MPH Elective Courses

MPH6000 Introduction to Public Health (Formerly MPH0001)

Credits: 1 Offered: Fall This introductory course will provide a broad overview of public health. We cover fundamental public health concepts to guide your studies and careers. A principal goal of the course is to give students an understanding of the function of public health as a powerful set of tools to improve the health and achievement of populations. Guest speakers include a diverse array of professionals from various disciplines to provide students with a sense of the breadth and depth of public health as well as a sense of the extraordinary range of career opportunities that exist in this dynamic field.

MPH6001 History of Public Health in America (Formerly MPH0015)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 2 What can history tell us about the current state of public health in the United States? This overview of the history of public health will examine evolving notions of a healthy public. Looking at the underlying social political and cultural structures that aid hinder and shape the public health mission it will place the history of public health in the context of the larger histories of medicine the nation and the world. Several disease case studies will be looked at in detail to provide insight into the factors that go into successful--and unsuccessful--public health movements. The course will conclude with a look at recent public health crises to understand them within the context of global history.

MPH6002 Public Health Surveillance (Formerly MPH0002)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 1 Public health surveillance is the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data to prevent and control disease. This course will introduce students to local, national and global surveillance systems, including NHANES, BRFSS, NYC Community Health Survey. Through class lectures, demonstrations and lab assignments students will link health data to public health practice. The course is a requirement for students in the Health Promotion Disease Prevention track.

MPH6003 Community Based Participatory Research (Formerly MPH0019)

Credits: 2 Offered: Fall This graduate-level course introduces students to the principles, methods, and practices of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), an approach that equitably involves community members, organizational representatives, and academic researchers in all aspects of the research process. Emphasizing collaboration, co-learning, and mutual benefit, CBPR is increasingly recognized as a powerful strategy for addressing complex public health challenges and reducing health disparities. Through lectures, readings, case studies, and community-engaged assignments, students will explore the theoretical foundations of CBPR, ethical considerations, and practical strategies for building sustainable partnerships.

MPH6004 Social Justice in Public Health and Medicine (Formerly MPH0007)

Credits: 3 Offered: Fall Justice is a major concern in theoretical ethics and political philosophy and a huge literature is devoted to trying to explain just what it entails. In this course our aim will be to examine a broad spectrum of issues in medicine, medical research, and public health that raise questions about justice. In light of these critical examples, we shall review and critique an array of philosophical views on justice. Throughout the seminar we shall be engaged in two activities: (1) using clinical dilemmas and health policies as touchstones for developing a clear understanding of justice, and (2) developing an understanding of how theories of justice apply in different public health and medical contexts. By going from practice to theory and from theory back again to practice we shall advance our understanding of the theoretical literature as well as the requirements of justice in public health, medicine and other areas of the social world.

This course will begin with an examination of the allocation of medical resources that raise questions about justice. It will then move on to examine contemporary work on justice and review of some theoretical work by authors who focus their attention on justice in medicine (e.g., Norman Daniels and Paul Menzel). As the seminar progresses, we shall develop an understanding of how the U.S. happens to have developed the mechanisms that we now have for the delivery of health care. We shall examine how medical resources are actually distributed here, elsewhere, and globally, and in various contexts. We shall consider ways in which those allocations do and do not express justice. We shall also explore some of the problems that become apparent when you attend to the special needs of social groups (e.g., the poor, children, women, the elderly, African-Americans) and examine dilemmas and conflicts that are raised by issues such as the treatment of premature and compromised neonates and resource allocations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MPH6005 LGB/TGD/Q+ Health: Research, Policies and Best Practices (Formerly MPH0016)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 2 LGBTQI people have made considerable progress in securing equal rights, from open military service to marriage equality. Polling data indicates the general public has increasingly positive views of LGBTQI civil rights. Despite this, LGBTQI persons still face discrimination, stigma and exclusion in many policy arenas and significant health disparities. Development of an evidence base for LGBTQI health interventions remains in critical need of more dedicated efforts. This course reviews the demographics and diversity of LGBTQI populations; advances and gaps in LGBTQI health knowledge and research; and policies and strategies in public health practice towards achieving fuller health equity for LGBTQI persons.

MPH6006 Substance Abuse & Public Health (Formerly MPH0211)

Credits: 2 Offered: Spring 1 We are facing a public health crisis of substance use disorders (SUDs) across NYC and the country. In the US, approximately 20.4 million people ages 12 and older had an SUD diagnosis in the past year, according to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Addiction touches the lives of children, adolescents, and adults across all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

This course will explore the public health impact of several important SUDs and evidence-based interventions to mitigate harms associated with substance use. Topics include substance use and mental health, tobacco control, the epidemic of SUDs in NYC, cannabis and teens, drug decriminalization, overdose in the ER, binge drinking on college campuses, environmental and genetic risk factors for opioid addiction, and others.

