Course Descriptions

In the past 15 years, we have seen a rise in chronic disease impacted by behavior and policy, infectious disease outbreaks and new mechanisms of spread never seen before in the US. Clinicians must consider the biosocial impact of globalization and environmental change upon health and disease. In this course we present fundamental concepts of epidemiology to assist the new clinician in their efforts to critically evaluate the health and medical literature, participate in monitoring and surveillance of disease, and interpret data in their individual practice, community and nation to improve care in their practice and professional sphere.

Offered: 1st 8-week session Fall Semester (Fall A)

The past several decades have witnessed advances in medical sciences and the discovery of new medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics tools that have the capacity to lead to large improvements in global health. However, the translation of research findings into practice has been slow and uneven. This has led to a widening gap by applying research and evaluation approaches to identify and address the barriers in scale-up evidence-based interventions in local settings. This course provides an introduction to the emerging field of implementations science by reviewing various design and methods, health systems and policy research, and examples in HIV, non HIV ST and non-communicable disease.

Offered: 2nd 8-week session Fall Semester (Fall B)

Dissemination science is the process of distribution of information and intervention materials to a specific public health or clinical practice audience.  Translating research into practice is a complex process that involves dissemination science.  The purpose of dissemination science research is to translate evidence based interventions into practice to improve lives.  This research seminar provides and introduction to dissemination science.  Topics include the vocabulary of dissemination science; distinction between dissemination and implementation research; principles and methods used in dissemination science research; and future issues.

Offered: 1st 8-week session Spring Semester (Spring A)

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as obesity, diabetes, mental illnesses, injuries, cardiovascular disease and cancer, are responsible for the greatest burden of death and disability globally. NCDs are of critical importance to all countries currently dominate the global health and political agenda. Responding to this epidemic requires interdisciplinary, multi-systems, implementation and dissemination approaches. Researchers, public health specialists and policy makers from around the world working in this field require a critical understanding of the commonalities and differences in perspectives across sectors, which will enable them to work effectively within a ‘global’ ecological perspective on NCDs. This course will address the current paradigms and controversies in epidemiology. Emphasis will be placed on those NCDs of high prevalence or unique biological characteristics that illustrate interesting epidemiological or etiological characteristics or those that hold greatest promise of control. Comparison of NCD rates across countries and epochs, and the evidence for the causes of these differences will be explored. The goal is to encourage students to think creatively about the NCD problem and explore research opportunities that will contribute meaningfully to reduction in NCD morbidity and mortality throughout the world. 

Offered: 2nd 8-week session Spring Semester (Spring B)