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3 Types of Students Who Should Consider a Joint M.D. Degree

By U.S. News & World Report

If you are in the process of applying to medical school, you may have received information from prospective programs about the possibility of applying to a dual-degree or joint M.D. track.

Dual-degree programs typically combine your pursuit of an M.D. or D.O. with another master’s or doctorate degree, such as an MBA, Master of Education, Master of Health Administration, Master of Public Health, J.D. or Ph.D. Some students pursue dual-degree programs if their interests lie outside of clinical medicine, while others might gravitate toward a joint M.D. if they’re interested in a particular niche of medicine where skills from both degrees are heavily used.

[Learn how earning a graduate dual degree helps save money and time.]

Enrollment in a dual-degree program typically results in students pausing their medical education — usually after the second or third year — to complete the second degree’s requirements. Students may then return to the medicine school on a full-time basis.

Though pursuing a dual degree is a tremendous amount of work, students who are committed to certain careers may find that a joint M.D. is their best option. Here are three types of students who should consider choosing a dual medical degree.

1. Students who want to start their own medical practice upon completing medical training. The standard of medical practice once saw physicians manning their own individual offices, but the current trend involves multiple doctors working in the same practice, often under the direction of an overarching health care system. With this change in structure, the business of medical delivery has become more complex, and insurance reimbursement remains fraught with complications that often can best be untangled by an individual trained in specific business practices.

Students who envision themselves directing or founding a medical practice with physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, phlebotomists, billing personnel and office assistants may find that a dual MBA-M.D. degree suit s them perfectly — it will provide them with the management tools necessary to direct the business side of a complex medical practice.

[Discover how doctors can benefit from an MBA.]

2. Students who want to work in medical law. Medicine has many intersections with law, including the development of health care policy. Our health care climate has undergone significant change in recent years with the introduction of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and it promises to continue changing as the needs of our country’s population shift.

Prospective medical students who see themselves as part of this change may be interested in an M.D.-J.D. or M.D.-M.P.H. These dual-degree programs cultivate legal knowledge and an understanding of how legal policy develops , which may help these students effectively develop health care policy or otherwise play a role in the medical law field.

[Learn about getting a Master of Public Health degree as a medical student.]

3. Student who want to specialize in medical education. Like health care law and medical practices, medical education has undergone a shift in recent years, with many medical schools now combining traditional lecture and lab practices with active learning in small groups, case studies, flipped classrooms and the like.

Students who are interested in becoming medical educators or who would like to work in community education may be interested in a dual M.D. – M.Ed. degree, which combines medical training with an understanding of effective teaching practices, individual lesson plans and how different types of students learn. This joint concentration may best serve students who imagine themselves working as medical school instructors or in positions that educate the public on issues like flu prevention.

While the option to earn a graduate degree is also available to practicing physicians, a joint M.D. can enrich your medical school experience by providing aspiring doctors with additional intersections and lenses through which to view medicine. Whether to opt for a dual-degree program is a uniquely personal decision, but the three students described above may find it a difficult but rewarding path to pursue.

More from U.S. News

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Use a Medical School Diversity Statement to Shine

Cultivate Communication Skills for Med School Admissions Success

3 Types of Students Who Should Consider a Joint M.D. Degree originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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