From Theory to Practice: Public Health Field Skills in Peru

Catalog description

This course translates public health concepts into practical field skills applied in an international setting in Peru. Students will learn GPS mapping and geospatial analysis using GIS, environmental health risk assessment, household survey design, and conduct a mock epidemiological investigation and outbreak response. Emphasis will be placed on addressing ethical challenges in global health and exploring social determinants of health. Students will choose between a three-day focus on (1) trapping and identifying arthropod vectors and small mammals and their associated pathogens or (2) implementation science and community engagement strategies. Fieldwork will take place in two distinct regions of Peru: the Amazon rainforest basin (Iquitos) and the coastal capital city (Lima), providing diverse perspectives on public health challenges.