Let’s learn about the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree - a candidate’s journey and experiences, with Meghan Haffey

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Show Notes

In this episode, Sujani sits down with Meghan Haffey to talk about her journey from discovering public health to the present day, where she is a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) student in the Health Promotion & Health Education program at the University of Texas, School of Public Health.

You’ll Learn

• Meghan’s journey prior to pursuing her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree, including the premed route that she first started off in, switching into public health, and pursuing a Master of Public Health and specializing in Epidemiology
• That it’s okay to start off in one field and then switch to a different one; just because you choose it, doesn’t mean you have to stick to it; don’t think that the years you may have spent in one area was a waste, it is all part of the journey
• The sentiment and people’s preconceived notion that exists when one chooses to switch from the medical school path to a public health path, which Meghan did.
• Additionally, normalizing the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree, so that it is acceptable if one chooses not to pursue a PhD.
• Why Meghan decided to pursue a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree, how she decided between a PhD or a DrPH degree, what she did to make the decision (informational interviews, employment perspectives, demand for each of the degrees)
• Tips for when you are trying to decide on a doctoral degree
• The difference between a DrPH and a PhD
• Why she chose the School of Public Health at the University of Texas and a bit about the program:
  • Her specialization: Health Promotion and Health Education (Minor in Health Policy)
  • A walk-through of the first two years of the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program
  • Her experiences to date – a glimpse of what it feels like to be in the program, including courses, prerequisites, and work experiences she has gained through the faculty
• Life after her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree – where she hopes her public health path will take her

Resources

• Episode with Sophiya mentioned in the episode: Episode 8 – Why I will not be applying to medical school, with Sophiya Garasia
• Other resources on our platform related to the DrPH degree
  • Podcast Episode: Episode 19 – Welcoming the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree to Canada at the University of Toronto & FAQ session, with Erica Di Ruggiero
  • Blog post: Doctor of Public Health – Isn’t that just a PhD?
• Taking the first step towards pursuing a DrPH degree – our DrPH program list (FREE TOOL)

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