Global Health: Ebola, COVID, and Beyond (edX)

The world continues to grow smaller, with international travel, a global economy, and a changing environment contributing to the emergence of new diseases and the spread of existing ones. Understanding these connections -- and how they impact the farthest reaches of the globe – is becoming an essential skill in international development, humanitarian assistance, business and commerce, and at all levels of healthcare.

The 2003 SARS outbreak and the 2013-2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa focused the world’s attention on global health. A Toronto medical center and Dallas hospital were far removed from the outbreaks of SARS in China and Ebola in Guinea, yet those diseases arrived and created crises within these facilities and beyond. COVID-19 is an ongoing pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 that disrupted global social and economic order and highlighted the importance of joint public health and humanitarian efforts for containment and knowledge exchange again. Research has shown that health security contributes to civil order, economic growth, and stable governments. It has also demonstrated that every nation bears the economic and human burden of disease, illness, and injury.

The director general of the World Health Organization, multiple world leaders, and innumerable health authorities have called for greater awareness and leadership in global health. That journey begins here.

What you'll learn

- Why local health issues affect us globally

- What influences a society’s health

- How multidisciplinary teams address global health

- Which organizations contribute to global health

- What SARS, Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19 have taught us

Syllabus

Week 1: Perspectives on Global Health

Week 2: Age and Gender Health Disparities

Week 3: Monitoring Global Health

Week 4: Global Health Law and Ethics

Week 5: Mass Violence and Climate Change

Week 6: Management of Global Health Services