Public Health Professor: Dr. Seema Yasmin Course Description Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes Required Textbooks and Materials

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1 Public Health HLTH : Special Topics in Healthcare Mondays and Wednesdays 1:00 2:15 p.m., ECSN Spring 2015 Professor: Dr. Seema Yasmin Office: HH Phone: Office hours: By appointment Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions: None. Course Description Using real-world examples, this course will provide an overview of the fundamentals of public health, including its history and development. Contemporary public health issues and controversies will be explored in the areas of infectious diseases, chronic diseases, substance abuse, environmental health, occupational diseases and mental health. This course will describe the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States, Texas and globally and the public health interventions used to address them. The daily monitoring of diseases and the statistical methods used to analyze health data will be discussed. Recent epidemics will be used to highlight these methods. Public health is both a science and an art and there are often no correct answers when we look for solutions to public health problems. Students are expected to actively and respectfully engage in class discussions. Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes There are specific learning objectives for each class. Please see the objectives in the class schedule and objectives section below. Required Textbooks and Materials And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts Zoobiquity by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc Suggested Course Materials High Price: A Neuroscientist's Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society by Carl Hart Life on the Outside by Jennifer Gonnerman Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing by Ted Conover House on Fire: The fight to eliminate smallpox by William H. Foege

2 Class schedule and objectives January 12: What is public health? List five differences between public health and medical care Describe the origins of modern day epidemiology and public health List the top 10 public health achievements made in the last 100 years January 14: How to stop an outbreak: part 1 Explain the ten steps of an outbreak investigation Use examples to describe the difference between point source outbreaks, continuous source outbreaks and propagated outbreaks Define and provide examples of the following terms: endemic, epidemic, pandemic List two diseases where just one case of the disease constitutes an outbreak January 21: How to stop an outbreak: part 2 Explain the ten steps of an outbreak investigation Use examples to describe the difference between point source outbreaks, continuous source outbreaks and propagated outbreaks Define and provide examples of the following terms: endemic, epidemic, pandemic List two diseases where just one case of the disease constitutes an outbreak January 26: Tropical Texas List four tropical diseases found in Texas Describe the epidemiology of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the U.S. and globally Explain why some tropical diseases are neglected Describe the economic impact of NTDs Explain the biggest risk factor for NTDs January 28: Environmental health Explain the health impact of lead poisoning Using the example of lead-contaminated water in Washington DC from 2001 to 2004, explain how water safety is regulated in the U.S. Explain the impact and controversy surrounding endocrine disruptors Describe the public health role of the Environmental Protection Agency February 2: The prescription painkiller epidemic Describe the changing epidemiology of legal and illegal drug overdose deaths in Texas and the U.S. Explain how the classification of a drug as schedule I, II or III impacts its use and abuse List the laws that aim to prevent injury and death from drug overdose Explain the role of doctors in managing the prescription painkiller epidemic February 4: Intro to epidemiology Define epidemiology Describe how epidemiology was used to find a link between cigarette smoking and lung

3 cancer Explain the strengths and limitations of field epidemiology Construct an epidemic curve with data from an outbreak Calculate and define the following: prevalence and incidence February 9: Epidemiologic studies Use examples to explain the difference between prospective and retrospective epidemiologic studies Define the following types of studies: case-control, cohort, cross-sectional Calculate and interpret the following: odds ratio, relative risk and attributable risk Define the following term: confounding factor February 11: Problem-solving workshop February 16: The obesity epidemic Describe the demographics of the obesity epidemic in the U.S. and globally List the immediate and long-term effects of obesity on children and adults Explain the paradox of malnutrition and obesity Explain socioeconomic status as a predictor of obesity Describe local and broader interventions to reduce the obesity epidemic February 18: What will kill you? Describe the three points of the epidemiologic infectious disease causation triangle List 10 determinants of health Explain how socioeconomic status impacts health List the top five causes of morbidity and mortality in Texas, the U.S. and globally Use examples to explain primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention Discussion: Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc February 23: How to spot an outbreak (surveillance) Describe the difference between active surveillance and passive surveillance List five diseases that are reportable conditions in the state of Texas List five diseases that are nationally notifiable conditions Explain how surveillance data is used in public health List the strengths and limitations of eight key data sources used in surveillance Name at least four national public health data sets February 25: Clinical trials List the four phases of a clinical trial Describe the concept of a double blinded randomized clinical trial Explain the five types of bias found in epidemiologic studies Describe the null and alternative hypothesis Explain the difference between a type I and type II error Explain and interpret p values and confidence intervals March 2: Midterm exam

