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Essentials of Global Health
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 70 hours
  • Course by Yale University
  • Offered by

About

Essentials of Global Health is a comprehensive introduction to global health. It is meant to introduce you to this topic in well-structured, clear and easy to understand ways. Much of the course will focus on five questions: What do people get sick, disabled and die from; Why do they suffer from these conditions? Which people are most affected? Why should we care about such concerns? What can be done to address key health issues, hopefully at least cost, as fast as possible, and in sustainable ways? The course will be global in coverage but with a focus on low- and middle-income countries, the health of the poor, and health disparities. Particular attention will be paid throughout the course to health systems issues, the linkages between health and development, and health matters related to global interdependence. The course will cover key concepts and frameworks but be practical in orientation. ESSENTIALS OF GLOBAL HEALTH WAS PRODUCED IN PART DUE TO THE GENEROUS FUNDING OF THE DAVID F. SWENSEN FUND FOR INNOVATION IN TEACHING. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Course Learning Objectives By the end of the course, learners should be able to: • Articulate key public health concepts related to global health; • Analyze the key issues in global health from a number of perspectives; • Discuss with confidence the burden of disease in various regions of the world; how it varies by sex, age, and location; key risk factors for this burden; and how the disease burden can be addressed in cost-effective ways; • Assess key health disparities, especially as they relate to the health of low-income and marginalized people in low- and middle-income countries; • Outline the key actors and organizations in global health and the manner in which they cooperate to address critical global health concerns; • Review key global health challenges that are likely to arise in the coming decades. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Value Added of the Course The course seeks to add special value by being comprehensive, by handling each topic in a consistent framework, and by helping learners gain an understanding of well grounded approaches to assessing global health issues and what can be done to address them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Readings and other materials for Essentials of Global Health For almost every session of Essentials of Global Health, you will see: - Required readings - Recommended readings - Recommended videos We have selected a small number of readings for each session that are central to understanding the content of the session. We have put these under “required readings”. For each required reading, we have also indicated how carefully you should read the material and on what parts of the material you should focus your attention. In addition, we have selected some additional readings that would be very helpful to your understanding the content of each session. The first is a textbook, Global Health 101, third edition. This is a comprehensive introductory textbook that closely follows the content of this Essentials of Global Health course. We have indicated for each session what part of the book you should read. Using this textbook can be very valuable to your mastering the content of the course. The second set of “recommended readings” is some additional readings, mostly from journal articles and reports. For these, too, we have indicated how carefully you should read the material and on what parts of the material you should focus your attention. Learners should note that to access articles from The Lancet they will have to register with the Lancet, if they do not have online access to a library that has The Lancet. Once they are registered, they will be able to sign into The Lancet and access all of its free articles. We have also indicated for most sessions one or two videos that relate to the topic of the session. These are meant to help the learner get a better feel for the topic which is being covered. Most learners will find the videos brief, easy and enjoyable to watch, and very enlightening.

Modules

Course Overview and Getting Started

    • 1 Videos
    • 9 Readings
    • 3 Discussion
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3 Discussions

  • Thinking about Global Health
  • Global Health
  • The Importance of Global Health

1 Videos

  • Course Introduction

9 Readings

  • About this course
  • Meet your instructor
  • Global Health 101 Slides
  • (Required) Koplan et al, "Towards a Common Definition of Global Health"
  • (Required) Fried et al, Global Health is Public Health
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 1-"The Principles and Goals of Global Health"
  • (Recommended) Jamison, DT, et al. "Global Health 2035: A World Converging within a Generation."
  • Optional participation in a survey
  • Disclaimer

Key Perspectives on Global Health

    • 2 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 2 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Key Perspectives on Global Health

2 Discussions

  • Determinants of health
  • The social determinants of health

2 Videos

  • Key Perspectives on Global Health and Determinants of Health
  • Social Determinants of Health

2 Readings

  • (Required) Commission on the Social Determinants of Health (CSDH)
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 2-"Health Determinants, Measurements, and Trends"

The Global Health Context and Who Plays

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The Global Health Context and Who Plays

1 Discussions

  • Key Actors

1 Videos

  • The Global Health Context and Who Plays

2 Readings

  • (Required) Major players in development cooperation for global health
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 17-“Working Together to Improve Global Health”

The State of the World’s Health

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The State of the World’s Health

1 Discussions

  • State of the World’s Health

1 Videos

  • The State of the World’s Health

3 Readings

  • (Required) “World Health Statistics 2020: Monitoring Health for the SDGs.”
  • (Required) World Bank. Health, Nutrition, and Population Statistics.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 2-“Health Determinants, Measurements, and Trends”

