There are many reasons one would choose a medical specialty school program to receive their Ph.D or Master’s degree. When you are sure of the medical field you want to specialize in, it can be beneficial to attend a specialty school for many reasons.
Why Attend a Medical Specialty School Program?
Spending your post-grad years working specifically in your field is the best way to prepare for the actual job. You will experience parts of your future career every day, and often be taught by the people who worked in that field.
Being surrounded by others who thrive in that specialty is also a perk. You will always have people to work on assignments with, bounce ideas off of, and collaborate with. Most importantly, you will be able to network which is imperative when you begin your job search. Having multiple recommendations and even referrals from others working in the field will give you an advantage when job searching.
Medical Specialty School Programs
Compiled below is a modest list of specialty schools that teach the more common medical majors. There are over 100 specialty schools throughout the US, so do not be discouraged if one is not on this list.
- UPMC Medical Education Program – Anesthesiology
- McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Program – Dermatology
- Hackensack University Medical Center Program – Emergency/Trauma Medicine
- Wright State University Program – Sports Medicine
- Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center Program – Geriatric Medicine
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine – Cardiovascular Disease
- East Tennessee State University Program – Oncology
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine Program – Pulmonary Disease
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University – Neurology
- Baylor University Medical Center – Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Oregon Health & Science University Program – Orthopedic Surgery
- Duke University Hospital Program – Hematology
- Eastern Virginia Medical School Program – Pediatrics
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Program – Plastic Surgery
- Wayne State University Program – Psychiatry
- Virginia Tech Carillion School of Medicine Program – Surgery (General)
- Boston University Medical Center Program – Urology
How do I know what’s right for me?
Most major post-grad universities offer classes and on-site training in specialty doctorate programs, so it is unlikely you won’t be able to find something in your area. However it’s important to look at what offers the most focus in your area of study along with what the program offers. Consider additions such as in-hospital training, clinical time, the teacher’s accreditations and past work, and how in-depth the classes are. It’s very important to research deeply into a specialty program before enrolling.