CEHDR faculty offer undergraduate and graduate courses to UCI students. Please check the UCI schedule of classes for offerings of:
The primary goal of this course is to understand the fundamental causes of health disparities to maximize strategies to improve prevention, intervention, and care to diverse populations across multiple care settings. Clinical care, genes and biology combined, account for 20% of variation in population health status. The remaining 80% of determinants that create or contribute to health inequities is accounted for by environmental (10%), social determinants of health (40%) and health behavioral factors (30%). This course is designed to support students in designing actionable steps toward alleviating disproportionate health outcomes by utilizing the Political Determinants of Health (PDOH) framework. At the conclusion of the course, students will be better equipped to develop and implement actionable solutions to close the identified health gaps within their target communities and populations.
In this course we will examine how environmental factors “get under the skin” and result in health disparities. This course offers a comprehensive exploration of environmental health disparities, emphasizing advanced concepts and theoretical frameworks. The central focus lies on two key models: the Exposure–Disease–Stress Model for Environmental Health Disparities and the Environmental Affordances Model. These models intricately examine the interplay between the physical and social environment, emphasizing their profound impact on health behaviors and outcomes, particularly within minoritized populations. This course aims to empower students with a profound comprehension of the complex connections between environmental factors and health disparities.rnrnBy intentionally highlighting the structural determinants that shape opportunities and constraints within the environment, we will develop the knowledge and analytical skills necessary for critical evaluation, analysis, and the formulation of actionable strategies to address disproportionate health outcomes arising from environmental health disparities. In this course, students will build upon their existing skills and knowledge to be better equipped to develop and implement practical solutions aimed at narrowing identified health gaps within their target communities and populations. The intent of this course is to provide a solid foundation for students to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing efforts in advancing environmental health equity.