Demography and Global Health

    • 2 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Demography and Global Health

1 Discussions

  • Demography and Health

2 Videos

  • Demography and Health (Part 1)
  • Demography and Health (Part 2)

3 Readings

  • (Required) Haupt A, Kane TT, and Haub C. Population Reference Bureau’s Population Handbook
  • (Required) Kaneda T and Bietsch K. 2018 World Population Data Sheet.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 3-"Health Determinants, Measurements, and Trends"

The Burden of Disease – The DALY

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The Burden of Disease – The DALY

1 Discussions

  • The DALY

1 Videos

  • The DALY

2 Readings

  • (Required) Chen A, Jacobsen KH, Deshmukh AA, and Cantor SB. "The Evolution of the Disability-adjusted Life Year (DALY)."
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 3-"The Global Burden of Disease."

What Do People Get Sick, Disabled, and Die From?

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • What Do People Get Sick, Disabled, and Die From?

1 Discussions

  • The Burden of Disease

3 Videos

  • What Do People get Sick, Disabled, and Die From? (Part 1)
  • What Do People get Sick, Disabled, and Die From? (Part 2)
  • What Do People get Sick, Disabled, and Die From? (Part 3)

2 Readings

  • (Required) The LANCET. Global Burden of Disease.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, “Health Determinants, Measurements, and Trends”

Key Risk Factors for Deaths and DALYs

    • 1 Videos
    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Key Risk Factors for Deaths and DALYs

1 Discussions

  • Key Risk Factors

1 Videos

  • Key Risk Factors

4 Readings

  • (Required) Global burden of 87 risk factors
  • (Required) Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). GBD Compare.
  • (Required) Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). GBD Heatmap.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 3-"The Global Burden of Disease"

Value for Money in Global Health

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Value for Money in Global Health

1 Discussions

  • Value for Money in Global Health

1 Videos

  • Value for Money in Global Health

2 Readings

  • (Required) Yazbeck AS. An Idiot’s Guide to Prioritization in the Health Sector.”
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 4- “Health, Education, Poverty, and the Economy.”

The Organization and Aims of Health Systems

    • 3 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The Organization and Aims of Health Systems

1 Discussions

  • The Organization and Aims of Health Systems

3 Videos

  • The Organization and Aims of Health Systems (Part 1)
  • The Organization and Aims of Health Systems (Part 2)
  • Ethical Priority Setting in Health - Ole Norheim

3 Readings

  • (Required) World Health Organization. World Health Report 2000- Health Systems: Improving Performance.
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Health Systems Financing: The Path to Universal Coverage.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 6- “An Introduction to Health Systems”

Health Expenditure, the Quest for UHC, and Pharmaceuticals

    • 3 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 2 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Health Expenditure, the Quest for UHC, and Pharmaceuticals

2 Discussions

  • Universal Health Coverage
  • Access to Essential Medicines

3 Videos

  • Health Expenditure, the Quest for UHC, and Pharmaceuticals (Part 1)
  • Health Expenditure, the Quest for UHC, and Pharmaceuticals (Part 2)
  • Health Expenditure, the Quest for UHC, and Pharmaceuticals (Part 3)

3 Readings

  • (Required) Latko B, et al. "The Growing Movement for Universal Health Coverage."
  • (Required) Kumar, AS, et al. "Financing Health Care for All: Challenges and Opportunities."
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 6- “Introduction to Health Systems”

Health Disparities

    • 2 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Health Disparities

1 Discussions

  • Health and Equity

2 Videos

  • Health Disparities (Part 1)
  • Health Disparities (Part 2)

3 Readings

  • (Required) Gwatkin DR, et al. Socio-economic Differences in Health, Nutrition, and Population within Developing Countries.
  • (Required) UNICEF. Progress for Children: Achieving the MDGs with Equity.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 4- “Health, Education, Poverty, and the Economy”

The Environment and Health and Climate Change and Health

    • 2 Videos
    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The Environment and Health and Climate Change and Health

1 Discussions

  • The Environment and Health

2 Videos

  • The Environment and Health and Climate Change and Health (Part 1)
  • The Environment and Health and Climate Change and Health (Part 2)

4 Readings

  • (Required) Pruss-Ustun A, et al. Preventing Disease Through Healthy Environments: A global assessment of the burden of disease from environmental risks.
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Health and Climate Change Survey Report
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Healthy environments for healthier populations
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 8- “The Environment and Health”

