VTPMD 6102 - Public Health Foundations II

(CU-ITL, CU-SBY)

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: VTPMD 6101. Enrollment limited to: MPH students, graduate and professional students and seniors by permission of instructor.

A.G. Safi, I. Weisfuse.

This course will reinforce and expand upon learning from Public Health Foundations I by addressing drivers of health and behavior from genetic to individual, policy, institutional, cultural, and Planetary Health factors. Conceptually, the course is guided by the Health Impact Pyramid, social determinants of health and an expanded socio-ecologic model. We apply these concepts to impacts of climate change, infectious and vector-borne disease, One Health, and chronic/ noncommunicable disease. We draw on a lifecourse perspective, with particular attention to discrimination, health equity, and both generational and cumulative impacts on populations. This course includes a module on emergency preparedness applicable to infectious disease outbreaks, climate related disasters and other natural and manmade crises. The module emphasizes the leadership, communication, planning and public health expertise necessary to respond to, mitigate and when possible prevent such crises. Through lectures, guided in-class activities, guest speakers, mini-presentations, trainings and simulations, students will further develop their public health competence and apply key concepts and systems thinking to assess domestic and global public health issues.