Rural Health Disparities and Social Inequities Certificate Program Launches This Fall
Offered by the UMES School of Pharmacy, the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Rural Health Disparities and Social Inequities is a fully online program that is ideal for those who desire a flexible schedule. It is designed to help students develop, implement, and evaluate services or programs that address rural health disparities. The goals of the certificate program are to: 1) Equip graduates with foundational knowledge about factors that contribute to rural health disparities and social inequities, including Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and its impacts on key diseases in rural areas; 2) Prepare graduates to develop policies that advance rural health and health equity; and 3) Prepare graduates to develop, implement, and evaluate programs that address rural health disparities and social inequities based on needs assessment. The certificate program consists of four, 3-credit courses, and can be completed in one year. Each course is eight weeks in duration including: • RUHD 501: Foundations of Rural Health, Health Disparities, Social Inequities, and Health Behaviors (3 credits) – This course will explore the landscape of rural health in America, define key terms and topics related to rural health, explore critical issues in rural health disparities and social inequities, and introduce health behavior theories and models. It will also examine factors including cultural influences, racism, and health disparities that result in poor health outcomes within rural, medically underserved populations. (No prerequisite) • RUHD 502: Advancing and Advocating for Rural Health Policy and Program Development (3 credits) – This course will explore today’s major rural health policy issues in historical, economical, social, and political contexts within local, national, and international scenarios. It will equip students with tools to conduct needs assessments, analyze policy as well as plan, implement, and evaluate programs through an interdisciplinary approach. Students will gain the skills for engaging rural community stakeholders. (Prerequisite: RUHD 501)
• RUHD 503: Achieving Rural Health and Social Equity – Strategies for Addressing Social Determinants of Health, Contributing Factors, and Key Diseases (3 credits) – This course will examine rural health disparities, discuss the constructs and significance of social determinants of health (SDOH), assess the range of barriers and enablers that contribute to key disease states in rural areas, and explore the strategies for addressing the SDOH. (Prerequisite: RUHD 501) • RUHD 504: Rural Health and Health Equity Capstone Project (3 credits) – The course will provide students with real-world experience that applies the content areas from the program to develop, implement, and evaluate a program aimed at addressing social inequities and achieving rural health equity as part of the capstone project. It will integrate critical thinking skills, cultural competence training, research strategies, applications of public health functions and services, as well as health behavior theories and models in a final capstone project. (Prerequisites: RUHD 501, RUHD 502, RUHD 503) The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Rural Health Disparities and Social Inequities is led by program director Dr. Miriam Purnell with faculty members Dr. Rondall Allen, Yen Dang, Nkem Nonyel, and Hoai-An Truong. Its first cohort began in Fall 2021 and is designed to admit a maximum of 15 students for an individualized learning experience. The program is open to a broad range of professionals to include, but not limited to, health department personnel, legislative staff with responsibility for rural health disparities, and health care professionals. Graduate students, fellows, and faculty with an interest in health disparities and social inequities are also encouraged to apply at: https://gradapply.umes.edu/
UMES RxTIMES > Fall 2021
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