Doing an MPH? Here are my top 5 tips
Greg Martin
I am focussed on evidence based interventions to improve population health and address health inequalities. I also love teaching public health, research methods and R Programming
Studying Public Health at LSHTM in 2003 was a seminal and transformative experience for me. Here are the top 5 things I would tell my younger self (if I could go back in time).
1. Use the year to find your career passion
Public Health is broad. There are hundreds of possible career paths you could take. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up :) You don't need to have it all figured out by the time you graduate, but use the time and exposure to difference aspects of Public Health to figure out what you might or might not want to do with your career. Do you want to work with data or people (or both)? Do you want to work in the field? Is there a particular issue that you're passionate about (poverty? climate change?)?
2. Don't skimp on Epidemiology
Of all of the subject that you learn in your MPH, epidemiology is the most important. That fact wasn't apparent to me when I was studying Public Health. Having worked in Public Health for the last 20 years, I've come to understand that Public Health is simply the practical application of epidemiology. Epi underpins everything we do. Knowledge of the scale and distribution of disease and the causes of disease should inform our every action in Public Health.
3. Network like crazy
You are unlikely to ever have another opportunity like this in your life. You have easy access to a vast array of experts (within the faculty) and of course all of your classmates who will very soon be your colleagues and contemporaries working in Public Health. I'm still very good friends with many of the people that I studied with. And that network has been useful to me (professionally) time and time again.
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4. Ask stupid questions
Don't be shy. Put your hand up and ask. Trust me, if you're confused, so is the person next to you. Get everything you can out of the course. Milk it! Ask questions now and avoid making embarrassing mistakes as a Public Health professional down the line.
5. Enjoy
Savour every moment! Its a privilege to be able to take a year out of your life and focus all of your energy on your own improvement and professional growth. Don't take that for granted. Enjoy the friends. Enjoy the intellectual stimulation. Enjoy the coffee breaks. Enjoy that feel of anticipation - that you're about to embark on a career focussed on making the world a better place. And you will. Enjoy.
A quick note if your are struggling with statistics:
I know that of all of the MPH subjects, statistics is the one that most people struggle with. This might help. I've developed a one-page statistics "cheat sheet" that will help you understand which statistical tests to do when.
Get it for free here: Click here for PDF
Master of Public Health (MPH) candidate | Health Protection | Global Health | Research & Policy
3 年Thanks for the great tips Greg Martin, my MPH will be 2 years part time online. While it seems difficult to identify your interests when you feel like public health engages you in so many different ways, I'm definitely taking your advice of zeroing in on what you're most passionate about. For me it's addressing poverty and gender inequalities.
HSIS Consultant at Gavi, ex IRC Panel Expert at Gavi, TRP member at Global Fund, Expert QTG-EA (WHO-hosted)
3 年Definitely did #4....still remember the feeling in a full auditorium, but on the plus side I still remember the topic!
Definitely agree on don’t skimp on epidemiology. I usually manage hospitals (with my MPH-don’t ask-but it’s a good fit for me) and use my epi skills. If I can quantity something you know I’m going to analyze it and determine if one intervention is better than another.
Chair and Programme Manager Irish Research Nurse and Midwives Network
3 年Great course, in a fantastic institution. Loved my MPH in LSHTM. ??