Global Public Health Minor

This course provides an introduction to the foundational concepts of public health including the definition and history of public health, as well as the role of and strategies utilized by the public health workforce when confronting population-based health issues. Lecture 3 (Fall).

This introductory course will evaluate the modern challenges of global health from a multidisciplinary perspective. The key concepts of global health will be discussed, including various health determinants, human rights, healthcare systems, culture’s impact on health, environmental concerns, nutrition, communicable and noncommunicable diseases, women’s health issues, child and adolescent health, injuries, natural disasters and complex humanitarian emergencies, poverty’s impact on health and more. Students will be expected to be active learners, lead classroom activities on certain days as part of group research project presentations, and actively participate in discussions. Lecture 3 (Spring).

You want to be a health care provider. You want to design health technologies. You want to help people and these seem like the best options. Helping people, though, requires understanding those people and the contexts in which those people live, work, and play. This means questioning how socioeconomic, infrastructural, financial, racial, cultural, gendered and political dynamics shape who gets sick, who accesses technology, and who is healthy, the entangling of which manifests in healthcare disparities. In this course we will evaluate how emergent technologies affect human health and healthcare disparities. Evaluating impact requires considering the ethical stakes involved in technological development and application. Our guiding questions will be threefold: How do cultural expectations about health shape the pursuit of technologies and medicine? and What are the impacts of particular technologies on human health? How can we ethically evaluate those impacts? To these ends, we will consider various research forms, including ethnographies, that focus on the intersection of culture, technology, and health. First, we will orient to technology and health through the lens of social construction. Second, we will situate ourselves in feminist approaches to biotechnologies; including critical studies of epigenetics, using core concepts of kinship and gender. We will then explore specific technologies, such as spirometers to oximeters to pharmaceuticals more generally, heeding particular attention to inequalities in areas like race. Finally, we explore the various methodologies available to those designing biotechnologies derived from the social sciences. In each section, we will identify core ethical questions faced by engineers, designers and healthcare providers in their daily work while brainstorming ways that these ethical issues might be resolved to improve human health. Lecture 3 (Fall).

Global health is a term that reflects a complex series of problems, policies, institutions and aspirations that have only recently made their way to the global stage. From its earliest days, global health was guided by principles in public health that situate the nation-state as responsible for the health of its population. While international health and tropical medicine, the precursors to global health, was driven by the distinction between wealthy and poor nations, global health today, as this course explores, is oriented to the unequal burden of disease around the world. The course will consider major global health challenges, programs, and policies through an integrated social science lens. After placing global health in historical context, we will focus on how the science of disease cannot be dissociated from the social context and policies that both drive the emergence of disease(s) and respond to the unequal burden of disease around the world. We will analyze current and emerging global health priorities, including emerging infectious diseases, poverty, conflicts and emergencies, health inequity, health systems reforms, and major global initiatives for disease prevention and health promotion. Lecture 3 (Annual).

This course evaluates global forms of “addiction” in medical, cultural, national, and transnational situations of encounter. Though primarily a EuroAmerican concept of illness, addiction is now discursively and experientially widespread, assuming the status of a “global form.” Addiction narratives and experiences shape people and social life everywhere, as scientific and cultural or national knowledge intersect to form subjectivities, identities of addicts, and communities of addicted bodies. Concepts of will, morality, the addicted self and other, and living and dying also impact the cultural, national and international infrastructures we build—whether and how, for instance, we put resources into medical or criminal justice systems and networks. A closer look at the intimate lives of addicts thus enables us to consider identity boundaries and crossings; addiction languages; family relations and parenting; self-made communities and social bonds; work at the economic fringes of society; personal and institutional violence; policing and navigating enforcement or incarceration; homelessness and legal, medical and social service bureaucracies; as well as transnational production, trafficking, forms of addiction, and policing. By the end of the course, students will comprehend concepts and theories of addiction, and global perspectives on people living with addiction. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).