This seminar will be problem-based and composed of lectures from experts and exposure to people who use drugs, with emphasis on research, evidence-based practice, and policy. Course assignments include attendance and reflection on an SUD group therapy session (12-step or other model) and a presentation on a controversial area of addiction.

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to: • Assess the social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental factors that promote or prevent substance use in an individual or community • Design an intervention or program to prevent or manage substance use and SUDs on a population level • Identify the behavioral and neurobiological effects of substance use and SUDs

MPH6007 Life Cycle of Violence: Implications for Public Health (Formerly MPH0212)

Credits: 2 Offered: Spring 1 According to Healthy People 2020, “Acts of violence are among the top 15 killers of Americans of all ages.” Once thought of solely as a criminal justice issue, violence prevention and intervention have been embraced as a major public health issue. The television drama, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU), claims to be “fictional” and states that their show “does not depict any actual person or event.” Yet many episodes strongly resemble real-life situations “ripped from the headlines,” with a few added twists and turns to enhance the plot! Students will view SVU episodes and read peer reviewed articles to guide interactive discussions on the impact of violence over the course of the lifespan on health and wellbeing. Insights from this course will drive more thoughtful and informed practice when working with this important leading health indicator.

MPH6008 Emerging Issues: Women Sex & Reproductive Health and Rights (Formerly MPH0215)

Credits: 2 Offered: Fall Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of women are integral to their overall health and wellbeing. According to the United Nations Population Fund (2021), "a woman who has control over her body is more likely to be empowered in other spheres of her life. A woman—or adolescent girl— with little bodily autonomy is less likely to have control over her home life, her health and her future, and less likely to enjoy her rights.” Multiple theoretical frameworks will be presented to explore pertinent SRHR issues including body autonomy, gender identity and gender roles, LGBTQ health, women and Covid-19, gender-based violence and abortion. Special emphasis will be placed on discussing the impact of poverty, ethnicity, class and institutional racism experienced by many marginalized populations which may deprive them from seeking and obtaining adequate health information, access to quality health services and free to fully participate in the expression of their sexuality.

MPH6009 Health, Equality, Literacy, and Communications (Formerly MPH0217)

Credits: 1 Offered: Fall This course provides an overview of the linkage between health equity efforts and health literacy and communication. The course content will focus on the social determinants of health and how municipal, state, and federal policies influence downstream health. The course will familiarize GPM residents with NYC and East Harlem structural features and the community-based organizations that promote resilience. Students will appraise the role of health literacy in conveying health risk and participate in a workshop to create patient facing materials. In addition, some lectures will focus on incorporating community voices and different ways in addressing racism through clinical care. As part of the curriculum, residents will collaborate with the Mount Sinai Department of Health Education's Public Health and Racial Justice Program, an innovative education and empowerment program for youth of color aged 16-24 years. GPM residents will lead small group discussions with youth participants on training and careers in public health.

Open to MD/MPH Students, Residents, Fellows. All others must seek Course Director’s approval.

MPH6010 Health & Literacy: Improving Health Communication Efforts (Formerly MPH0210)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 2 The issue of health literacy is critically important to the development of effective health communication strategies and outreach. National evaluations of literacy have raised serious concerns about the ability of nearly half the U.S. adult population to access understand and apply health communication messages (NAAL 2003) including those messages found in health information related to health care services and exchanged during health provider/patient interaction. This course explores the link between literacy and health in the US and how poor health literacy impacts accessing understanding and applying health communication messages. Course participants will learn how to take health literacy into account in their work as public health practitioners by understanding the consequences of low health literacy in health outcomes conducting health literacy loads of spoken and written material and developing skills to communicate health more effectively across a variety of settings and contexts.

MPH6011 Introduction to Medical Anthropology (Formerly MPH0203)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 2 Biomedicine is defined as the medical science that applies biological and physiological principles in clinical practice to cure patients from disease. For biomedicine the cause of sickness is found at the cellular level-- that is when a pathogen or germ alters the natural balance of the organism. To restore health is to trace and eradicate the physiological entity affecting the organism. In Western societies this scientific understanding of disease is not only at the core of biomedical practice but also of people’s imagination. To enter as a patient in the realm of biomedicine is to enter the realm of science factuality and expert knowledge. Because scientific practice deals with “Nature” science is not only perceived as objective but as removed from culture. This course will attempt to reveal biomedicine as a cultural system. See the Public Health Curriculum Guide for a complete description of the aims of this course.