Nutrition and Global Health

    • 4 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Nutrition and Global Health

1 Discussions

  • Nutrition and Global Health

4 Videos

  • Nutrition and Global Health (Part 1)
  • Nutrition and Global Health (Part 2)
  • Nutrition and Global Health (Part 3)
  • Nutrition and Global Health (Part 4)

3 Readings

  • (Required) 2020 Global Nutrition Report
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 9-“Nutrition and Global Health”
  • (Recommended) Mother and Child Nutrition

Women’s Health

    • 3 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Women’s Health

1 Discussions

  • Women and Global Health

3 Videos

  • Women’s Health Part 1
  • Women's Health Part 2
  • Women’s Health - Sadia Chowdhury

3 Readings

  • (Required) Bustreo, Flavia. “A Short Commentary: Ten Top Issues on Women’s Health.” Promoting health through the life-course.
  • (Required) Smith R, et al. Family Planning Saves Lives.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 10- “Women’s Health”

Child Health

    • 1 Videos
    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Child Health

1 Discussions

  • The Health of Children

1 Videos

  • Child Health

4 Readings

  • (Required) Liu L, et al. "Global, Regional, and National Causes of Child Mortality in 2000–13, with Projections to Inform Post-2015 Priorities: An Updated Systematic Analysis."
  • (Required) Bhutta ZA, et al. "Can Available Interventions End Preventable Deaths in Mothers, Newborn Babies, and Stillbirths, and at What Cost?"
  • (Required) UNICEF Division of Policy and Strategy. Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed, Progress Report 2013.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 11- “The Health of Young Children”

Childhood Immunization

    • 2 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Childhood Immunization

1 Discussions

  • Childhood Immunization

2 Videos

  • Childhood Immunization
  • Childhood Immunization – Bob Davis

2 Readings

  • (Required) World Health Organization. Global Vaccine Action Plan 2011-2030.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 11- “The Health of Young Children”

Adolescent Health

    • 2 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Adolescent Health

1 Discussions

  • Adolescent Health

2 Videos

  • Adolescent Health (Part 1)
  • Adolescent Health (Part 2)

3 Readings

  • (Required) Dick B, et al. “Health for the World’s Adolescents: A Second Chance in the Second Decade.”
  • (Recommended) Patton et al. "Our future: A Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing."
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 11- “Adolescent Health”

Complex Humanitarian Emergencies

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Complex Humanitarian Emergencies

1 Discussions

  • Complex Humanitarian Emergencies and Natural Disasters

1 Videos

  • Complex Humanitarian Emergencies

3 Readings

  • (Required) Toole MJ and Waldman RJ. "The Public Health Aspects of Complex Emergencies and Refugee Situations." 
  • (Recommended) “The Sphere Handbook.” Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 16- “Natural Disasters and Complex Humanitarian Emergencies”

Emerging and Reemerging ID and Anti-microbial Resistance

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Emerging and Remerging ID and Anti-microbial Resistance

1 Discussions

  • Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance

1 Videos

  • Emerging and Reemerging ID and Anti-microbial Resistance

3 Readings

  • (Required) Moren DM, Folkers GM, and Fauci AS. "The Challenge of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases."
  • (Required) Laxminarayan R, et al. "Antibiotic Resistance—the Need for Global Solutions."
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 13- “Communicable Diseases”

HIV

    • 2 Videos
    • 5 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • HIV

1 Discussions

  • HIV

2 Videos

  • HIV (Part 1)
  • HIV (Part 2)

5 Readings

  • (Required) UNAIDS. Global AIDS Update 2020
  • (Required) Piot P, et al. "Defeating AIDS—advancing Global Health."
  • (Recommended) UNAIDS. Global HIV & AIDS statistics. 2020 Fact Sheet.
  • World Health Organization. HIV/AIDS Fact Sheet.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 13- “Communicable Diseases”

Tuberculosis (TB)

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Tuberculosis (TB)

1 Discussions

  • Tuberculosis (TB)

1 Videos

  • Tuberculosis (TB)

3 Readings

  • (Required) Global Tuberculosis Report 2020.
  • (Recommended) World Health Organization. Tuberculosis Fact Sheet.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 13- “Communicable Diseases”