An introduction to the subject of communication in health care delivery and in public health campaigns, with an emphasis on interpersonal, organizational, and mass communication approaches. Also covered is the interrelationship of health behavior and communication. Lecture 3 (Spring).

This course will explore the relationships between spirituality, religion, and medicine as these influence and impact health, well-being, illness, and patient care. The course will provide students with a broad exposure to various dimensions of health, an overview of religion and spirituality, the interface between family, illness, and cultural competence and how current research guides this discussion. An introduction of various religious affiliations and belief systems will be presented as they relate to individual health, well-being, and illness. Strategies for incorporating and integrating religion and spirituality into medicine will be reviewed. Discussions will also include the benefits, barriers, challenges and medical ethics surrounding these strategies and initiatives using real-world case studies and examples. Lecture 3 (Fall).

This course is an introduction to the physical and occupational safety tools and techniques and connection to sustainability. Course emphasizes safety excellence though broad application of hazard identification, control and mitigation across industry and community operations, from design to safe use, occupational and process systems. This course reviews OSHA, other regulations, consensus guidelines, and best practices that pertain to maintaining safe operations and physical locations. Management of safety is discussed: inspection, committees, written programs, reporting and agency communications. Lecture 3 (Spring).

The World Health Organization estimates that one in eight people do not have access to a safe drinking water supply. The U.S. State Department has stated that armed conflict over water rights is possible on many of the world’s river systems including the Nile, Tigris/Euphrates, Brahmaputra-Jamuna, and Mekong. What is the cause of these problems and how will changes to the hydrologic cycle and world water supply brought about by climate change affect them? Students will learn about the hydrologic cycle, the general characteristics of surface water and groundwater, and global patterns of water use. Students will learn about the health, economic, and social consequences of drought and flooding, and the effect climate change is having on water supply in arid countries. Laws and government regulation of water withdrawal and use will be covered, as will techniques to extend the available water supply. Students will consider the positive and negative consequences of increasing the sustainability of the water supply through efficiency, conservation, inter-basin transfer, water use export, grey and black water reuse, urban runoff capture, and the creation of fresh water through desalination. Lecture 3 (Fall).

This course will provide students with the fundamentals of industrial hygiene and environmental public health, including exposure systems for various chemical, biological, and physical toxicants on individuals or within populations. Fundamentals of, monitoring and sampling, and the hierarchy of controls are covered; Determining roles and the ways in which industrial hygiene may interact with other disciplines such as public health, occupational medicine or environmental engineering are explored. When both this course and ESHS-512 lab are completed, the OSHA 40 hour HAZWOPER certificate is earned. Any non-ESHM program students may take this course without the required lab requisite with permission from the department. This course is co-listed with ESHS-611; students may receive credit for ESHS-511 or ESHS-611, not both. (Prerequisites: ESHS-150 and CHMG-141 and BIOL-101 and BIOL-103 or equivalent courses. Students may not take and receive credit for this course if they have already taken ESHS-611.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).

Weekly labs and associated reports develop skills and understanding of calibration and use of air sampling equipment and other instrumentation to assess workplace health hazards. Hands-on practical hazardous material response. Students who complete the course will receive OSHA HAZWOPER 40 hour certification. (Prerequisites: CHMG-141 or equivalent course. Co-requisite: ESHS-511 or equivalent course.) Lab 2 (Fall).

This course explores the effects of wellness and disease prevention on the human lifecycle, lifestyles and overall health. Basic structure and function of selected human body systems are discussed and related to factors such as diet and nutrition, alcohol, drugs, tobacco use, stress and the environment in discussion of health promotion and disease prevention. Lecture and class discussion and student participation are used to explore health related issues. (This course is available to RIT degree-seeking undergraduate students.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

A general survey of human diseases using a body systems approach with an emphasis on disease etiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and prognosis. Also included are a basic overview of immunology, oncology, endocrinology, and pathophysiology. Upon completion of this course, students will have a foundational knowledge of many diseases that afflict humanity, so they can be better prepared, through additional coursework and experience, to develop prevention, screening, and early intervention strategies when possible. It is highly recommended that students have at least taken high school Biology prior to taking this course. Lecture 3 (Fall).

