Category: Post Graduation

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MBBS Post Graduation

The Complete Guide to MPH in the USA

What is an MPH?

An MPH, or Master’s in Public Health, is a graduate degree lasting generally for two years, out of which one year is purely academic, while the second year is practicum, or internship. A comparable degree is an MSPH, or a Master’s of Science in Public Health.

Why pursue an MPH degree?

If you’re interested in a career in public health or want public health research to be a part of your career, an MPH degree will give you a solid foundation. It involves learning aspects of epidemiology, biostatistics and global health program management. People are likely to work in multinational public health organisations like WHO and UNICEF after an MPH degree.

What are the minimum qualifications necessary to apply for an MPH?     

Most institutes need a bachelor’s degree before you can apply. Some schools, including Harvard, need an MD degree before you can apply. Furthermore, some public health work experience is appreciated, but not always necessary.

What exams do you need to give?

You will need to give the GRE to apply to any college in the USA. If you have given the USMLE Step 1, you may get a GRE waiver in SOME colleges. You will also need a minimum score of 100 in the TOEFL, or band 7 in the IELTS, to qualify for admission.

What is the application process like?

Most application deadlines fall between December and January. It is advisable to have all your documents prepared and ready at least 4 weeks before the deadline, because processing times in the US can vary between 10 – 30 days. You can apply for an MPH or an MSPH while doing your internship. Apply for the Fall term of the year you are expected to graduate. The main documents that you will need are:

  1. Application
  2. Transcripts
  3. Three letters of recommendation
  4. GRE scores
  5. TOEFL scores
  6. CV
  7. Statement of Purpose

Almost all applications are through the SOPHAS website www.sophas.org. You will need to create a profile and add all the programs you want to apply to on it. Don’t forget to read the FAQ section to ease the application process.

Do I need to send the documents to each college I apply to?

  1. The applications should be done online on SOPHAS.
  2. The transcripts need to be sent for WES evaluation.
  3. The letters of recommendations will need to be uploaded directly by your referrers on the SOPHAS website through their accounts.
  4. GRE scores need to be sent to each institution’s GRE code online.
  5. TOEFL scores need to be sent directly to SOPHAS.
  6. You should upload your CV in your main SOPHAS application.
  7. The SOP should be uploaded on SOPHAS for each college separately.

What is WES evaluation?

It is the process of evaluating your transcripts and converting them to grades and credits that US colleges will understand. You will need to create an account on www.wes.org, pay the fees and acquire a WES number. Then the university that conferred your degree will have to send, by courier, a copy of all your verified transcripts in a sealed and stamped envelope to the WES office in New York. PLEASE KEEP ATLEAST TWO MONTHS TIME FOR THIS WHOLE PROCESS TO TAKE PLACE.

What are supplemental applications?

Some US states require a separate state specific application on its own application website. These applications generally do not require payment, nor do they need any additional documents.

When should I start expecting responses?

You may start getting responses 4 weeks after your application. You will receive emails within a week if your application is incomplete, or if they need any additional documents.

Where can I find more information?

The SOPHAS website has an informative FAQ section that will help guide you. You should also browse the websites of each college that you are thinking of applying to to understand program competencies and requirements.

This article has been written by Dr. Spruha Kurlekar who is an intern at Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai, India. To ask questions to the author, use the comments section below.

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Experiences NEET Post Graduation

Why I decided to pursue an unusual branch at an unusual Hospital – Family Medicine in India

Family Medicine in India

Dr. Janhavi Shah is a Second Year Family Medicine Resident at Jan Swasthya Sahyog (JSS), Ganiyari. In this article, she shares with us why she decided to pursue family medicine that too at an unusual hospital in Chhattisgarh. She talks about family medicine in India, the pros, and cons as well as the scope of family medicine in India.

“Chhattisgarh? Dude, Naxalites live there!!”

“Family Medicine! But you’re so smart! You should do ObGyn!”

“But ghar se itna door why you want to go? Opt for a hospital in Mumbai only na.”

“Repeat na. Agle saal kuch better mil jayega”

2 years ago whilst in my internship, I decided to do Family Medicine. A year ago I decided I wanted to do Family Medicine at JSS. I looked up Chhattisgarh on the map, Aaaah-ed at the location staring at me, and told everyone back home what I wanted to do. Half of my family was thrilled and the other half wasn’t.

Family Medicine isn’t a glamorous urban branch! So I get it when people are apprehensive or have concerns.My father is a general practitioner and without realizing it, I fell in love with general practice before I fell in love with Medicine.



I stumbled upon the existence of JSS whilst skimming through an online blog. Then I stalked the website and then the founders. All these years of stalking crushes and their ex-girlfriends and their bua ke dost ka beta with Avanti and Jo (my friends from undergrad at BJ Medical College, Pune) finally paid off!

Jan Swasthya Sahyog

The hospital seemed like a happy place for the sick, the founders couldn’t have better credentials. Best of all, the administration was super supportive and non-toxic and all departments helped each other with a common aim of healing the sick.Jan Swasthya Sahyog

I’ve been here for over a year now and the consultants, senior residents, and even my co-residents are the nicest people ever. I haven’t come across a more skilled set of nurses. The locals here are simple grounded people.

It feels like a eutopic hospital in a dystopic world.

Family Medicine is a combination of all clinical branches and aims at addressing the most common health care needs of the community.

The doctor ideally knows about the entire family’s health status and refers them to another specialist as and when required. This requirement predominantly (and inversely) depends on the expertise of the physician.

For example, Dr. X has insufficient experience dealing with a migraine and would refer to a neurologist for the same; alternatively, Dr. Y is confident and competent to manage the patient at the primary level.

The advantage is the patient convenience, a reduced burden on the specialists and health care costs (especially in public health systems).

From the rural perspective, where the doctor-patient ratios are abysmal, FamMed is the Batman that Gotham needed. In cities, where specialists are easily available, FamMeds may have to make their space.

The upper hand here is that you are the entire Family’s doctor and you don’t burn a hole in anyone’s pockets.

Given the diversity and vastness of the field, it is extremely important that one chooses a good programme for residency.

Choose a hospital which gives enough exposure in all clinical fields. Avoid hospitals where you’d be fillers used for doing most of the paperwork or as floor RMOs in 7-star hospitals. Not the best place to learn!

3 years of residency is the base for the rest of your life; keep it strong. Small locational sacrifices may go a long way in the future.

Currently, there are no super specialty courses designed for FamMed (a generalist super specializing doesn’t make much sense to me!) There are many fellowships one can pursue as per individual interests.



Lastly, about the scope of family medicine.

It can be as vast or as narrow, as high or as low and as gratifying or as bitter as you want it to be.

One may choose it because they like all clinical subjects and don’t want to commit to only one (which a lot of young doctors feel but they eventually settle for a pure specialty) or, one may choose it because they wanted Internal Med and this seems to be the closest 2nd option.

If it’s the former, yay! I hope it brings you immense joy and gratification too. If it’s the latter, I hope you fall in love with the branch eventually (most people I know, did!)

If you would like to interact with the author, you can do so in the comments section below.

Still confused about what you want to do after MBBS? Check out our article The Renaissance Man, MBBS and Beyond.

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