MPP/MD

Back to Joint Degrees [1]

The MD/MPP dual degree programs are a more recent evolution among dual disciplinary degrees.  Rather than entering roles as hospital administrators and healthcare managers, physicians are increasingly assuming leadership ranks among policy makers at all levels of government and healthcare delivery systems—as elected officials themselves, and as federal and state legislative aides; analysts in executive department “policy shops”; senior policy advisors to mayors, governors, and the president; and heads of policy-oriented agencies.  In addition, programs like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Policy Fellows program place numerous physicians in one-year health policy advisory positions in the federal government, primarily in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.  Although related to management and public health administration education, the analytic skills necessary for effective policymaking are the purview of Public Policy programs.  MD/MPP programs are fewer in number than the more ubiquitous healthcare management dual degrees.  The programs that do exist, however, reflect some of the top Schools of Medicine and Public Policy.

The structure of the proposed program takes advantage of complementarities between the MD program and the MPP program.  The general outline of the combined degree program would be three years of medical education, following by the first year of the MPP program, and the second year of the MPP program interleaved with the last year of medical school.  This plan gives the student some significant hands-on clinical experience prior to embarking on the public policy education component of the joint degree program.  The clinical experience would take the place of the work experience required of other Public Policy students, giving the MD/MPP students an age and experience profile similar to the MPP population. 

 Eligibility and Application Process

UCLA matriculated medical students may apply to the UCLA Graduate Division for a position in the Luskin School of Public Affairs/Department of Public Policy during the fall of their third year, by December 31^st. 

The formal application process is followed, which requires the following elements.  Please review the MPP Admissions website for important additional information.

• An application for UCLA Graduate Admission (online at www.gdnet.ucla.edu [2]).

• An MPP-specific supplemental application (Graduate Division supplemental application is not required). 

• Graduate Division application fee.

• Statement of Purpose – Write a Statement of Purpose as described on Department website.

• Three letters of recommendation from professors or professional references.  Complete a cover form for each letter and provide it to the writer as it must accompany their letter. 

• Current resume or cv.

• Medical School transcript.  The request form can be found on the SAO website and faxed to the Registrar, Student Affairs (310 794-9574).

• Undergraduate transcripts – these may be requested from the Medical School SAO to be sent to the MPP Office. 

• Email a request to the Sr. Associate Dean, Student Affairs Office, at least one month in advance of deadline requesting a “Letter of Good Standing”.

• MCAT scores will be accepted in lieu of GRE Scores:

• Send documents to the Public Policy Admission Office:

            UCLA MPP Admissions
            3250 Public Policy Building
            Box 951656
            Los Angeles, CA  90095-1656

• Fellowship and/or Diversity Fellowship Supplemental Applications may be submitted per the guidelines found on the MPP website.

Sample Plan of Study [3]

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