This course provides an overview of various technology innovations that currently exist or are in development that have (or will hopefully have) a positive impact on the effectiveness of various global public health initiatives and the delivery of healthcare locally, regionally and around the world. (Prerequisites: GLPH-101 and MEDS-355 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Fall).

This course provides an overview of various technology innovations that currently exist or are in development that have (or will hopefully have) a positive impact on the effectiveness of various global public health initiatives and the delivery of healthcare locally, regionally and around the world. (Prerequisites: GLPH-101 and MEDS-355 and GLPH-351 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

This course covers to epidemiology and prevalence of mental health disorders across the globe. It also focuses on the diagnosis of psychopathology across the developmental life-span while considering cultural factors. This course emphasizes specific global mental health concerns and the importance of culturally appropriate screening, diagnosis, assessment and treatment. A major component of this course focuses on the use of technology to overcome barriers and bridge treatment gaps for mental health on a global level while keeping ethical considerations in mind. Lecture 3 (Fall).

This course explores various aspects of public health and health care systems in different cultures / countries around the world, with an emphasis on the core building blocks of effective health care systems as described by the World Health Organization (WHO). We will explore the role that culture, traditions, religious beliefs, and other social determinants of health have on disease and injury prevention strategies and access to health care services. Throughout the course, we will compare public health efforts and health care systems in the USA and one foreign country, ultimately traveling to that country for an immersive educational and research experience during either spring break or immediately following the end of the semester. The location of our travels will influence the timing choice of the trip. The RIT Study Abroad office will publicize the international destination and all additional travel expenses beyond standard tuition costs prior to the class registration process. (Prerequisites: GLPH-101 and MEDS-355 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

This course provides an overview of statues and regulations as they apply to the health care system. Topics include: an overview of the American legal system; licensure of institutions; licensure and discipline of practitioners; physician-patient relationship; reproductive issues; the right to die; organ donations; medical records; legal liability; malpractice; and labor law. Lecture 3 (Spring).

Highly trained clinical and administrative professionals drive the nature of work in health care. The purpose of this course is to provide students the opportunity to study leadership theory as it is applied in health care organizations. Leadership theories and applications geared toward professionals working in health service organizations will be emphasized. Students will learn to apply leadership theories via case studies and issue analysis of their active work environments. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).

This is an overview course that will provide an in-depth investigation of the financial workings in the health care industry. The course will be presented through the investigation of the operations of various health care settings – hospitals, physician practices, long term care facilities and home health care providers. The course covers all the essential functions in health care internal financial operations that would be experienced throughout the industry, except for the insurance companies. There are several examples involving physician practices, inpatient hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, etc. During the course the participants will carefully evaluate what the finance department is expected to accomplish. They will better understand the role of the clinical operations manager in the financial health of a health care organization. The course is designed to provide an approach that includes some terminology used in accounting, but more so those terms associated with finance. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).

This course provides a review of the methodology of planning effectively for health care services. The use of data systems and the methods of forecasting, identifying, and analyzing problems are explored. The course will all address the process of strategic planning, setting priorities, developing projects and allocating resources. Students prepare actual application for new programs to regulatory agencies. Lecture 3 (Spring).

This course discusses the delivery system of health care in the US. Specifically, the course will review the current status of American health care including research into population demographics and health and the concept of wellness and prevention. Following this a review of international health care models will occur to consider best practice as alternative care models for consideration for the US. In addition, the students will develop, for their area of interest and expertise, a strategy for incremental or radical innovation in how we provide health care to our constituents. (A minimum of 3rd year standing is required to enroll.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

This course will evaluate the modern challenges of global health from a multidisciplinary perspective. The key concepts of global health will be discussed, including various health determinants, human rights, health care systems, culture’s impact on health, environmental concerns, nutrition, communicable and noncommunicable diseases, women’s health issues, child and adolescent health, injuries, natural disasters and complex humanitarian emergencies, poverty’s impact on health and more. Students will be expected to be active learners, leading classroom activities on certain days as part of group research project presentations, and actively participate in discussions. (A minimum of 3rd year standing is required to enroll.) Lecture 3 (Fall).

