University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Welcomes M.D./M.P.H. Class of 2030
The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Class of 2030 M.D./M.P.H. cohort arrives as one of the largest dual-degree classes in the nation, bringing strong academic credentials, global perspectives and a shared commitment to advancing population health.
The newest cohort entering the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s M.D./M.P.H. program is one of the largest dual-degree classes in the nation, arriving with impressive academic credentials and a shared ambition to improve health far beyond the walls of a hospital.
The students earned an average MCAT score of 516 and are joining the Miller School from universities across the country, with the largest contingents coming from California and Florida.
Nicholas Wong, a recent graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, said he was drawn to the program by the opportunity to learn alongside classmates who share his passion for combining medicine and public health.
“I’ll be learning from people who have very diverse ideas about how to improve not just individual health but also population health,” Wong said.
More than 90% of the class speaks more than one language. The majority studied biology, public health or neuroscience during their time in college. The most represented undergraduate universities include Duke University, the University of California at Los Angeles, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Miami.
Faculty leaders welcomed the class by emphasizing that the dual-degree program prepares physicians to care for individual patients and address the broader forces shaping community health.
“This is my favorite day. It is always amazing to see the class as they come together,” said Shirin Shafazand, M.D., M.S., professor of medicine and director of the M.D./M.P.H. program. “I look forward to learning from you and teaching you.”
That collaborative spirit has become a hallmark of the program, whose graduates have gone on to leadership positions in medicine and public health.
“We are very proud of this program,” said Amar Deshpande, M.D., clinical professor of medicine and senior associate dean for medical education. “Many of our graduates have become chief residents and made significant impacts in the public health realm. Here, you will learn to have a lasting impact.”
Training Physicians to Address Population Health Challenges
The M.D./M.P.H orientation marks the beginning of a four-year path that combines medical education with coursework in epidemiology, health policy, biostatistics, population health and other related disciplines.
“You should be proud of your achievements,” said Louis Pizano, M.D., M.B.A., professor of surgery and associate dean of admissions at the Miller School and medical director of the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Burn Center. “Our committee selected this class from a highly competitive applicant pool. You are a very impressive group, and we know you will become fantastic doctors.”
Henri Ford, M.D., M.H.A., dean and chief academic officer of the Miller School, challenged students to view the dual degree as more than an academic credential.
“Congratulations! This is the start of a fantastic journey,” Ford said. “This program, in particular, is the component that can accelerate your leadership journey and help you focus on true population health.”
For Jonathan Hirschenson, who grew up in Miami before earning his undergraduate degree at McGill University, the program is a homecoming.
“I chose the Miller School to serve the community that raised me. It’s huge to come back here,” Hirschenson said. “The clinical environment is one of the most unique in the country because of its location as a gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America. We’ll see some of the most unique cases and care for one of the most diverse patient populations anywhere in the world.”
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Tags: community health, Dean Henri Ford, Dr. Henri Ford, Dr. Louis Pizano, Dr. Shirin Shafazand, M.D./M.P.H. Program, medical education, public health, student research