Overview

Students will be exposed through lectures from visiting and invited guests, small group discussions, readings, and projects to various facets and health problems in both public and veterinary health globally with emphasis on low-income countries. Emphasis will be on how to understand and work within the frameworks at the national and international level to address the biggest challenges and coming threats of the health of people and animals. The survey of topics will provide a foundational understanding for further in-depth study and work in international health.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

To articulate the structure of human and animal health systems at the national and international level
To apply an ecological approach to analyzing those major factors that influence global health including climate change and urbanization
To identify and relate social and cultural determinants of health to global health issues and disease
To discuss human and animal rights, professional ethics, and international health law in the context of health
To describe the role of frameworks, goals, and multilateral agreements in achieving optimal health
To understand the term stakeholders and the importance of the role of partnerships and collaborations in health programs
To describe how capacity building enhances global health programs’ ability to address identified needs
To describe how cultural awareness and knowledge are essential to building culturally competent health program

Topical Outline

Module 1: History of international health (disease eradication efforts, formation of international organizations, etc.)
Module 2: International health and trade frameworks (SDGs, IHR guidelines, OIE/WTO guidelines)
Module 3: Animal welfare and child welfare
Module 4: Goal setting and consensus building
Module 5: National and international veterinary legislation
Module 6: Surveillance systems and infectious disease
Module 7: Major stakeholders
Module 8: Cultural competency – cultural awareness and knowledge essentials to build culturally competent programs
Module 9: Impediments and challenges to trade and adequate human nutrition
Module 10: Training and capability building
Module 11: Death and Metrics
Module 12: Migration and health
Module 13: Role of gender in human and animal health
Module 14: Future challenges in meeting human and animal health needs
Module 15: Final student presentations

Recommended Prerequisites

In good standing as a graduate student, DVM or MD student.