Master of Digital Health Degree—Reply
In Reply We appreciate the perspective from Dr Embí and colleagues, who raise concern about our call for an MDH modeled on the master of public health (MPH) and creation of a more unified professional identity. History can be a powerful teacher—the MPH degrees emerged in the US in the early 20th century at Johns Hopkins University to tackle health challenges at the population level. The MPH degrees were created to give public health practitioners a practice-focused, professional qualification, bridging the gap between medicine and community health. Distinct from the more academic master of science (MSc), which emphasizes research, the MPH combined applied interdisciplinary skills in epidemiology, statistical analysis, health policy, leadership, and communication to tackle real-world public health challenges.
In Reply We appreciate the perspective from Dr Embí and colleagues, who raise concern about our call for an MDH modeled on the master of public health (MPH) and creation of a more unified professional identity. History can be a powerful teacher—the MPH degrees emerged in the US in the early 20th century at Johns Hopkins University to tackle health challenges at the population level. The MPH degrees were created to give public health practitioners a practice-focused, professional qualification, bridging the gap between medicine and community health. Distinct from the more academic master of science (MSc), which emphasizes research, the MPH combined applied interdisciplinary skills in epidemiology, statistical analysis, health policy, leadership, and communication to tackle real-world public health challenges.
