Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

How public health and MPHs are influencing medicine

Gary Levin, MD
Policy
January 10, 2011
Share
Tweet
Share

Way back in the mid 20th century when I graduated from George Washington University with an MD degree I imagined that I had arrived.

I remember my classmates selecting different specialties and eventually going off to clinical training. I could not imagine doing anything other than clinical work, and perhaps dabbling in some clinical research.  Some of my friends were studying ‘epidemiology’ and a new field ‘public health’.  At that time, it mostly  was dedicated to ‘epidemics’, vaccinations, preventive medicine, and things that to me did not really involved patient care.

Turn the page, 50 or 60 years. This specialty has morphed into having an MPH (Masters in Public Health), and perhaps an MBA in health administration.  Previously these professionals had little to do with your clinical practice on a daily basis.  Now these people are the groundbreakers, movers and shakers throughout the medical world in which we all practice.

My school is now known as “George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.” The previous formal division of Medical Clinical pursuits from allied health and health business has become blurred at the educational level.  This blurring of distinction has also occurred in the clinical world with PAs. NPs, Advanced Degree nursing specialties and the like.

As a delayed and recent student of this field , and as a result of my blogging research I see that the topography has changed drastically.  Previously treated with disdain, MPHs, and MBAs, and MHAs increasingly have invaded our insular clinical world.  Many health reformers and policy makers delved deep into the social psychology of medical practice, medical group organization, quality measures, and even reimbursements.

All of this has evolved into an environment of MPHs having a huge influence on governmental policy makers.   Many MPHs have evolved into a new specialty of Political Influence.  Many practice medicine, not by treating patients or treating diseases, but by spreadsheets, algorithms, and formulating treating diseases from 40,000 feet … far removed from the implications of their edicts.

 

The flack is coming from we clinicians on the ground.

Gee, I wish I had gotten that MPH.

Gary Levin is a physician who blogs at Health Train Express.

Submit a guest post and be heard on social media’s leading physician voice.

Prev

How patients can advocate for themselves

January 10, 2011 Kevin 5
…
Next

Alzheimer's disease diagnosis criteria: A critical review

January 10, 2011 Kevin 5
…

Tagged as: Public Health & Policy

Post navigation

< Previous Post
How patients can advocate for themselves
Next Post >
Alzheimer's disease diagnosis criteria: A critical review

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Gary Levin, MD

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    There is nothing else I’d rather do in my life than medicine

    Gary Levin, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Health reform’s prejudice against specialist physicians

    Gary Levin, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Withholding liver transplants for Medicaid recipients in Arizona

    Gary Levin, MD

More in Policy

  • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

    Michael R. McGuire
  • U.S. health care leadership must prepare for policy-driven change

    Lee Scheinbart, MD
  • How locum tenens work helps physicians and APPs reclaim control

    Brian Sutter
  • Why Medicaid cuts should alarm every doctor

    Ilan Shapiro, MD
  • Why physician voices matter in the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ laws

    BJ Ferguson
  • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

    Carlin Lockwood
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • How community paramedicine impacts Indigenous elders

      Noah Weinberg | Conditions
    • A physician’s reflection on love, loss, and finding meaning in grief [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How medical culture hides burnout in plain sight

      Marco Benítez | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • A physician’s reflection on love, loss, and finding meaning in grief [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

      Michael R. McGuire | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • How I learned to stop worrying and love AI

      Rajeev Dutta | Education
    • Understanding depression beyond biology: the power of therapy and meaning

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • Why compassion—not credentials—defines great doctors

      Dr. Saad S. Alshohaib | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 15 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • How community paramedicine impacts Indigenous elders

      Noah Weinberg | Conditions
    • A physician’s reflection on love, loss, and finding meaning in grief [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How medical culture hides burnout in plain sight

      Marco Benítez | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • A physician’s reflection on love, loss, and finding meaning in grief [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

      Michael R. McGuire | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • How I learned to stop worrying and love AI

      Rajeev Dutta | Education
    • Understanding depression beyond biology: the power of therapy and meaning

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • Why compassion—not credentials—defines great doctors

      Dr. Saad S. Alshohaib | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

How public health and MPHs are influencing medicine
15 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...