The purpose of this course is to describe the fundamental attributes of emergency management to provide students with a foundation of understanding of the field, while also providing students with a basic understanding of how public health, medical, and health care services function as a part of disaster and emergency management. This course provides an introduction to emergency management and the role the health care organizations (public health, medicine, etc.) play in the four phases of emergency management (mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery) and its core functions. Students will learn how to apply the core functions of emergency management in health-related disasters and other emergencies to identify solutions and methods to improve emergency management practice. (Prerequisites: HLTH-508 or equivalent course and at least 3rd year standing.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization are two of many health organizations that have emphasized the importance of cultural competence in health care. As our society becomes more global, sensitivity to and respect for various cultural norms is an integral component of health care delivery. This course defines cultural competency both in theory and in practice. Select topics to be addressed include: Introduction to cultural competency; diversity, equity and inclusion; how cultural competency impacts health practice; health disparity; language and communication; culture and health literacy; cultural competency; strategies for cultural competency assessment; practicing cultural competency, etc. (Prerequisites: HLTH-508 or equivalent course and at least 3rd year standing.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

This course is designed to build off of students’ understanding of health services delivery, population health management and global health issues, with an international perspective on leading health care delivery systems in the US and abroad. The course will expand student’s understanding of the management/ leadership continuum; the levels of leadership in public health practice; the work of local, state and national regulatory agencies to oversee and respond to community health needs; skills required for effective leadership within diverse cultural settings; and, developing the student as a leader. The focus of this course is to build an awareness of the knowledge, attitudes and skills required to improve the system within the US while influencing our global community. (Prerequisites: HLTH-508 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

Language is a systematic means or method of communicating ideas, events, or feelings. It is a combination of words or symbols used to encode and decode information. Medicine has a language to communicate information regarding the human body, its functions, diseases, tests, and procedures. This course explores the language of medicine, the rules of “language,” language mechanics that apply how to create words, define terms, and identify abbreviations. In addition to learning the fundamentals, the student will gain experience in writing, using the language of medicine, as well as interpreting that language into everyday English. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).

This is an advanced course in the mechanisms by which bacteria and fungi cause disease in humans. The course topics include the clinical signs of each disease, diagnosis of each disease, pathogenic mechanisms used by the organisms to cause disease, treatment of the disease, and prevention of the disease. The laboratory component of this course will consist of a mixture of methodologies used in the identification of the infectious agents, evaluation of the host response to the infection, case studies, student presentations of articles related to infectious disease and other assignments aimed at deepening the understanding the infectious disease process. (Prerequisites: (BIOL-123 and BIOL-125 and BIOL-124 and BIOL-126) or (BIOL-101 and BIOL-102 and BIOL-103 and BIOL-104) or (BIOL-121 and BIOL-122) or (MEDG-101 and MEDG-102 and MEDG-103 and MEDG-104) or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Fall).

This seminar course is a unique opportunity for students who are serious about pursuing a career in healthcare. The course will focus on the study of key issues concerning community health care and developing practical approaches to supporting patients. Students consider obstacles to effective health care as well as strategies for enabling at-risk patients to play a more active role in promoting their health and well-being. Topics covered include: challenges of delivering adequate healthcare in the community; population health; the concept of “underinsurance”; the business of healthcare; health literacy and measuring outcomes. Students in the course will be expected to undertake at least one subsequent internship (MEDS 475 Health Coach Practicum) with Rochester Regional Health and the Greater Rochester Independent Practice Association (GRIPA). Students complete an application before registering for this course. Acceptance into the course is contingent upon passing a screening and interview process. Lecture 2 (Fall, Spring).

