PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL-STUDENTS - FACTORS AFFECTING ENTRY INTO PUBLIC-HEALTH

We surveyed members of a recent master of public health (MPH) degree p rogram to learn more about how, when, and why physicians and medical s tudents decided to seek formal training in public health. We interview ed physicians and medical students to determine how and why these MPH students became involved in what they considered public health work; h ow and why they decided to attend public health school; and what their career plans were following completion of the degree program. All 47 medical students and physicians responded to the survey. Sixty-six per cent described previous public health-related work experience. Only 5% decided prior to or during college to attend public health school. A personal contact directed 62% towards public health school. Those with previous public health work experience were more likely to pursue wha t they considered public health careers after completion of public hea lth school than those without such previous work experience. The conti nuing need for qualified practitioners and leaders in public health ch allenges the medical community to characterize further those factors m otivating medical students and physicians to formalize their training in public health.