Why are we dead first for living in the USA? Someone in their 20s has a four-fold greater risk of dying than someone in the other rich nations.
Consider: Who has a better chance of surviving to age 60, a 15-year old girl in the United States or a 15-year old girl in Sri Lanka?
If you chose the girl in the US, you need to take HSERV 482 / Global Health 482, this Winter Quarter, to find out why Americans are not living longer despite our advanced medical resources.
Population Health HSERV 482/G H 482 explores what makes a country more or less healthy in comparison to others.
Why is our health getting worse? Why is mortality increasing in the U.S. with our life expectancy today what it was in 1996. We are one of a few nations, and the only rich one, seeing an increase of deaths of women in childbirth. African-Americans have higher childbirth death rates now than the country had in 1953 which were then the best in the world. Decades of progress has been erased.
Why, why, why? We spend almost half of all the world’s health care dollars, 4.2 trillion in 2021 - a sixth of our total economy. What is going on?
HSERV 482/G H 482, The Health of Populations, looks at countries to understand how people there achieve their health status. Past students in evaluations include:
"This class demolished everything I thought about health, healthcare and human behavior!"
“This course ruined my life - in the best way possible”
"This class was the most thought-provoking course that I've taken at the UW.
“This class was super intellectually stimulating!!”
“By far, this has been the most memorable class I have taken at UW. Top to bottom, everything was structured exceptionally and the material presented allowed for great contemplation and reflection.”
Learning occurs in an open classroom, Health Sciences Education Building 345. There are section meetings facilitated by outstanding TAs complemented by readings and explorations of health outcomes. Students seed the concepts learned into online meetings they create.
There are no prerequisites except an open mind. There is a take-home exam.
Class meets Tu/Th 11:30 to 12:50 in HSEB 345 (Health Sciences Education Building)
plus an hour's section meeting on Friday. 4 credits, qualifies for I&S as well as Global Health Minor and PH-GH major electives.
SLN 15647 (HSERV 482) or 15036 (GH 482)
For questions contact instructors: Stephen Bezruchka sabez@uw.edu & Paul Drain pkdrain@uw.edu