One plus one may be two, but the synergy that results when two graduate degree programs are combined gives UIC students an incremental boost in both knowledge and marketability. Four joint degree programs are currently offered by the School of Public Health.

"Students who have gone through joint degree programs are finding themselves much more competitive in the marketplace," says Babette J. Neuberger, JD, MPH, associate dean for academic affairs. "These are very comprehensive, well-rounded educational programs."

The joint degree programs allow students to combine the MPH with an MD, DDS, MS in nursing, or MBA. Students in the health care fields who want to focus on prevention, community health, and population-based issues, along with business students who want to use their MBAs in health care executive positions, sign on for the programs. The interdisciplinary approach gives each graduate a window into the vocabulary and norms of two professions.

Recent MBA/MPH graduate Christine M. Wack worked in health care for several years before deciding to return to school. She is applying her newly gained knowledge as a business development specialist at CM Healthcare Resources in Northbrook, Illinois.

"I’m glad I was able to find a job that will allow me to apply what I learned in both the MBA and MPH programs," Wack says. "I wanted to work for a health care provider and really help people."

Each year two or three nurses seeking careers in the administration of community health care programs participate in the MS in nursing/MPH program.

"The program offers a broader perspective on community health and program development with a strong community focus," says Michele Issel, PhD, RN, CNAA, a clinical assistant professor in the Community Health Sciences Division.

Interest in the MD/MPH reflects the emphasis on prevention and cost-effective delivery of services prevalent in today’s health care environment.

"We are seeing increasing numbers of students who are interested in supplementing their medical training with an education in public health," Neuberger says. "The program prepares them for leadership positions in the delivery of health care."

Most recently, UIC added a dual-degree JD/MPH program to its bill of fare. Students will combine the MPH curriculum with a legal curriculum presented by IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. One of nine such programs available nationally, the UIC/Kent connection is one of only two sharing the expertise of separate institutions.

"There is a growing awareness that these two degrees make for an interesting and powerful combination," says Daniel Swartzman, JD, MPH, an associate professor in the Health Policy and Administration Division and associate dean for student affairs. "Kent has a very active program in both health care law and in studying the laws of various populations with health problems, such as the aging."

The first JD/MPH students are expected to begin their studies in fall 1999.

"Having a law degree helps in terms of public health advocacy or working with the government," Neuberger says. "The JD helps one understand the legal and regulatory framework in which public health operates. It’s also a very potent combination for representing environmental causes."

Harold J. Krent, associate dean at Kent, calls inter-professional education the wave of the future. "Students get a much more rounded experience with insights from two disciplines, and they get a better understanding of the demands of the workplace."

Contributed by Janice Rosenberg