MD/MPH Optional Course Work

*Optional courses may change without notice. Contact Carol Coniglio with any questions about course availability

Advancing Health Equity in Clinical Practice
Racial and ethnic health inequities have long been documented in the United States. Research shows that differences in type and quality of healthcare received by minority and non-minority populations exist and that they occur in the context of broader historic and contemporary social & economic inequities. This elective will help students understand how the social drivers of health impact clinical care delivery and the ways that population health strategies inform practice transformation.

All Hazards Preparedness and Response
Though chemical and radiological events differ in terms of delivery, physiological effects, medical treatment options, and responses, physicians are integral partners from the local to national levels. This elective will provide an overview of biological, chemical, and radiological agents; how these agents may be disseminated and their physiologic effects; treatment strategies; surveillance activities at the state and national levels; preparedness activities to include infrastructure-boosting cooperative agreements to state health departments and health care surge capacities; command and control and lines of authority as they pertain to event responses; and an overview of planning and performing exercises.

Cancer Health Disparities
Cancer health disparities are the disproportionate cancer burdens experienced by different population groups as defined by a group’s gender, geographic location, race/ethnicity, income, or other characteristics. This course will include didactic sessions and readings to provide students with a foundational understanding of the multilevel determinants of cancer health disparities across the cancer control continuum from prevention to survivorship. Multilevel determinants range from distal factors, like public policy, to proximal factors, such as allostatic load, and genetic factors that can affect cancer outcomes. Topics will include an introduction to cancer health disparities models and frameworks; an overview of the multilevel factors affecting cancer health disparities; populations affected by disparities; components of the cancer continuum; study designs and interventions used to address disparities; and applications for clinical practice.

Children's Health and Development
Successful child health outcomes are influenced by a myriad of factors including, but not limited to, social determinants of health, parenting, trauma, media, and even the historical context that they live in. Children’s Health and Development examines how different factors influence children’s outcomes and translates related theories to real-life situations through case studies and real observations of children.

Health Policy Government Relations
This one-week course provides an overview of health policy and its challenges with regard to government relations. Learners will explore how government plays a role in the implementation, progress, sustainability, oversight, and evaluations of policy as it relates to healthcare. Students will have opportunities to engage with legislators, advocates, regulators and policymakers at the state capital and compose a policy paper on an issue of their choosing.

The Social Life of Food: A Brief Introduction
Drawing on research and literature from the sociology of food, this course will introduce students to aspects surrounding food that go beyond eating as a means of sustenance. Social meanings associated with food and what role food and eating play in relationships will be examined. Students will work to answer questions such as: “What meanings are associated with sharing, providing, and preparing foods?”