PhD in Epidemiology or Health Services Research

[jdball927]

Hi all...I'm finishing up my MA in medical anthropology right now.  I have the option of immediately switching into either the epidemiology or healths services research doctoral programs at my same university.  My research interests are in the social, economic and political influences on infectious disease transmission, but I've been afforded an amazing opportunity to partner up with the Student Health Care Center and do a dissertation on a topic related to health among the university community.  I code in SAS and have worked for a year as a data analyst to pay for my MA, so I know my way around large data sets which I will have.

My question is kind of two fold:  1) What are the benefits to the skills acquired through doctoral training in Health Services Research vs in Epi?   2) Long term I want to work in health systems strengthening particularly regarding infection control in underserved communities (internationally and domestically--I'm thinking government job, possibly private industry).  So which would be a better fit for my long term goals?

[juilletmercredi]

If you want to do infection control in underserved communities, the PhD in epidemiology would probably be better.  I've looked at some of those jobs (my research is in HIV prevention) and most of them ask for or prefer people with a degree in epidemiology.

 

Epidemiology is much more natural science- and math-based.  Currently, the skills of epidemiologists are also in higher demand, although that may change in coming years.

 

Honestly, what changes the most is the approach.  You can do health services research as an epidemiologist - you can take classes in the department, work with their professors, and do a postdoc in health services research (there are dozens of them; I looked them up).  Some of those postdocs allow you to get a master's in health services research.  Social epidemiologists work on the social and economic (and often political by extension) influences on infectious disease transmission.

 

I suppose it would entirely depend on the department, too.  Some SPHs have strengths in social epidemiology, and so an epidemiologist like you would not be at all unusual and very welcome.  Other universities have a much more basic science/mathematical modeling focus to their epi programs and thus wouldn't be expecting you, and you might be the only one doing what you do.

[livenlearn]

If you want to do infection control in underserved communities, the PhD in epidemiology would probably be better.  I've looked at some of those jobs (my research is in HIV prevention) and most of them ask for or prefer people with a degree in epidemiology.

 

Epidemiology is much more natural science- and math-based.  Currently, the skills of epidemiologists are also in higher demand, although that may change in coming years.

 

Honestly, what changes the most is the approach.  You can do health services research as an epidemiologist - you can take classes in the department, work with their professors, and do a postdoc in health services research (there are dozens of them; I looked them up).  Some of those postdocs allow you to get a master's in health services research.  Social epidemiologists work on the social and economic (and often political by extension) influences on infectious disease transmission.

 

I suppose it would entirely depend on the department, too.  Some SPHs have strengths in social epidemiology, and so an epidemiologist like you would not be at all unusual and very welcome.  Other universities have a much more basic science/mathematical modeling focus to their epi programs and thus wouldn't be expecting you, and you might be the only one doing what you do.

Amazing post. Very detailed . Thank you, JuliettMercredi for somebody interested in epidemiology would you advise a PhD or a Dr Ph??

[dr_hopeful]

If want to work in health systems then you obviously enrol in a health systems program phd. There is a big difference between epi and a health systems. As a first step I suggest checking out the curriculum of say john hopkins and Harvard epi and health systems program. Also check the phd topics.

I think the world is changing. Previously epi/ biostats people worked everywhere. For health systems today however having an Econ/ health economics/ international health degree is preferred .