A: There are some differences. For example, most MPH programs tend to place greater emphasis on population health, epidemiology, and patterns of disease. MPH programs also tend to be more theoretically oriented while our HPE program is more applied with a practice-based focus. Our program emphasizes a broader policy perspective to include payment policy, health insurance coverage, and structural issues related to the health care delivery system. Our goal is to prepare our students to work effectively in organizations and in the related policy environment as well-trained health care researchers with strong analytic skills.