Translating Evidence into Policy

3 units

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to several key concepts at the interface between evidence, public health, and policy. Policies, often those outside the health sector, have well-documented, powerful, and sustained effects on population health and health equity. This course covers the epidemiologic basis, types of evidence, theories, study designs, disciplinary contributions, methods of communication, and current challenges and controversies in health policy. The course uses a problem-solving framework that embraces both vertical (cells to society) and horizontal (multiple disciplinary concepts and methods) transdisciplinary. In this course, we intentionally use multiple teaching methods and expect you to pursue various types of learning. To address real-world, contemporary public health challenges, the course content will be covered through readings, individual and team-based learning, case studies, lectures, debates, and discussions. The faculty teaching the course have diverse backgrounds, including epidemiology, policy, economics, business, medicine, and education. We aim to develop both your practical skills (e.g., crafting an elevator speech) and your analytical skills (e.g., composing a policy paper). We expect you to take the initiative and participate actively in class discussions and debates. A goal of this course is to further develop your oral and written communication skills.