MCLIN 290 - L2 HEALTH POLICY ELECTIVE

[30 Hours]

MCLIN 290 - L2 Health Policy Elective- builds on student experiences and coursework completed as a L1 in MCLIN 190. The L1 experience along with the coursework in MCLIN 290 will further develop foundational skills to ethically apply evidence from research (e. g., epidemiological studies to define a problem, economic evaluation to quantify feasibility) to formulate and analyze health policies. The coursework is intended to build knowledge on how to use analytical policy frameworks for defining and developing criteria-based (e. g., decision analysis) recommendations for solv1ng health and social determinants of health problems that Influence health. Particular emphasis will be placed on introducing students to literature on the role of ethics and ethical frameworks for policy formulation and analysis. Policy agenda setting and advocacy skills are acquired through coursework on techniques for health policy and issue brief development and publication. Of principal importance to the elective is drawing on involvement while in D.C., New Orleans, or Baton Rouge in hearings, briefings, or conferences that I provide experiences to support acquiring knowledge about policy formulation, research, and analysis. Collectively, these experiences advance knowledge about the essential public health role in policy. It will advance an understanding of the context in which healthcare is delivered and how policy can influence health improvements beyond the individual but in the health of populations. Examples of existing policies to illustrate this includes those for regulating reportable diseases, quality and safety, access to care, smoking, healthcare financing, or immunizations. Students will complete the elective with the tools needed to undertake the analytical processes for development of the 20-page policy or issue brief and journal paper required in MCLIN 490- a requirement to graduate with Honors in Health Policy. Topics of the policy research and analysis must be approved in advance by the course director.