Global Health and Epidemiology

Course Description

COURSE OVERVIEW

One of the overall goals of the course is introducing the students to the concepts and definitions of epidemiology and global health, as well as global health challenges governance. The course will enable students to calculate and interpret the measures of the global health burden of diseases, health indicators and major determinants of disease. Moreover, an overview on ethical issues raised in the field of global health will be provided, covering a wide range of global bioethics topics and human rights issues. One part of the lessons will be focused on infectious diseases and outbreaks but will also cover the topics of vaccination policies around the world. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will be explored, placing particular focus on the global epidemic rise of these conditions and preventive measures. The increase in population movement has substantial public health implications, thus, the course will provide an overview of global migration and international experiences when addressing the health needs of migrants and refugees. Finally, the course will cover one of the major global emergencies related to environmental exposures and their profound impact on the population health.

The course will use an interactive teaching approach, covering lectures, practical exercises, open discussions, and group analyses. At the end of the course students will take a mandatory final exam covering contents of the whole program.

TOPICS

• The global burden of disease and the use of epidemiological indicators
• Globalization and global health
• Ethical challenges in the context of global health
• Genomics and public health
• Vaccination policies
• Migration and health
• Global environmental health

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Understanding the principles of global health, major challenges and global health governance
• Ability to understand and apply epidemiological indicators
• Understanding global bioethics topics and human rights issues
• Acquisition of an international perspective of vaccination policies around the world
• Understanding global environmental exposures as well as the impact on population health

TEACHING METHODS

• Lectures, team working and in class discussion, site visits, role playing and case studies

EVALUATION

• Assessment of in class participation (30%)
• Mid-term practical session - Group assignments (case studies presentation) (30%)
• Final exam (multiple choice test) (40%)