Preventive Medicine

Preventive Medicine Residency Program Curriculum 

Year 1 

Preventive Medicine residents and fellows are required to complete academic training leading to the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree.  The training program provides funding for all MPH requirements, as well as protected time to attend classes, study and complete assignments. Although most trainees prefer to integrate MPH coursework with clinical, practicum and teaching activities over the two- year program, trainees are encouraged to complete the majority of the MPH courses during the first year of training. Most trainees complete eight or nine of the required 14 courses before beginning the second year of training. The MPH didactic training provides a foundation for the practicum and research activities in the second year. The MPH degree is offered through the Blended MPH Program (WCMPH) based on the Medical School campus in Worcester.  It is provided through the UMass/Amherst of School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS).  The WCMPH program is blended with the SPHHS online Public Health Practice Program. This allows students to take some of their courses in the classroom and others online.  The option allows for flexibility in scheduling classes and makes it possible for trainees to take MPH courses while they are participating in off-site rotations.   The WCMPH program fulfills the requirements of the American Board of Preventive Medicine by offering courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, health services administration, environmental health, and social and behavioral influences on health.  

During the first year, trainees typically enroll in three courses per semester during the academic year and one to two courses during the summer session. Live classes offered during the fall and spring semester courses are conducted once a week for 14 weeks; summer session on-line courses are offered in six-week blocks with courses conducted twice a week. On the Medical School campus, courses are taught from 5&n