixture of public health and social work courses in the second year, with an emphasis on the MPH curriculum. Final program requirements are completed in the third year, with a relatively even mix of coursework from each curriculum. 

For details on the curriculum, visit the VCU Graduate Bulletin.

Contact Information

Lisa Anderson, M.P.H.
Director of Educational Programs
E-mail: lisa.s.anderson@vcuhealth.org

PharmD-MPH

Program Overview

This dual degree program offers the opportunity to earn a doctorate in pharmacy while combining expertise in pharmaceutical care with the perspective of benefit to populations. Through this collaborative program between the VCU School of Pharmacy and the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Division of Epidemiology, students complete a five-year program in which they fulfill MPH degree requirements after the P3 year. 

Students are required to complete a minimum of 45 M.S.W. credit hours and a minimum of 37 M.P.H. credit hours for the dual degree program. In the M.P.H. program, the curriculum includes 25 credit hours of core and required courses, a minimum of nine credit hours in the applied public health concentration, and a minimum of three credit hours of a capstone project that examines a relevant public health topic. After the fourth year, students transition back into advanced pharmacy course work and practice experiences. The required M.P.H. internship and M.P.H. capstone project are completed in a community setting during the P5 year. The internship will be a community health-based advanced practice experience approved by both programs that involves the development of one or more deliverables. The M.P.H. capstone project will be a comprehensive, integrated learning experience involving either a hypothesis-based research question or a comprehensive project serving the needs of a professional public health organization.

For details on the curriculum, visit the VCU Graduate Bulletin.

Contact Information

Lisa Anderson, M.P.H.
Director of Educational Programs
E-mail: lisa.s.anderson@vcuhealth.org

Pramit A. Nadpara, PhD, MBA, MS, BPharm
Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacotherapy & Outcome Science
E-mail: panadpara@vcu.edu  

PHD Human Genetics-MS Genetic Counseling

The Ph.D. in Human Genetics and Master of Genetic Counseling dual degree program is designed to prepare genetic counselors for careers that require strong clinical and counseling skills and the ability to carry out independent research. The combined program streamlines the process for students interested in pursuing both degrees. Students in this rigorous program have the advantage of efficiently pursuing a genetic counseling degree and a PhD degree simultaneously.

Please follow these links for additional information or view a full description of the Dual Degree Ph.D. in Human Genetics/M.S. in Genetic Counseling graduate program.

• Curriculum and Training FAQs
• Assistantships
• How to Apply
• Progress Assessment
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Contact Information

John Quillin, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S.
Assistant Program Director
804-628-1925
E-mail: john.quillin@vcuhealth.org