4 March 4: Zoonotic diseases List 10 examples of zoonotic diseases Explain the concept of animal reservoirs of disease Describe the transmission of Ebola, rabies, Hantavirus and West Nile Virus Explain the public health term/campaign: One Health Describe the role of veterinarians in public health Discussion: Zoobiquity by Barabara Natterson-Horowitz March 9: Vector-borne diseases Use examples to list the different modes of disease transmission Explain the chain of transmission List five examples of vector-borne diseases Describe the global burden of malaria Explain the demographic impact of malaria Describe the emergence and evolution of West Nile Virus in the United States March 11: The HIV/AIDS epidemic: Explain how the HIV/AIDS epidemic was initially investigated List key points in the epidemic timeline Describe early methods used to prevent the spread of HIV Describe the role of the media in the epidemic Discussion: And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts March 23: The HIV/AIDS epidemic: Explain how the HIV/AIDS epidemic was initially investigated List key points in the epidemic timeline Describe early methods used to prevent the spread of HIV Describe the role of the media in the epidemic Discussion: And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts March 25: Is this diagnostic test good enough? Use 2x2 tables to compare test results with the actual presence of disease Use the HIV testing process to explain the difference between sensitivity and specificity Explain the following terms: positive predictive value and negative predictive value List the World Health Organization s 10 guidelines for disease screening Describe the controversies surrounding screening for cervical and breast cancer Explain the Field of Dreams Effect March 30: Prisoner health is public health Describe the demographics of the U.S. prison population List three health conditions that disproportionately affect prisoners Explain the challenges of investigating a disease outbreak in a prison Describe the controversy and evidence for condom distribution and needle exchange programs in prisons

5 April 1: Mental health Describe the epidemiology of mental illness in the developed world and the U.S. Explain how outbreaks of suicide are investigated Describe how mental illnesses are influenced by environmental factors Explain the challenges inherent to mental health prevention strategies April 6: Vaccine-preventable diseases Describe recent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases in Texas and the U.S. Explain the concepts of herd immunity and cocooning Explain factors for the re-emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases Describe the controversy surrounding mandatory vaccination of school children and healthcare providers Explain the differences between disease elimination and eradication April 8: Public health of American Indians and Alaska Natives Describe the demographics of American Indian and Alaska Native populations Explain why death rates from H1N1 flu in 2009 were four times higher among American Indians and Alaska Natives Explain how sovereign nations work with federal, state and local public health agencies April 13: Tuberculosis Describe the epidemiology of TB globally and in the U.S. Describe risk factors for TB Explain the difference between latent TB infection and TB disease Describe the role of Directly Observed Therapy in the management of TB April 15: Occupational health Describe the epidemiology of workplace injuries and fatalities in Texas and the U.S. Describe the roles of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Explain how outbreaks of workplace-related injuries or deaths are investigated Describe the epidemiology of coal worker s pneumoconiosis in the U.S. April 20: Whose responsibility is it to protect the public s health? Explain the role and limitations of federal, state and local governments in protecting the public s health Describe the role of international public health agencies List non-governmental organizations that respond to public health emergencies Describe the roles of the various individuals on an outbreak investigation team Describe training pathways for careers in public health List public health training opportunities for undergraduates April 22: Problem-solving workshop April 27: War, violence and public health List five ways in which conflict and war impacts public health

6 Describe the epidemiology of gun-related deaths and injury in the U.S. Describe the history of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collecting and analyzing data about injuries and deaths from guns Explain the role of public health in addressing domestic violence Describe the epidemiology of intimate partner violence in the U.S. April 29 - Final exam Grading Policy The grade will be based on class participation, a midterm exam, and a final. For the class participation grade, come to every class prepared to speak for one minute on a topical public health issue. For example, you could talk about a current disease outbreak, a new treatment, technology or policy that you believe will impact public health. You can also pose one question on your chosen topic to your classmates. Each class, one or two students will be asked to talk about their chosen public health topic and engage their fellow students in a discussion. Class Participation 10% Midterm exam 20% (March 2) Final exam 70% (April 29) Grades are assigned as follows: A % A 92-95% A % B % B 80-83% B % C % C 68-71% C % D % D 56-59% D % F 0-51% Course & Instructor Policies Make-up Exams: No make-up exams will be allowed except in the case of a medical condition or family emergency. In the case of a medical condition, a doctor s note is necessary. Extra Credit: There will be no extra credit work assigned for this course. Class Attendance: Highly recommended. Classroom Citizenship: I expect you to actively participate in class discussions. UT Dallas Syllabus Policies and Procedures The information contained in the following link constitutes the University s policies and procedures segment of the course syllabus. Please go to for these policies. The descriptions and timelines contained in this syllabus are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.