This course will explore key ethical principles, guidelines and regulations that inform decision making and best practices in biomedical research, public health and clinical medicine including issues of informed consent, experimental design, acceptable risk, research integrity, medical errors, for-profit medicine, refusal of care, end-of-life decisions, physician assisted death, substance abuse and ethical use of animals in research. Students will also have multiple opportunities to further develop critical thinking and effective professional communication skills in a seminar format. (Prerequisites: (BIOL-123 and BIOL-125 and BIOL-124 and BIOL-126) or (BIOL-101 and BIOL-102) or (BIOL-121 and BIOL-122) or (MEDG-101 and MEDG-102) and (UWRT-150 or ENGL-150 or ISTE-110) or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Fall).

Clinical microbiology is a detailed study of the bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites relevant to human infectious diseases, including their historical significance and impact on society. This course will also focus on giving the student an appreciation and clear understanding of emerging/re-emerging infectious disease agents particularly those infectious disease agents commonly encountered in a hospital setting. (Prerequisites: (BIOL-123 and BIOL-125 and BIOL-124 and BIOL-126) or (BIOL-101 and BIOL-102 and BIOL-103 and BIOL-104) or (BIOL-121 and BIOL-122) or (MEDG-101 and MEDG-102 and MEDG-103 and MEDG-104) or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

Introduction to parasites of medical importance and the diseases they cause. It includes study of a variety of parasites classified by diseases such as blood and intestinal protozoan parasites, nematodes, trematodes, and cestodes. Examples of important parasitic diseases to be covered include malaria, sleeping sickness, elephantiasis, river blindness, leishmaniasis, amebic dysentery, and babesiosis. Coursework includes an examination of the distribution and transmission, pathogenesis, clinical signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and control. Contribution of parasitic infections to economic and health inequities between developed and developing countries will be analyzed. (Prerequisites: (MEDG-101 or MEDG-102 or BIOL-101 or BIOL-102 or BIOL-121 or BIOL-122 or BIOL-123 or BIOL-124) or equivalent course and at least 3rd year student standing.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

The course covers applications of epidemiology to the study of the distribution and determinants of health and diseases, morbidity, injuries, disability, and mortality in populations. Epidemiologic methods for the control of conditions such as infectious and chronic diseases, community and environmental health hazards, and unintentional injuries are discussed. Other topics include quantitative aspects of epidemiology, including data sources; measures of morbidity and mortality; evaluation of association and causality; and various study design methods. Contemporary topics in public health (e.g. swine flu, HIV/AIDS, SARS), outbreak investigation, and containment strategies will be examined, analyzed, and thoroughly discussed. (Prerequisites: (MEDG-101 or MEDG-102 or BIOL-101 or BIOL-102 or BIOL-121 or BIOL-122 or BIOL-123 or BIOL-124) or equivalent course and at least 3rd year student standing.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

This course is a continuation of MEDS 370 and provides an opportunity for students to apply key concepts in health coaching to assist members of the community. Students will cover such topics as self-management, motivational interviewing, cultural competency and goal setting. Students will have the opportunity to collaborate with health care professionals in identifying barriers to healthcare as well as creating ways to improve patient outcomes. Journaling and progress notes are writing formats that will be covered and provide the student with a way to express their experiences in both a reflective and a professional manner. (Prerequisites: MEDS-370 or equivalent course.) Clinical 3, Lecture 1.5 (Fall, Spring).

This is an introductory course in nutritional science concepts and application to current nutrition issues. This course covers the study of specific nutrients and their functions, the development of dietary standards and guides and how these standards are applied throughout the lifecycle. Current health and nutrition problems, nutrition misinformation, chronic diseases, performance nutrition, food safety and technology, hunger and global nutrition will be discussed. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).

This course provides an overview of global food and nutrition concepts and issues from both developed and developing country perspectives. Topics include breastfeeding, macronutrients and micronutrient problems, food security and access, food emergencies, maternal and child health and the impacts of socio-economic disparities on nutrition status. Also addressed are challenges in food and nutrition policy development, program design and implementation that are unique to global efforts and sustainable development goals (SDGs). Students apply course content and analytical thinking skills to a unique self-selected country and develop dissemination skills by informing others of the unique food, nutrition and health issues. (Prerequisites: NUTR-215 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).

