HS 0560 - Social Determinants of Health in the U.S. and World

Summer 3 Credit Hours
Provides a framework for educating healthcare professionals by integrating key components from the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) model with the socio-cultural aspects of health, healing and illness from the Medical Sociology literature. SDoH are the “non-medical factors that influence health outcomes;” these include “conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age” and the wider set of forces and systems that shape our daily lives (Healthy People 2020). For decades, sociologists have acknowledged the myriad of social factors that contribute to health-related outcomes. Further, the inclusion of SDoH variables has been associated with efforts to identify health disparities, and recent strategies to decrease such inequalities, within and across populations. Explores macro-level (and “upstream”) social influences on health opportunities and constraints in order to support professionals in health sector occupations assume a wholistic approach to systems of healthcare delivery - both in the U.S. and across the world. Towards this end, students will have the option to participate in a short study-abroad immersive experience at the end of the 8-week summer semester, as an informal “capstone” to the course and to our program. Otherwise, students will have the option to research and write a literature review / term paper and create a PowerPoint presentation (as the final exam). Course Charge: $45.00 Health Science Program Charge