Description
The goal of this course is to explore the formation, implementation and interaction of health policies at various levels. We will examine key themes related to health policy using a multidisciplinary approach that employs sociological, political, economic and ethical perspectives on health and disease, the health care system, and the challenges of meeting the varied (and often conflicting) needs and motivations of the many and diverse stakeholders. Policies that impact the health of populations-wheter directly or indirectly-emanate from different statutory, regulatory, and advisory bodies at the global, national, state, municipal and increasingly, organizational, levels. In this course, health policy will be explored at both the global and organizational level, and will include discussion of determinants of health, the social distribution of health and disease, and health disparities. In addition, this course will explore the organization and financing of the US health care system, its