About the Population Health for Clinicians Concentration
The Population Health for Clinicians concentration is designed for medical students, practicing physicians and other clinicians who wish to increase their knowledge in public health and population science to better serve their communities. This concentration offers a unique interdisciplinary focus on clinical, prevention, population and policy sciences which enable students to improve clinical environment when they complete the program. This concentration is available only in a full-time, residential format.

Building on two decades of collaboration between the UNC schools of medicine and public health, this concentration offers an opportunity for medical students, physicians, and other clinicians to gain mastery in public health and population science. It also offers a unique interdisciplinary focus on clinical, prevention, population and social sciences.

What You'll Learn

Developed with the needs of clinical professionals in mind, our curriculum focuses on several areas relevant to improving population health: prevention, critical appraisal of the health literature, evidence-based practices, research translatable to clinical practice areas and United States health system policy. 

With the mentorship of our distinguished faculty members, you can you tailor the curriculum to your clinical interests in order to better apply your MPH training and practicum experience to advance your career goals and clinical work.

This program will empower you with the knowledge and skills to achieve the following core competencies:

Select appropriate prevention strategies to address a priority public health problem for different public health and clinical settings.

Appraise risk of bias in primary studies to inform the appropriate use of evidence.

Recommend system strategies that foster collaboration across diverse parties to advance public health priorities in community and clinical contexts.

Propose a specific prevention strategy informed by evidence on the potential health benefit, harms, costs, and effect on health equity in a population.

Design a protocol for a systematic review using appropriate systematic review methods that will inform public health practice, policy, or healthcare delivery.

Required Courses & Sample Plan of Study

The Population Health for Clinicians concentration courses are on topics such as strategies for prevention, health policy and clinical measurement and evaluation.

PUBH 890: Health System Functions & Key Challenges
PUBH 746: Public Health Program Planning, Implementation & Evaluation
PUBH 706: Advanced Health Policy for Clinicians
PUBH 749: Leadership & Professional Development
BIOS 641: Quantitative Methods for Heathcare Professions
PUBH 760: Clinical Measures and Evaluation
PUBH 751: Critical Appraisal of Health Literature I
PUBH 750: Strategies of Prevention for Clinicians
PUBH 886: Practicum Assignments
PUBH 749: Leadership & Professional Development
PUBH 702: Systematic Review


Fall 2023 Cohort: Population Health for Clinicians Degree Requirements and Sample Plan of Study (PDF) 

Fall 2024 Cohort: Population Health for Clinicians Degree Requirements and Sample Plan of Study (PDF)


Spotlight

Cynthia Feltner, MD, MPH

Dr. Feltner has a special interest in chronic disease prevention and clinical epidemiology. In addition to her clinical work seeing patients at the UNC Ambulatory Care Center, Dr. Feltner plays an active role in the education of medical students, residents and fellows

After graduation, you will be prepared to approach health both through individual patient interactions and through the lens of population health. You will have the skill set to:

  • Accelerate the development and implementation of evidence-based solutions to pressing health problems in your areas of interest.
  • Advance a holistic understanding of current and emerging public health challenges with a unique focus on prevention, quality and effectiveness.
  • Collaborate across disciplines and professions to improve the health of individuals, communities and populations.

Career Opportunities

Our Graduates Work As...
Public Health Nurse
Physician
Dentist
Veterinarian
Clinical Trials Coordinator
Process Integration Manager
Safety & Health Specialist
Our Graduates Work With...
Government agencies
Nonprofit organizations
Local health departments
Colleges and universities
Hospitals
Research and development firms
International health agencies

99% of Gillings graduates have a job or continue their education within one year of graduating.

Learn more about the opportunities that await you with an MPH from the Gillings School.

Keeping patients and staff members safe in health care systems
Ready to apply?
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Assistant Director of Academic Advising
Adia Ware
Rosenau Hall 202A

Concentration Leaders
Co-Lead: Cynthia Feltner, MD, MPH
Co-Lead: Minzhi Xing, MD, MPH