Public Health, Disease, and Injury

Catalog description

Public Health requires familiarity with the epidemiology, pathology, prevention, and treatment of a wide range of infectious, non-communicable, mental, reproductive, and nutritional conditions, as well as violence and unintentional injuries. This course offers a population-focused survey of human health with an emphasis on leading global causes of morbidity and mortality, key risk factors, and broader social determinants of health, specifically highlighting the influence of race, ethnicity, gender and class as it relates to health outcomes. The student will gain an understanding of principles of endemic disease and injury control and will establish the foundation for more advanced courses in the major. Students will also have the opportunity to integrate their experience in a local community context with relevant social determinants of health, to analyze one’s social identity, cultural values and privilege in the context of health inequity. I invite you to participate with me in this important work as a collective group working towards anti-racism and equitable public health policies, practices, and community norms.