Global Learning Courses
IDH 3034 and IDH 3035: Bridging the Distance Between Us: A Practical, Multidisciplinary Introduction to the Social Determinants of Health
In this two-semester honors course, I learned foundational elements of public health, along with identifying major local, national, and international challenges related to health disparities. We discussed the social determinants of health and how that impacts not only the individual’s health, but the community’s public health. Throughout both semesters, we conducted research and actively discussed topics in adolescent health, chronic and infectious diseases, global health, women’s health, and disaster preparedness. We explored global perspectives by finding ways how health disparities are expressed in literature, film, and music. Therefore, I analyzed the lyrics of the song “The Challenge of Crossing Niagara Falls on a Bicycle” by Juan Luis Guerra. Also, I conducted research on the impacts of childhood asthma, and I reflected with my very own experience of overcoming asthma. This heightened my global awareness on the impact in the quality of life of children fighting asthma. In the second semester, our goal was to plan and execute a service-learning project in our community targeting a public health issue, which enhanced my global engagement. I collaborated with classmates to spread childhood obesity awareness and we implemented a seminar in an elementary school to enlighten children about the dangers of obesity. Throughout the active seminar, we conducted a science experiment, learned how to read food labels, and even did an exercise workout. Overall, this two-semester course heightened my understanding of public health at a local and global level.
Highlighted Assignments
IDH 3034 and 3035: Challenges in Healthcare
In this two-semester honors course, I learned to understand the role of the physician and healthcare systems in the context of the local, national, and global community. In addition, through the discussion of healthcare systems, health policy, research, public health, and the social determinants of health, I became globally aware of the challenges people face in obtaining healthcare worldwide. Throughout the semesters, we also discussed intercultural issues in medicine, especially when it comes down to alternative/complementary medicines that is widely practiced in certain cultures. In the first semester, we expanded our global perspective by analyzing zip codes in our neighboring communities and researching their health risks, social determinants of health, and came up with solutions to alleviate some of these burdens through health policy. In the second semester, we explored infectious diseases like Dengue, which affects many countries in the world. Overall, this two-semester course heightened my interest in global health policy and expanded my cultural competence to understand patients from every walk of life.
Highlighted Assignments
SYG 2000: Sociology
In this course, I explored the relationship between the individual and society. Specifically, we looked how society is organized, functions, and discovered social functions that affect human behavior. Concepts such as globalization, social class, healthcare, stratification, and global inequity expanded my global awareness and perspective.
