MHA vs MPH [career options]

[zetx]

I am currently in Health Science program.. and ill be graduating in 2011.
Now that the graduation year approaches, i've been thinking alot about my career paths. With global population of 'baby boomers' hitting their retirement age, i really think working in health sectors (hospitals, ministry of health and etc) is a very good decision on my part.

Luckily, i could narrow it down to two degrees:
1) Master of Health Administration
2) Master of Public Health

Anyone who have experience in these fields please share your stories and feel free to comment on it if you are also interested in these fields.

Thanks

[ji_howa]

MPH is more geared towards people already in the health field with working experience such as doctors, dentists, nurses with masters degrees, lawyers who wish to enter the field of public health, preventative medicine, health policy. Likely employers are local governments, WHO, UN.

Health Administration is more for management of resources in a health care system, including things such as hiring, health expenditures, resource allocation. I don't know about the pre-requisites, but usual employers are hospitals, health care centers.

When I finished medical school I was considering the MPH program, but in my limited exposure on the subject, it just seems like a bunch of meetings and more meetings. There is a lot of bureaucracy and frankly I would miss the patient contact, I don't really know too much about health administration.


I am currently in Health Science program.. and ill be graduating in 2011.
Now that the graduation year approaches, i've been thinking alot about my career paths. With global population of 'baby boomers' hitting their retirement age, i really think working in health sectors (hospitals, ministry of health and etc) is a very good decision on my part.

Luckily, i could narrow it down to two degrees:
1) Master of Health Administration
2) Master of Public Health

Anyone who have experience in these fields please share your stories and feel free to comment on it if you are also interested in these fields.

Thanks