Global Health: An Interdisciplinary Overview

About this course: This course proposes an overview of current global health challenges drawing on the insights of several academic disciplines including medicine, public health, law, economics, social sciences and humanities. This interdisciplinary approach will guide the student into seven critical topics in global health.

Created by:  University of Geneva

• Taught by:  Rafael Ruiz De Castañeda, Institute of Global Health - Faculty of Medicine

  University of Geneva

• Taught by:  Antoine Flahault, Professor of Public Health and Director of the Institute of Global Health (Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva) and co-Director of Centre Virchow-Villermé (Université Paris Descartes)

  University of Geneva and Université Paris Descartes – Sorbonne Paris Cité

Commitment 6-7 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.6 stars Average User Rating 4.6See what learners said Coursework

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University of Geneva Founded in 1559, the University of Geneva (UNIGE) is one of Europe's leading universities. Devoted to research, education and dialogue, the UNIGE shares the international calling of its host city, Geneva, a centre of international and multicultural activities with a venerable cosmopolitan tradition.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Introduction



Welcome to Global Health: An Interdisciplinary Overview! This course consists of the course guides, including discussion forum activities and assessments, along with presentations by a range of presenters, from the University of Geneva, The Graduate Institute, WHO, UNDP, WTO, IUCN, Medicines Patent Pool, among others. You will benefit from the insights and perspectives of multiple contributors involved in global health research, teaching, policy and practice across disciplines and sectors. Your enjoyment and benefits from the course will above all depend on your participation within this course, and we very much look forward to your participation through the discussion forums. Enjoy the course!


7 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Video: General Introduction by Antoine Flahault
2. Reading: Course Description
3. Video: Prof. Antoine Geissbuhler
4. Video: Prof. Louis Loutan
5. Video: Dr. Samantha Battams
6. Video: Dr. Didier Wernli
7. Video: Dr. Slim Slama
8. Video: Dr. Rafael Ruiz De Castaneda
9. Reading: General Introduction

WEEK 2


Introduction to Global Health concepts
This module will introduce the concept of global health. Global health is a relatively new field and there is currently some debate over its definition.


4 videos, 3 readings expand

1. Reading: Course guide module 2
2. Video: The Relationship Between Health and Development by Petra Lantz
3. Video: Ecology and Public Health by Roderick John Lawrence
4. Reading: Lesson 1
5. Video: Social Determinants of Health by Claudine Burton-Jeangros
6. Video: Human Rights in a Global Health Perspective: A Major Challenge by Philippe Chastonay
7. Reading: Lesson 2

Graded: Introduction to Global Health Concepts

WEEK 3


Emerging Trends in Global Health: Infectious Diseases



There are 7 parts to module 3. Lessons 3 & 4 are both introductory sections that describe key concepts necessary to understand infectious diseases and how we deal with them. Lesson 5 constitutes the core lesson of module 3. This lesson focuses on the current global situation and future challenges for the most prominent infectious diseases of the world. In lessons 6-9 we discuss neglected tropical diseases, re-emerging infectious diseases and epidemics/pandemics. Finally, lesson 10 and 10b summarize module 3 in a set of key conclusions.


9 videos, 9 readings expand

1. Reading: Course guide module 3
2. Video: Risk Communication in the Context of Pandemics/Epidemics by Claudine Burton-Jeangros
3. Reading: Lesson 3
4. Video: Burden of Infectious Diseases and Healthcare Infections in Developing Countries by Benedetta Allegranzi
5. Reading: Lesson 4
6. Video: Prevention of Health Care Associated Infection: Pushing Back Barriers and National Frontiers by Didier Pittet
7. Reading: Lesson 5
8. Video: Pneumonia and Diarrhoeal Diseases in Children: Global Health Challenges by Alain Gervaix
9. Reading: Lesson 6
10. Video: Achievements and Challenges in the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS by Michel Kazatchkine
11. Reading: Lesson 7
12. Video: Tuberculosis: Burden; Progress in Prevention, Care and Control; Challenges Towards Elimination by Mario Raviglione
13. Reading: Lesson 8
14. Video: Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs): Key Issues and Challenges in Global Health by François Chappuis
15. Reading: Lesson 9
16. Video: Emerging Viruses in 2013: Influenza A H7N9 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus by Laurent Kaiser
17. Reading: Lesson 10
18. Video: Mathematical modelling for understanding and predicting communicable diseases by Antoine Flahault

Graded: Emerging Trends in Global Health: Infectious Diseases

WEEK 4


Emerging Trends in Global Health: Non-Communicable Diseases and Disability
In this module we consider the rise of non-communicable (NCDs) diseases across countries, along with mental disorders and disability.


