FAQ: Should a DO physician pursue an MPH or PhD?

While a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree qualifies a physician to diagnose and treat patients across a wide range of medical specialties, some DOs choose to pursue additional graduate education to expand their professional impact beyond the clinical setting.

A Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is often pursued by those with interests in public health, health policy, epidemiology, global health or health care administration. It prepares physicians to understand and influence health outcomes at the population level, advocate for evidence-based policies and lead in public health systems. This path can be particularly valuable for DOs who want to address health inequities, manage preventive care programs, or take on leadership roles in health care organizations or government.

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is typically selected by those medical professionals with a strong commitment to scientific research, medical innovation or academic medicine. These programs train physician-scientists who can bridge clinical practice with basic science or translational research. DOs with PhDs often pursue careers in biomedical research, teaching at academic institutions, leading clinical trials or serving as principal investigators on federal grants.

Both degrees can add value depending on the DO’s career goals, whether that’s shaping health care systems and policies, advancing treatments and prevention, or preparing the next generation of physicians.

These programs can complement a DO degree, but each path serves distinct goals and career trajectories.

It depends on your career goals. A DO/MPH is particularly valuable for those interested in population health, health policy, preventive care, epidemiology or leadership roles in public health. A DO/PhD is typically pursued by individuals committed to a career in academic medicine or biomedical research. Both can enhance your qualifications and career opportunities but require significant time and financial investment.

Yes. DOs with an MPH often apply their training in leadership positions within health systems, public health agencies or nonprofit organizations. Those with PhDs typically use their training in research, academic medicine or translational science. The use depends on the individual’s practice setting and career goals.

Salaries vary widely depending on specialty, location and work setting. While an MPH or PhD may not directly increase clinical salary, it can lead to higher-paying roles in public health leadership, health policy, research administration or academic medicine. Physicians with combined degrees may earn more in non-clinical or hybrid roles that leverage both their medical and research/public health expertise.

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Yes. Several institutions offer formal DO/PhD dual-degree programs. These are structured for students who aim to become physician-scientists and leaders in academic medicine or biomedical research. Examples include programs at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of Michigan.

A DO/MPH degree is a dual program that awards both a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and a Master of Public Health. It is designed for medical students who want to expand their impact beyond individual patient care to include population health, policy and health systems leadership. Programs are often available as dual-degree tracks at osteopathic medical schools or through partnerships with schools of public health.

Yes. Many DOs with MPH or PhD degrees work in federal roles such as at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, Veterans Affairs, Food and Drug Administration or Health and Human Services. An MPH may be especially useful for positions in epidemiology, population health or health policy. A PhD can strengthen applications for research-intensive federal positions or grant-funded roles.

These degrees are not typically required, but are often preferred for certain roles:

• DO/MPH: Medical director at public health departments, global health adviser, epidemiologist, health policy analyst.
• DO/PhD: Principal investigator, academic faculty, clinical researcher, director of medical education or translational research programs.

• DO/MPH: Most dual-degree DO/MPH programs add 1 additional year to the 4-year DO curriculum, though some are integrated and completed in parallel.
• DO/PhD: Typically takes 7 to 9 years to complete, as the PhD component may require 3–5 years beyond the DO curriculum. The structure usually involves 2 years of preclinical medical education, 3 or more years of PhD research, followed by clinical rotations.

• A DO is a professional doctoral degree that prepares individuals to practice medicine as licensed physicians with a holistic, patient-centered approach.
• A PhD is an academic research degree focused on producing original scholarship, often in fields like biomedical sciences, public health or health policy.