MPH6012 Racism and Public Health in the United States (Formerly MPH 0705)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 1 The Racism and Public Health in the United States Course will provide an introduction to the history of racism in the United States and its impact on social determinants of health. The Course aims to provide a contextual framework for examining structural racism as one of the root causes of health disparities. The Course will provide an overview of how social determinants of health not only impact an individual's health outcomes but also have an impact on future generations. This Course will highlight long-standing racism and racist policies in the United States that have adversely impacted BIPOC communities. The Course will introduce students to the concepts of racism in healthcare, structural racism, individual racism, and interpersonal racism.

The Course content will discuss how public health policies, their implementation, budget and funding, impact the social determinants of health. By examining the ways that social determinants of health are being conceptualized by epidemiologic and social science tools, such as fundamental cause theory, structural violence, intersectionality and capabilities frameworks, students will explore ways to operationalize these understandings into their public health research and program intervention strategies.

The goal will be to shift the conversation from race to racism as the root cause of health inequities in the Black population. This Course will be conducted via a series of didactics, case discussions, guest lectures and group discussions as well as a round table conference of experts in the field. The students will also be encouraged to participate in a survey to discern their understanding of the subject matter. Students may be required to participate in focus groups to ensure that the Course is being conducted in a respectful environment which is fostering learning and growth.

MPH6013 Global Mental Health (Formerly MPH 0703)

Credits: 3 Offered: Fall “There is no health without mental health.” While millions of people struggle with mental disorders, sufferers in resource-limited areas receive little or no treatment. This course will describe how to strategically approach global mental health planning and implementation for scaling up mental health services within a public health framework. It will rely on a model known as the Wheel of Global Mental Health, which encompasses seven interdependent elements that together encompass the goals, resources, and dynamics integral to scaling up. Questions raised by the COVID-19 pandemic can also be expected to shape this year’s course.

MPH6014 Humanitarian Aid in Complex Emergencies

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 1 This is an upper level global health course informed by the course director’s experience as advisor to the Director-General of the World Health Organization. This course will explore current public health and humanitarian crises and address the tensions between aid practitioners and academics, between countries and international agencies, health and human rights using historical and current case studies of outbreaks, armed conflict, natural disaster, and climate change. Students will develop critical thinking and hone written communication skills such as opinion pieces in order to inform and engage in public debate.

How should international medical and relief efforts respond to modern humanitarian emergencies that have become chronic, expensive, political and unpopular with governments increasingly focused on populism and protectionism to open borders and empathy? In armed conflicts, how do officials delivering humanitarian aid ensure that in-kind assistance is meeting the needs of people affected rather than providing a source of subsistence to warring factions? How should aid efforts address a crisis like the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo when parts of the local population see the international response as more a source of jobs than medical care? Can international public health efforts develop the trust needed to succeed in such situations if they focus primarily on those diseases seen as a threat to threaten the global North -- Ebola, polio, pandemic flu rather than those that are the biggest killers in the global South - TB, malaria, and HIV? For the Covid-19 pandemic, are public-health officials striking the right balance in the global South between a reliance on technical innovations and the need to develop basic health care? Does that balance shift as we consider future pandemic threats such as anti-microbial resistance? Is the World Health Organization fit for purpose in addressing emerging threats, and if not, what modifications would make it more effective? In particular, what would make the WHO more effective in addressing the instinct of many governments to cover up unusual outbreaks of infectious diseases? For the first time, people understand what public health means, what human rights are, and the relationship between health and human rights. The pandemic has also brought into sharp relief the limitations of our current response --surveillance, contact tracing and vaccinations. This course will examine the international public-health response to a range of humanitarian crises, including those related to outbreaks, armed conflict, natural disaster, and climate change. Other issues it will examine include the politicization of the international response and the role of international organizations such as the World Health Organization and other United Nations agencies, of non-governmental organizations such as International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Doctors without Borders. Students will develop critical thinking and hone communication skills in particular writing skills such as opinion pieces in order to inform and engage in public debate.

MPH6015 Global Environmental Change (Formerly MPH0710)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 1 Climate change is not a single problem, but a lens through which to view myriad changes to our environment that will determine the future for humans on this planet. Changes to biodiversity, hydrological systems, land use, waste management, energy production, distribution of environmental toxicants; these and more are all part of the larger category of global environmental change.

This course will focus on how global environmental change is affecting human health, presenting major challenges to physicians, scientists, institutions, governments and communities. There are solutions, and public health messengers must be informed to bring those solutions to the decision-makers in our neighborhoods and around the world.

MPH6016 Medical Law and Ethical Dilemmas in Health Care (Formerly MPH0713)

Credits: 3 Offered: Fall Human rights abuses are pervasive and have both obvious and subtle health consequences. They also need to be understood from different angles: how they affect individual health (including psychological health) as well as population and community health; how human rights abuses involve ethical, scientific, political, social, and cultural considerations; and how the field of public health can address human rights abuses in multiple ways, including advocacy and testimony, influencing health-related practices, education, documentation and accumulation of data.

This course is designed to raise students' awareness of human rights abuses and their effects on health; to describe how human rights abuses adversely impact health; to introduce the epidemiology of human rights abuses; and to consider how disciplines within Public Health can address (and sometimes participate in) human rights abuses. The course covers the ethical and political foundations of Human Rights, how we know human rights abuses are occurring (especially the epidemiology of human rights abuses), and specific health ramifications of pandemics, torture, forced migration and disparities. In addition, public health implications of human rights abuses will be discussed around special topics: pandemic response, children, gender, human rights law, and the role of health care providers in human rights abuses (from overt examples of participation in torture and genocide to more complex realms where public health imperatives may conflict with human rights, as with some forms of public health surveillance).

MPH6017 Clinical Occupational & Environmental Medicine (Formerly MPH0522)

Credits: 3 Offered: Fall Environmental and occupational exposures known to cause human disease are examined from the public health framework of exposures and etiology, clinical diagnosis, and prevention. Regulatory and other approaches to prevent and reduce exposure will be discussed. Important public health and policy implications of workplace and environmental exposures will be examined. This course can fulfill the MPH 1005 Introduction to Environmental Health course requirement.

The course is targeted toward those training or working in health care, and is limited to residents, physicians and medical students, except with the permission of the Course Director.

This course can be substituted for MPH 1005 (formerly MPH 0500) Introduction to Environmental Health.

MPH6018 Toxicology (Formerly MPH0515)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 2 This course provides an introduction to the major concepts in toxicology with particular emphasis on agents with public health relevance including metals pesticides air pollution drugs of abuse medication and stress. The curriculum is designed to make toxicology accessible to students with broad scientific backgrounds including those outside of the biological science disciplines. Students will learn the basic principles of toxicology as well as review target organs systems contaminants and mechanisms of actions of certain classes of compounds. Specific target organ toxicities will include hepatic renal cardiovascular pulmonary neuronal developmental reproductive and endocrine systems. We will use in-class exercises and small groups to discuss recent publications apply concepts and understand the current knowledge of specific toxicological agents and their effects. This course is designed to present toxicology as an interdisciplinary science in public health.

MPH6019 Communitology (Formerly MPH0525)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 2 Life expectancy on the Upper East Side is 86 years compared to 77 years in East Harlem. Why should this be? This course introduces the learner to the root causes of health disparities confronting resource-poor communities, with particular focuses on children, the environment, and social determinants of health (SDHs).

We cover topics ranging from chemical exposures; qualities of the built environment; the health effects of climate change; and the mechanisms of toxic stress and epigenetics. We cover basic principles of exposure assessment; skills in pediatric environmental exposure history taking; and the adverse effects of environmental exposures on child neurodevelopment. Students learn how to design risk communication strategies for environmental exposures targeted to a specific group of children, access pediatric health reference material, apply state-of-the-art clinical evidence in the formulation of public health policy, and advocate for child health. The course format is participatory, and includes discussing peer-reviewed literature, lectures and clinical case scenarios.

MPH6020 Nutritional Epidemiology (Formerly MPH0401)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring I This course provides an overview of the principles and methods used to assess dietary intake and patterns and nutritional status in epidemiology research. Students will learn to identify and apply rigorous methods for assessing diet and nutritional status in adult and children study populations. Topics covered include methods of dietary assessment and nutritional status in adults and children, methods for controlling for measurement error, misclassification, and bias in nutritional epidemiology studies, and modern nutritional epidemiology applications. Through group class assignments, homework, and a final nutritional epidemiology project, students will also obtain practical skills in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting nutritional data for epidemiologic and clinical research. Pre-requisite: MPH1004 (formerly MP 0400) Introduction to Epidemiology

MPH6021 Zoonoses: An Emerging Public Health Issue (Formerly MPH0010)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 2 Zoonoses diseases transmitted from animals to humans are increasingly being recognized as emerging or re-emerging disease threats to public health. This course will explore the interactions between physicians veterinarians and public health professionals; provide an understanding of the public health consequences of these diseases; and explore preventive measures. Finally we will set the framework for discussions of agents of bioterrorism and the public health response to these threats. The course attracts top speakers from across the country in the fields of public health infectious diseases veterinary medicine and the biomedical sciences. Pre-requisite: MPH0400 Introduction to Epidemiology.

MPH6022 Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (Formerly MPH0410)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 2 Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases builds upon the concepts presented in Introduction to Epidemiology (P400), stressing the importance of considering the host, environment and disease agent in transmission dynamics. The nineteenth and twentieth centuries witnessed advances in prevention, treatment, and study of infectious diseases and the misconception that infectious diseases were disappearing. The study of infectious diseases leads to the continual development of vaccines, antibiotics, and technology, prompting epidemiologists to develop more advanced methods to monitor disease, investigate patterns of disease transmission, and evaluate innovative prevention modalities. The past thirty years have brought to light both new and re-emerging problems in the epidemiology of infectious diseases, including HIV, SARS, avian influenza, arboviruses, antimicrobial resistance, and the threat of bioterrorism. This course will enable students to gain an understanding of the principles of infectious disease epidemiology, including modes of transmission, quantification of occurrence and risk, and methods for preventing disease at the population level. Students will receive a number of disease-specific lectures from public health practitioners who conduct surveillance for and epidemiologic studies on various infectious diseases. Students will also participate in classroom exercises, during which they will investigate an outbreak, create surveillance plans, present evidence of a disease threat, and recommend prevention and control measures. Pre-requisites: MPH1004 (formerly MPH0400) Introduction to Epidemiology MPH1002 (formerly MPH0300) Introduction to Biostatistics

MPH6024 Epidemiology of Cancer & Chronic Diseases (Formerly MPH0416)

Credits: 3 Offered: Fall The course will cover substantive and methodological issues in the epidemiology of chronic diseases, including cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging. Students will be presented with examples of descriptive and analytical epidemiology studies in each of these areas; aspects such as disease registration and its contribution to epidemiology research, estimates of attributable fractions, and preventive strategies will be also addressed. The course will complement the series of methodological courses offered within the epidemiology track, by providing a framework to incorporate research in chronic disease etiology and control.

Pre-requisites: MPH1004 (formerly MPH0400) Introduction to Epidemiology MPH2000 (formerly MPH0412) Epidemiology II

MPH6025 Mental Health in the Modern Age

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 1 Mental health is a critical component for high quality of life. Poor mental health is in and of itself aversive, and can lead to poor physical health and in some cases even death. The purpose of this course is to develop understanding modern conceptualizations of mental health on a population level. This will be accomplished by: studying mental health within the context of its historical perspectives, providing foundational learning on the major classifications of mental health disorders and their impact on society, and providing insights into what is, and what factors lead to, “good” or positive mental health.

Pre-requisite: MPH1004 Introduction to Epidemiology

MPH6026 Reproductive & Perinatal Epidemiology (Formerly MPH0418)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 1 In this course we will study the epidemiology of human reproductive function, pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes and the methodologic issues involved in studying these. Topics include: basic biology of male and female reproduction, male and female infertility, pregnancy outcomes, assisted reproduction, and factors (environmental, social and occupational) that impact reproductive function and pregnancy outcomes.

Pre-requisite: MPH1004 (formerly MPH0400) Introduction to Epidemiology

MPH6027 Big Data Epidemiology: Introduction to OMICS Research (Formerly MPH0422)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 2 Omics is an emerging multidisciplinary and rapidly evolving field that has started to impact both clinical practice and public health and holds promise to significantly improve precision medicine. Omics encompasses many molecular biology domains including genomics epigenomics transcriptomics proteomics metabolomics and exposomics. These molecular domains can offer a more nuanced perspective on how multiple exposures (e.g. environmental lifestyle social factors) affect health compared with traditional research approaches. However omics datasets are large (tens of thousands of variables or more) resulting in analytical challenges that require adaptation of existing epidemiology designs and methods. This course will provide an overview of omics research areas and applications latest omics epidemiology advances and hands-on training in big omics data analysis.

Pre-requisites: MPH2000 (formerly MPH0412) Epidemiology II MPH1002 (formerly MPH0300) Introduction to Biostatistics MPH2002 (formerly MPH0812) Applied Linear Models I

Recommended: BIO6300 Introduction to R Programming

MPH6028 Epidemiology IV (Formerly MPH0425)

Credits: 3 Offered: Fall This advanced course in epidemiology is built around the overarching themes of the contribution of epidemiology to causal inference, and strategies for selection of study populations, prevention, control and quantitative assessment of bias, and options in study design and statistical analysis. Pre-requisites: MPH1004 (formerly MPH0400) Introduction to Epidemiology MPH2000 (formerly MPH0412) Epidemiology II MPH2001 (formerly MPH0420) Epidemiology III

MPH6029 Introduction to Probability (Formerly MPH0801)

Credits: 3 Offered: Fall This course provides an introduction to probability models emphasizing applications in medicine and biology. In addition to presenting basic probability theory and models, a variety of topics important in statistics will be covered, including: random variables; discrete and continuous probability distributions; conditional probability, joint probability, expectation and variance; independence; sampling distributions, combinatorics, and permutations.

MPH6030 Statistical Computing with SAS (Formerly MPH0802)

Credits: 2 Offered: Fall This course provides students with the skills needed to utilize SAS systems for data management in order to prepare datasets for statistical analysis. In addition, procedures that are used to conduct basic statistical analyses and produce graphical output will be covered. Students will be given hands-on training using sample data provided by the instructor as well as (optionally) data from their own work. Recommended Pre-requisite: MPH1002 (formerly MPH0300) Introduction to Biostatistics

MPH6031 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods (Formerly MPH0305)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 1 Qualitative research involves the collection and rigorous analysis of observations, interviews, and other records of human activity so that we can come to a richer understanding of structures, processes, and perspectives that drive or shape human behavior, particularly when it comes to health. This course is designed to introduce students to qualitative research methods and will use a combination of didactic, interactive, and applied techniques to teach knowledge and skills relevant to qualitative research. The course emphasizes practical skills of qualitative research design, data collection (i.e., interviewing, focus group facilitation) and data analysis. By the end of the course students will develop skills in how to formulate appropriate qualitative research questions, determine which qualitative data collection method is most appropriate, collect qualitative data using interviews and focus group discussions, and analyze qualitative data. Students will be exposed to different styles of presenting qualitative research results and will consider different ways in which qualitative data is used in practice.

MPH6032 Public Health Lab: How to Solve Problems in Public Health (Formerly MPH0012)

Credits: 3 Offered: Fall How do we turn public health theory into meaningful change in the world? How can you do the most good for the problem you care about? The answers exist! This course will review fundamental concepts in public health practice and translation into successful actions. These concepts and practices can guide program and policy developments in the service of helping populations, and they accommodate variables including the scope of the efforts, the level of involvement of the population, the utilization of other stakeholders and the sustainability of the efforts. Students will develop their own advocacy project proposals. Empowering other people starts with empowering oneself.

Pre-requisite: Completion of 1-2 terms in the Program.

MPH6033 AI in Public Health (Formerly MPH0022)

Credits: 3 Offered: Fall This course will use a journal club-style to introduce students to the rapidly evolving applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in public health research and practice. Through critical reading, presentation and discussion of state-of-the-art peer-reviewed articles of original studies and reviews, students will critically evaluate and discuss the opportunities, limitations, risks, ethical implications, and current and future applications of AI methods and tools such as machine learning and natural language processing in public health research, disease surveillance, global health strategies, public health data analysis, and public health education and communication.

MPH6034 Geographic Information Systems in Public Health (Formerly MPH0005)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 1 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Public Health is a hands-on course designed to introduce students to GIS from a public health perspective. Students will learn the fundamentals of health geography, spatial analysis, and ESRI’s ArcGIS software through lectures, discussions, lab exercises, quizzes, a final exam, and a final paper. The course exercises are designed to provide students with an opportunity to begin investigating spatial distribution of, and relationships among, environmental, demographic, and health data.

Note: access to a windows environment (e.g., laptop running windows or a Mac with a windows emulator) is necessary for the lab assignments

MPH6035 Digital Transformation in Healthcare and Medical Research with Integrity (Formerly MPH0017)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 2 The ways that medical professionals and healthcare systems use technology not only shape who they serve but also the quality of care that patients receive. How practitioners deploy technologies in day-to-day care and crises is critical to preserving the public’s trust in the field, which in turn is essential for effective public-health initiatives and population health interventions. At the same time, extensive research has demonstrated the propensity of digital and predictive tools to exacerbate existing forms of healthcare inequality. This is not a class in data analysis methods, nor will it offer instruction in how to build healthcare tools with existing or projected digital technologies. Instead, this class will guide students in exploring what ‘good’ looks like for digital technology deployment in medicine. What knowledge and skills do emerging medical professionals need in order to participate in articulating and operationalizing digital systems for medicine that strengthen, rather than undermine, their duties as health practitioners? This gateway course provides an overview of decision-making and strategic planning surrounding digital tools for medical and public health professionals. Learning through a mix of scholarly and journalistic readings, guided discussions, and instructor and guest lectures, students will be introduced to three critical areas of digital transformation in the practice of medicine: (1) the role of communication technologies in intermediating access to medical information and services; (2) the use, and re-use of data collected through medical care, especially using third-party platforms such as electronic health records (3) the implications of the adoption of machine earning tools in healthcare provision Across these themes, this entirely new course will prepare students to understand the implications of the digital transformation of medicine and research and navigate their core duties as health professionals by equipping them with a set of analytic tools and critical knowledge that situate digital tools and services for implementation science and influence health policy at a high level. This unique course is open to medical students (years 1-4), Master of Public Health, Master of Health Administration and the Health Care Delivery Leadership Program in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

MPH6036 Strategic & Program Management (Formerly MPH0103)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 2 This course is an introduction to understanding; the competencies, roles and responsibilities of public health and health managers; health organizations, which are complex and changing in response to community needs and to changing environments; the skills required to establish and maintain organizational culture and organizational change; and talent and team management. Through readings, class discussion and the analysis of case studies, students, will have an opportunity to explore and identify key management and leadership challenges impacting public health and health; formulate and evaluate alternative solutions to problems; learn verbally and in writing to present analysis of managerial plans and proposals. The course will emphasize skill development in the management of mission, strategy, operations and the business aspects of health organizations.

MPH6037 Healthcare in Communities and the Public Sector (Formerly MPH0104)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 2 A major focus of this class is on understanding how community life and health are related. Students will learn how to analyze communities compare data regarding the health status of communities and to compare selected communities to each other. Case material will be used to emphasize the multiple ways one can assist communities as a whole and those at risk for health problems. Exemplars will be offered by guest lecturers involved in community change. Social and economic factors will be identified that affect community health status.

MPH6038 Health Economics (Formerly MPH0105)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 1 Cross listed as MHA 1005 Health Care Economics. The intent of this course is to train future public health practitioners on the economic and political questions that emerge in the process of developing health systems. The various sessions during the course will review core economic principles applied to the role of governments, the private sector and the competitive marketplace. The course will provide an overview of traditional microeconomic theory and practice as applied to demand, supply, competition, monopoly, and social welfare. It will drill down on topics such as role of governments, private sector, market competition, government failure and market failure. Special sessions will be devoted to topics on clinical services, non-clinical services, the health care workforce, health financing, the health related manufacturing sectors (pharmaceuticals, medical technology and information technology) and leadership/health management. Special attention will be paid to the implication of the Covid 19 crisis for the economic function and performance of health care system and its major components. The major course output will be guided, semester-long exercises in analyzing and developing strategic development plans from a public health professional’s perspective to guide political and economic decision making. The focus on health systems is a concrete means to understand the more general competencies involved in the application of economic analysis, which include political, financial, technical and organizational skills. The course will link to the ongoing health care reform debate to help participants understand the underlying economic issues raised by the reforms.

MPH6039 Accounting & Budgeting for Public Health Administration (Formerly MPH0107)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 2 Cross listed as MHA 1007 Budgeting and Financial Essentials. Financial statements enable managers to evaluate the performance of an organization and assess its financial position. Budgets based on forecasts take the form of projected statements and serve as an important managerial tool for planning and control purposes. This course provides an introduction the accounting budgeting and financial reporting techniques commonly used in the health care and not-for-profit environment. Emphasis is placed on enabling students to become comfortable with financial analysis budgets and commonly-used financial terminology so that they can effectively address financial matters they will encounter in leadership roles in health care and not-for-profit organizations.

MPH6040 Comparative Health Systems (Formerly MPH0108)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 1 The recent introduction of the Affordable Health Care Act and further proposed reforms under the American Health Care Act has had and will continue to have a major impact on the delivery of healthcare in the USA. The course will review major trends in health care in the US and use a comparative health systems approach to explore reform options based on what has worked well and not so well in both the USA and other OECD countries like the UK, France Germany, Canada, and Australia. The course will explore each country’s geography and culture, the history of its health system, followed by a detailed analysis of evaluation of cost, quality, access and innovation. The courses is designed to be accessible by students of health administration, public health, nursing and other allied health professions. A major course output will be a guided, semester-long exercises in analyzing a health system. Students select a term project for expanding coverage for poor and vulnerable populations in a sample country of their choice. The course will use a health systems approach to strengthen more general competencies in the application of systems analysis, using political, financial, technical and organizational skills. The course will be particularly useful for students that may want to transition to a high level policy career or executive leadership and management role within health system.

MPH6041 Organizational Behavior & Human Resources (Formerly MPH0111)

Credits: 3 Offered: Spring 1 Human resource management in health organizations and the relationship between HR, organizational strategy, and organizational behavior is the focus of this course. We will analyze human work behavior at the individual, interpersonal, team and organizational levels. Included are topics such as motivation, communication, group and team dynamics, leadership, decision-making, job and organization design, conflict management, organizational culture and identity, and organizational change. We will apply organizational behavior theory and explore the factors that affect behavior, performance, and job satisfaction of people working in organizations. The objectives of the course will be to understand the characteristics and processes of work organizations; to successfully develop management skills; to apply the skills of management and impact organizational behavior and performance.

MPH6042 Managed Care & Healthcare Reform (Formerly MPH0120)

Credits: 3 Offered: Fall Cross listed as MHA 2005 Population Health and Managed Care.

Following a brief survey of the 3000 year history of insurance, the course will focus on health insurance and reform in this country before examining the variety of techniques used by managed care organizations and various national health systems to balance health expenditures, access and quality of healthcare. Through weekly Socratic-type discussions about contemporary healthcare controversies, the course will help develop students’ critical thinking about health policy alternatives and managerial decision-making. Feedback on short weekly essays, student presentations, and a final essay will help students improve their written and presentation skills.

MPH6043 Journal Club for Health Professionals (Formerly MPH0411)

Credits: 1 Offered: Full Year Course (only register in Fall) This intermediate level Journal Club builds upon the Introductory Journal Club, training students in the presentation of articles relevant to the public health specialties of environmental, occupational and preventive medicine. Each student will be assigned a week to be responsible for selecting and presenting an article relevant to their area of specialization. The student may decide to invite a Mount Sinai faculty expert in the particular topic to provide additional commentary on the article. Prior to class, all students are required to read the article and complete a short critique form. All students are expected to participate in class discussions. Pre-requisites: Students must be residents in either the Preventive Medicine or Occupational and Environmental Medicine residency programs at ISMMS. Others must obtain approval of the course director to enroll.

MPH6044 Seminar in Applied Preventive Medicine (Formerly MPH 0021

Credits: 1 Offered: Fall This weekly seminar focuses on current local, national, and international issues in public health and preventive medicine. Discussions center on critical review of new published literature in public health and include topics related to health policy, economic and legal issues, and the impact of these issues on the health of populations. There will be didactics on public health ethics, risk communications and preventive medicine research as well as critical review of enrolled student research or theses. On a rotating basis, each student is responsible for setting the agenda and chairing seminar discussions.

MPH6045 Public Health Conference (Formerly MPH0795)

Credits: 1 Offered: Spring 2 The Public Health Conference provides students with the opportunity to delve deeper into public health topics presented at the annual Public Health Research Day at ISMMS. Students will be required to attend and be active participants during the full day of events, which includes a keynote lecture, oral presentations, poster sessions, and networking opportunities. Course requirements include a 2-page reflection paper and a critical analysis of 3 poster presentations.

MPH6048 Independent Study for Public Health

Credits: 1-3 Offered: Fall, Spring 1, Spring 2 An Independent Study can be valued at one, two, or three credits. Each credit represents approximately 45 hours of work. Three credits are the maximum number of credits that may be awarded to any Independent Study. Please note that while the total hours committed to the pursuit of the Independent Study may be sufficient for more than three credits or more than one elective, students will not receive any more than three credits for one project/course of study.

An Independent Study is an elective option, providing the student with an opportunity to delve more thoroughly into an area of public health that is of specific interest to him/her. An Independent Study must be a unique experience. Material covered during an independent study project should be highly targeted and not simply a review of the regularly offered coursework. Each student may complete no more than two independent study projects. Eligibility - Students with more than one outstanding Incomplete at the time of the proposal submission may not be eligible to complete an Independent Study. Restrictions - It is important to note that independent study projects should not be attempts to take MPH courses that are offered routinely during the academic year at times that are more convenient for the student. Independent study projects cannot exempt students from core course requirements. Steps towards formalizing an Independent Study Identify and meet with your Faculty Sponsor to discuss and plan the Independent Study. Complete the Independent Study Proposal Form. Submit the Independent Study Form to the Academic Program Office for approval. Once approved, complete the project/course of study. Complete the Independent Study Postscript Report. Request that your Faculty Sponsor review the Postscript Report and complete the Independent Study Evaluation Form. Submit completed Postscript Report and Evaluation form to the Academic Program Officer.

MPH6049 Maintenance of Matriculation (Formerly MPH8001)

Credits: 0 Offered: Fall, Spring 1, Spring 2 To maintain matriculation, students must either register for at least one credit-bearing course or register for MPH6049 Maintenance of Matriculation for every term up until degree conferral. Maintenance of Matriculation allows students continued eligibility to earn their degree while not pursuing coursework. The MPH6049 Maintenance of Matriculation registration is $333 per term for students in trimester programs. Please see the full Maintenance of Matriculation policy in the Student Handbook.

MPH6050 Project Continuation

Credits: 0 Offered: Fall, Spring 1, Spring 2 Register for Project Continuation if you are continuing your Culminating Experience project for more than 1 term, working full time on this effort. You can only register in the term following MPH 9002 (formerly MPH0097) Culminating Experience registration.