Malaria

    • 1 Videos
    • 5 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Malaria

1 Discussions

  • Malaria

1 Videos

  • Malaria

5 Readings

  • (Required) World Health Organization. Malaria Fact Sheet.
  • (Required) WHO. World Malaria Report 2019
  • (Required) RBM Partnership to End Malaria Annual Report 2018
  • (Required) Moonen B, et al. "Operational Strategies to Achieve and Maintain Malaria Elimination."
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 13- “Communicable Diseases”

Neglected Tropical Diseases

    • 2 Videos
    • 5 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Neglected Tropical Diseases

1 Discussions

  • Neglected Tropical Diseases

2 Videos

  • Neglected Tropical Diseases
  • NTDs – Peter Hotez

5 Readings

  • (Required) Center for Global Development. “Case Studies.”
  • (Required) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Global NTD Programs.
  • (Required) Reaching a Billion Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases: A Gateway to Universal Health Coverage
  • (Recommended) World Health Organization. NTD Fact Sheets.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 13- “Communicable Diseases”

Overview of Non-communicable Diseases, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Diabetes

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Overview of Non-Communicable Diseases, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Diabetes

1 Discussions

  • Non-communicable Diseases

1 Videos

  • Non-communicable Diseases, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Diabetes

3 Readings

  • (Required) World Health Organization. Noncommunicable Disease Reports..
  • (Required) Hunter DJ and Reddy KS. "Noncommunicable Diseases."
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 14- “Noncommunicable Diseases”

Cancer and Diabetes

    • 2 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 2 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Cancer and Diabetes

2 Discussions

  • Cancer
  • Diabetes

2 Videos

  • Cancer and Diabetes (Part 1)
  • Cancer and Diabetes (Part 2)

2 Readings

  • (Required) Gelband H, et al. Summary of Disease Control Priorities.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 14- “Noncommunicable Diseases”

Tobacco and Alcohol

    • 2 Videos
    • 5 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Alcohol and Tobacco

1 Discussions

  • Tobacco and Alcohol

2 Videos

  • Tobacco and Alcohol (Part 1)
  • Tobacco and Alcohol (Part 2)

5 Readings

  • (Required) Jha et al. “Global Hazards of Tobacco and The Benefits of Smoking Cessation and Tobacco Tax”
  • (Required) Medina et al. “Alcohol Use and Alcohol Use Disorders"
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Tobacco Fact Sheet.
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Heated Tobacco Products.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 14- “Noncommunicable Disease”

Mental Health

    • 2 Videos
    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Mental Health

1 Discussions

  • Mental Health

2 Videos

  • Mental Health (Part 1)
  • Mental Health (Part 2)

4 Readings

  • (Required) Patel V, et al. "Addressing the Burden of Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders: Key Messages from Disease Control Priorities, 3rd Edition." 
  • (Required) Hyman, S. "The unconscionable gap between what we know and what we do."
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Mental Health Fact Sheets..
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 14-“Noncommunicable Diseases”

Injuries

    • 1 Videos
    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Injuries

1 Discussions

  • Unintentional Injuries

1 Videos

  • Injuries

4 Readings

  • (Required) Mock et al. "Injury Prevention and Environmental Health."
  • (Required) Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). GBD Compare
  • (Required) Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). GBD Heatmap
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 15- “Unintentional Injuries”

Intersectoral Approaches to Enabling Better Health

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Intersectoral Approaches to Enabling Better Health

Science and Technology for Global Health

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Science and Technology for Global Health

1 Discussions

  • Science and Technology for Global Health

1 Videos

  • Science and Technology for Global Health

2 Readings

  • (Required) Buluswar S, et al. 50 Breakthroughs: Critical Scientific and Technological Advances Needed for Sustainable Global Development
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 18-“Science, Technology, and Global Health”

Key Challenges for the Future

    • 2 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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2 Videos

  • Key Challenges for the Future (Part 1)
  • Key Challenges for the Future (Part 2)

2 Readings

  • Optional participation in survey, follow up from Week 1
  • Conclusion and Congratulations

Critical Topics

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • COVID-19
  • Critical Challenges in Global Health and Their Implications for Action

Office Hours

    • 3 Videos
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3 Videos

  • Office Hours 1
  • Office Hours 2
  • Office Hours 3

Auto Summary

"Essentials of Global Health" is a comprehensive introductory course focusing on global health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and health disparities. Led by Coursera, the course spans 4200 minutes and offers Starter and Professional subscription options. It covers key public health concepts, disease burden, health disparities, and global health systems. Ideal for those interested in health and fitness, the course includes required and recommended readings, videos, and practical frameworks to address critical global health issues.

Richard Skolnik
Instructor

Richard Skolnik