A majority of serious diseases today are caused by or exacerbated by behavior and many are preventable. This course provides an introduction to the role of behavior in health. Students will learn about the role of psychology in studying and promoting good health behaviors. Topics include the impact of stress and coping on health, psychological variables related to chronic disease, drug addiction, promoting healthy behavior (e.g. exercise, diet, sleep, sexual health), positive psychology, pain management, critical thinking about health product and alternative medicine claims, and research approaches in health psychology. Students who might elect to take this course include students majoring in related fields who wish to learn more about health behavior (e.g. healthcare technology), students majoring, minoring, or immersing in Psychology, and students looking for a Liberal Arts Elective. (Prerequisites: PSYC-101 or PSYC-101H or completion of one (1) 200 level PSYC course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).

This course provides an introduction to cultural psychology. Cultural psychology focuses on the ways in which culture influences our mental processes and behavior. According to Wang (2016), “cultural psychology is necessary for the building of a true psychological science” (2016, p. 3). As part of this course, students will learn about the types of research methods and theoretical models required for investigating the impact of culture on our psychology.Cultural psychologists study a number of key research questions including but not limited to how and why cultural groups differ, how cultural groups are similar, the dynamic interaction between culture and individual differences or personality, and the multiple ways in which culture influences cognition and behavior. Critically, cultural psychology emphasizes the value and importance of appreciating diversity and multiculturalism. As one example, cultural psychology incorporates intersectionality by focusing on the combined effect of multiple identities, such as gender and cultural heritage in shaping our psychology. This course will provide an in-depth focus on diversity, multiculturalism, and the value of appreciating the global landscape in which we live. (Prerequisite: PSYC-101 or PSYC-101H or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Biannual).

This interdisciplinary course introduces the student to the key concepts of public policy, the policymaking process, the role of stakeholders and interest groups, and the basic dimensions policy analysis. Those concepts are then applied through a range of issues, such as the environment, clean energy, climate change, healthcare, cybersecurity, employment, privacy, telecommunications, and innovation, at local, state, federal and international levels. Lecture 3 (Fall).

Global health is a term that reflects a complex series of problems, policies, institutions and aspirations that have only recently made their way to the global stage. From its earliest days, global health was guided by principles in public health that situate the nation-state as responsible for the health of its population. While international health and tropical medicine, the precursors to global health, was driven by the distinction between wealthy and poor nations, global health today, as this course explores, is oriented to the unequal burden of disease around the world. The course will consider major global health challenges, programs, and policies through an integrated social science lens. After placing global health in historical context, we will focus on how the science of disease cannot be dissociated from the social context and policies that both drive the emergence of disease(s) and respond to the unequal burden of disease around the world. We will analyze current and emerging global health priorities, including emerging infectious diseases, poverty, conflicts and emergencies, health inequity, health systems reforms, and major global initiatives for disease prevention and health promotion. Lecture 3 (Annual).

Introduction to Environmental Studies explores the human condition within an environmental context by emphasizing critical environmental problems facing humans on both global and regional scales, and by applying interdisciplinary approaches. Issues, their causes, and potential solutions will be analyzed with respect to ethical, social, historical, political, scientific, and technological factors. Key concepts and themes include climate change, natural resource use and waste, population and consumption, urban and built environments, food, energy, globalization, markets, politics, environmental justice and inequality, and environmentalism. Lecture 3 (Fall or Spring).

This course offers students the opportunity to learn basic research principles and integrate them with skills and knowledge from other courses to design and develop a research proposal on an area of professional interest. The research proposal includes a background section with a literature review, a plan for gathering data, sense-making and concluding why the proposed research project benefits science and society. Students will complete activities to gain skills in project management and Human Subject Research (HSRO) submission. (Prerequisites: STAT-145 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall).