From Health Disparities to Health Equity
Course Description
What factors contribute to health disparities? How can we achieve more equitable health and access for all populations in the United States? Explore the answers with Prof. Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins, whose tools and techniques are supplemented by course materials originally designed by Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, former president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and conversations with guests who have direct experience in influencing policy. Through case studies and policy analyses, examine health equity within the context of population health, identify the social factors that influence the health of individuals and populations, and design strategies for improving health equity.
Specific course topics include:
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the underlying factors in health care disparities
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the interconnected roles of social determinants of health, including transportation, social environment, and housing
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diversity and inclusion, and how to engage in initial and continued conversations around health disparities and health equity
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cultivating partnerships for health equity
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examples of program and policy interventions
Course Guests:
- Daniel E. Dawes, JD, author, scholar, educator, and leader in the health equity, health reform, and mental health movements, and Executive Director at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute
at Morehouse School of Medicine - Wendell Pritchett, JD, PhD, civic and academic leader, Interim President of the University of Pennsylvania
- Dwayne Proctor, PhD, Senior Adviser to the President at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Donald F. Schwarz, MD, MPH, a nationally recognized leader in public health and children’s health care, and Senior Vice President, Program, at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Ashley McEvoy, executive sponsor of the Open & Out LGBTQ employee resource group, and Executive Vice President, Worldwide Chairman, Medical Devices, Johnson & Johnson
This course is designed to help you address questions such as:
- What is the link between disparities and equity?
- What techniques can improve access to health care?
- How do you have initial and continued conversations about health equity?
- How do you reduce structural inequities?
- What tools can you use to move equity to action within your organization?
Course Structure and Delivery
Expect to watch brief videos, read provided articles, interact with classmates in written discussions, apply course concepts and practice skills through exercises, and prepare a final deliverable.
Plan to spend 6–8 hours per week on coursework. Course weeks run Tuesday through Monday and coursework is asynchronous (there are no live sessions). The course is organized to build your skills each week culminating in your final project deliverables. To be successful in this course, actively engage with ideas presented to you in the course each week, and with those offered by your classmates.
Health care leaders and clinicians who want to play a transformative role in their communities. Forge partnerships to influence policy and improve population health.
Organizational leadership committed to improving equity and health outcomes in their professional practice and organization. Engage in initial and ongoing conversations to create measurable initiatives that impact health outcomes.
Community leaders and policy makers interested in achieving more equitable health across populations by addressing social factors. Design strategies for potential policy solutions.
LECTURE VIDEO SAMPLE: A lesson about equity from the course From Health Disparities to Health Equity, by Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins, PhD.
Course Faculty
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