EAST STROUDSBURG -  Officials of East Stroudsburg University (ESU) and The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC) signed an agreement to offer a dual MD (Doctor of Medicine) and MPH (Master of Public Health) degree program. TCMC received a $1.5 million federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) over five years, with a subcontract for ESU, to provide the funding for enhanced integration of public health and health care through a dual degree program and other health training programs between the two institutions.     

The MD-MPH dual degree program combines the strengths of two highly specialized degree programs to train medical and health professionals who will help improve community and rural healthcare in northeastern Pennsylvania. TCMC students can receive additional training in public health by integrating public health studies, experiences and research at ESU during their medical school training. The program is scheduled to begin June 2013.  

This announcement is a result of several years of collaboration, dialogue and milestone achievements between TCMC’s Department of Family, Community and Rural Health and ESU’s Department of Health Studies.

“All of us at ESU are proud of our partnerships with The Commonwealth Medical College,” said ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. “Specifically, this dual degree program provides medical students in our region with advanced training in the emerging field of public health, which is certain to enhance their professional delivery as physicians in our expanding global society. Our collaboration with TCMC is illustrative of ESU’s commitment to integrate higher education with the life and work of all students in order to fully prepare them for a bright future – hopefully, right here in northeastern Pennsylvania.”

“The Commonwealth Medical College and East Stroudsburg University share a strong commitment to the region’s health through academic excellence, community research and applied training with an emphasis on primary care,” stated Steven J. Scheinman, MD, TCMC president and dean. “We are committed to working with area colleges and universities to develop educational programs that will enhance and expand the overall educational experience for students in our region. This dual degree MD-MPH program combines our strengths to educate and retain people in the medical field in northeastern Pennsylvania,” Dr. Scheinman continued.

 The HRSA grant will provide $300,000 of funding over the next five years for the purpose of enriching the education of future physicians, researchers and public health professionals by enhanced integration and development of public health, medical education and primary care content, experiences, and research.  Medical students will have the opportunity to complete either ESU’s 18-credit public health certificate during their four year medical school curriculum or, they can earn ESU’s 48-credit Master of Public Health (MPH) degree by devoting an extra year of training. The grant supported program provides mentoring by public health professionals and primary care physicians for participants in the program.  Students from both institutions will benefit from participating in classes together and from collaborating on public health projects that will benefit the region.

The MD degree will be conferred by TCMC and the MPH degree by ESU. Students applying for admission to the dual degree program in Medicine and Public Health Administration must meet the standards and be accepted by both TCMC and East Stroudsburg University.  

TCMC currently has affiliation agreements and pipeline educational programs with colleges and universities throughout the region including:  The University of Scranton, Wilkes University, Luzerne County Community College, and King’s College.