Brock University – ACSOM MD-MPH Pathway
Brock & ACSOM Medical Pathway Program
Earn Your MD and MPH in an Integrated, Scholarship-Supported Program
The American Canadian School of Medicine (ACSOM) and Brock University have partnered to offer an MD–MPH pathway for students who want to combine clinical training with public health leadership. This program allows qualified ACSOM MD students to complete a Master of Public Health (MPH) at Brock University in approximately one additional year—with full MPH tuition covered by ACSOM—and then return to complete their MD.
Why Choose the ACSOM-Brock MD-MPH Pathway?
- Two Degrees, One Coordinated Pathway
Earn your Doctor of Medicine (MD) from ACSOM and Master of Public Health (MPH) from Brock University in a structured sequence. - Full Tuition Scholarship for the MPH Year
ACSOM provides a full tuition scholarship (including tuition and ancillary fees) for the one-year MPH program at Brock through the Brock University Scholarship at ACSOM. ACSOM pays Brock directly as a tuition billing sponsor. - Public Health and Community Health Focus
Prepare for careers that blend clinical practice with health systems leadership, policy, research, and community health impact. - Multiple MPH Pathways
Choose from:- General MPH
- MPH with Health Information Management Specialization
- MPH with Infection Prevention and Control Specialization
- Global Academic Experience
Study foundational medical sciences at ACSOM in Dominica, gain public health training at a Canadian public university, then return to ACSOM to complete your MD and U.S./Canadian clinical placements. - Faculty Collaboration & Academic Opportunities – The agreement encourages traveling faculty, academic exchanges, joint conferences, and workshops, enriching the learning environment at both institutions.
How the MD-MPH Pathway Works
Year 1 – MD at ACSOM
- Begin your MD program at ACSOM and complete all first-year coursework in the Faculty of Medicine.
- Meet ACSOM’s academic standards and build a strong foundation in medical sciences.
Year 2 – MPH at Brock University
- After successfully completing Year 1 at ACSOM, eligible students may apply for transfer into the MPH program at Brock.
- Brock maintains sole discretion over all admission decisions.
- Students accepted into the pathway:
- Receive up to two half-credit course equivalents in recognition of ACSOM coursework (as per Appendix A of the agreement).
- Complete the remaining MPH degree requirements in approximately one additional year at Brock, following the Brock University Graduate Calendar.
Years 3–5 – Return to ACSOM to Complete the MD
- After earning the MPH at Brock, students return to ACSOM to continue and complete the MD program.
- Students proceed through:
- Remaining basic and clinical sciences at ACSOM
- Clinical rotations in ACSOM’s affiliated teaching hospitals in the U.S. and Canada
This structure is designed so that students can integrate public health training into their medical education without losing momentum toward their MD.
MPH PROGRAM OPTIONS AT BROCK
ACSOM students accepted into the pathway may pursue one of three MPH options at Brock (as defined in the Brock University Graduate Calendar):
- General MPH
- Core foundation in epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, environmental and occupational health, and community health.
- Flexibility to choose electives across a broad range of public health topics.
- MPH – Health Information Management Specialization
- Focus on data, informatics, and health systems.
- Ideal for students interested in health analytics, digital health, and managing information in clinical and public health settings.
- MPH – Infection Prevention and Control Specialization
- Emphasis on infectious disease prevention, control programs, and outbreak management.
- Prepares students for roles in hospitals, public health agencies, and global health organizations.
Specific required and elective course lists follow the official Brock University Graduate Calendar and the transfer credits outlined in Appendix A of the articulation agreement.
ADMISSIONS & ELIGIBILITY
Program Admissions Criteria:
Eligibility Overview
- Be enrolled as an MD student at ACSOM.
- Complete Year 1 at ACSOM and pass all first-year MD courses at the time of transfer.
- Meet Brock University’s general admissibility requirements for graduate studies in the MPH program.
- Satisfy any additional requirements established by Brock’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.
Application Timing
- Students may apply to the Brock MPH portion of the program after completing Year 1 at ACSOM.
- It is anticipated that the first cohort could enter the Brock portion of the pathway as early as Fall 2025, subject to Brock admissions timelines and capacity.
Admissions Decisions
- All admission decisions to the MPH program are made solely by Brock University.
- ACSOM and Brock work collaboratively on the pathway, but Brock retains full discretion over who is admitted to the MPH.
Exclusive Medical School Seats
- Each year, up to 100 students (50 per intake in July and January) will be selected for conditional admission to ACSOM.
- Admission to ACSOM remains highly competitive, but this program provides Waterloo students with priority interview and admissions.
TUITION, SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL STRUCTURE
During ACSOM MD Studies
- Students pay ACSOM tuition and fees according to ACSOM’s standard tuition schedule.
- Financial aid, loans, and scholarships are available through ACSOM, as per existing policies.
During the Brock MPH Year
- ACSOM students enrolled in the MPH program at Brock under this agreement:
- Pay no out-of-pocket tuition to Brock for the one-year MPH program.
- Receive a full tuition scholarship (covering tuition and ancillary fees) funded by ACSOM via the Brock University Scholarship at ACSOM.
- Students are still responsible for their living expenses, travel, housing, and personal costs while studying in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PATHWAYS FOR BROCK MPH GRADUATES
Section 1.6 of the articulation agreement provides additional opportunities for Brock MPH graduates:
- Second Master’s at Brock for MPH Graduates
For students who have already completed an MPH at Brock:- ACSOM will provide full tuition scholarships for accepted students to pursue a second master’s degree at Brock in either:
- Accelerated MBA, or
- Accelerated MEd,
- This is conditional on meeting all requirements of the MPH–MBA or MPH–MEd consecutive pathway programs.
- ACSOM will provide full tuition scholarships for accepted students to pursue a second master’s degree at Brock in either:
- $10,000 Scholarship Toward the MD at ACSOM for Brock MPH Graduates
- Brock MPH graduates who choose to complete their MD at ACSOM will receive a one-time $10,000 “Brock University Scholarship at ACSOM”.
- This scholarship supports MPH graduates and community health-oriented health professionals who want to add an MD and transition into clinical practice.
FACULTY COLLABORATION & ACADEMIC INITIATIVES
Beyond the student pathway, the agreement between ACSOM and Brock also encourages:
- Traveling Faculty and Exchange Programs
Faculty exchanges to enrich teaching, mentorship, and research at both institutions. - Joint Academic Initiatives
Collaboration on:- Conferences and symposia
- Workshops and short courses
- Public health and community health research projects
These initiatives aim to build a strong academic bridge between ACSOM and Brock, benefiting students, faculty, and the communities both institutions serve.
Is The ACSOM-Brock MD-MPH Pathway Right For You?
You may be a current or prospective ACSOM MD student interested in the Brock MD-MPH pathway or a Brock MPH graduate exploring ACSOM’s MD or second master’s pathways; you want to become a physician with a deep understanding of public health, health systems, and population-level impact, are excited by community health, health policy, infection prevention, or health information management, value international academic experience with training in Dominica and Canada plus clinical exposure in the U.S. and Canada, and are looking for a financially supported route to add an MPH to your MD, with full MPH tuition covered and additional scholarship opportunities.
Get Started Today!
Contact ACSOM Admissions for details on MD entry and the MD-MPH pathway, and contact Brock University Graduate Studies or the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences for current MPH admission requirements and timelines. Your path to becoming a physician-leader in public health can start at ACSOM and Brock.
Student Visa
ACSOM will work directly with the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica to facilitate your student visa.