6 videos, 3 readings expand

1. Reading: Course guide module 4
2. Video: Ageing as a Global Health Challenge by Michel Oris
3. Video: Physical Activity by Bengt Kayser
4. Video: Cancer Epidemiology: How Epidemiology Informs Prevention & Treatment Service by Elisabetta Rapiti Aylward
5. Reading: Lesson 11
6. Video: Chronic Diseases in Developing Countries: Diabetes as a Global Health Challenge by David Henri Beran
7. Video: Mental Health and Mental Health Promotion by Samantha Battams
8. Video: Mental Health and Conflict by Ariel Eytan
9. Reading: Lesson 12

Graded: Emerging Trends in Global Health: Non-Communicable Diseases and Disability

WEEK 5


Governance for Global Health, Health Systems and Financing
This module is concerned with the global health system (which refers to responses to health conditions or the prevention of these) and the management of this system through global health governance.


4 videos, 3 readings expand

1. Reading: Course guide module 5
2. Video: Global Health Governance by Ilona Kickbusch
3. Video: EU as an Interesting Case-Study for Global Health Governance by Nicolas Levrat
4. Reading: Lesson 13
5. Video: The Role of European Union in Global Health by Samantha Battams
6. Video: Designing Health Financing Systems for Universal Health Coverage by Inke Mathauer
7. Reading: Lesson 14

Graded: Governance for Global Health, Health Systems and Financing

WEEK 6


Foreign Policy, Trade and Health



Health policy has undergone profound changes during the last few decades. Although health has for a long time been an issue in international relations, it was for most of the 20th century perceived as a national and technical matter. This meant that solutions to health problems were seen to require primarily scientific and technological collaboration rather than political commitment. Along with the dramatic changes associated with globalisation, health is increasingly seen as a higher priority on international political agendas. In Module 6, we discuss what triggered this political ‘revolution’ and its implications.


3 videos, 3 readings expand

1. Reading: Course guide module 6
2. Video: Global Health Diplomacy by Ilona Kickbusch
3. Reading: Lesson 15
4. Video: Health issues in humanitarian emergencies by Michelle Gayer
5. Video: Examining Medical Humanitarian Action Through an Ethical Lense by Doris Schopper
6. Reading: Lesson 16

Graded: Foreign Policy, Trade and Health

WEEK 7


Research, Development, Innovation and Technology for Global Health
This module addresses the lack of attention to research and development for medicines and technologies for diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries and all the issues related to drug development and intellectual property rights.


8 videos, 6 readings expand

1. Reading: Course guide module 7
2. Video: Global Health Research, Development and Innovation Policies by Samantha Battams
3. Video: Trade, Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and Public Health by Jayashree Watal
4. Reading: Lesson 17
5. Video: Public Health Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights by Peter Beyer
6. Reading: Lesson 18
7. Video: Voluntary Licensing for Innovation and Access by Esteban Burrone
8. Video: Life Sciences Technologies by Denis Hochstrasser
9. Reading: Lesson 19
10. Video: Drug Development by Leonardo Scapozza
11. Reading: Lesson 20
12. Video: Information and Communication Technologies for Global Health by Antoine Geissbuhler
13. Video: Strengthening primary healthcare: no innovation without training, no training without innovative pedagogical approaches by Beat Stoll
14. Reading: Lesson 21

Graded: Research, Development, Innovation and Technology for Global Health

WEEK 8


The Environment, Sustainable Development and Health
In this module we consider the relationship between the environment, sustainable development and health.


6 videos, 4 readings expand

1. Reading: Course guide module 8
2. Video: Sustainable Urban Development by Roderick John Lawrence
3. Reading: Lesson 22
4. Video: The Capability Approach to Human Development by Jaya Krishnakumar
5. Video: Health and Climate Change by Martin Beniston
6. Video: Climate change and Infectious diseases by Antoine Flahault
7. Reading: Lesson 23
8. Video: Water and Health - The Water Resources Management Contribution by Mark Smith
9. Reading: Lesson 24
10. Video: Global Health challenges at the human-animal-ecosystem interface by Rafael Ruiz de Castañeda

Graded: The Environment, Sustainable Development and Health