Harvard VPAL
Global Health Delivery
Understand the challenges facing healthcare delivery, and design a solution for real-world implementation.
Start date
07 April 2021
Enroll by 30 March 2021
Course duration
10 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
8–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
Duration: 10 weeks (excluding orientation)
The greatest challenge to improving healthcare delivery isn’t availability, but access. Join a global health community in this online short course as you analyze the influence that power and social structures have in shaping disease response. Through real-world case studies, you’ll investigate international approaches to fighting Ebola, HIV/AIDS, and MDR-TB, and understand the burden of mental health. You’ll evaluate how ideologies, problem framing, and the choice of metrics shape health policy.
With guidance from expert university faculty, you’ll design your own global health intervention for actual implementation. You’ll also gain the managerial and soft skills to compliment your medical knowledge.
Is this course for you?
This course is for anyone with a passion for healthcare innovation who is looking for solutions to better serve their communities. This includes professional clinicians as well as established global health leaders such as advisors, policymakers, and government officials. It would also be relevant for investors and donors of global health initiatives, or those working in a multilateral organization, bilateral agency, NPO, or NGO.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 10 weeks (excluding orientation)
The greatest challenge to improving healthcare delivery isn’t availability, but access. Join a global health community in this online short course as you analyze the influence that power and social structures have in shaping disease response. Through real-world case studies, you’ll investigate international approaches to fighting Ebola, HIV/AIDS, and MDR-TB, and understand the burden of mental health. You’ll evaluate how ideologies, problem framing, and the choice of metrics shape health policy.
With guidance from expert university faculty, you’ll design your own global health intervention for actual implementation. You’ll also gain the managerial and soft skills to compliment your medical knowledge.
Is this course for you?
This course is for anyone with a passion for healthcare innovation who is looking for solutions to better serve their communities. This includes professional clinicians as well as established global health leaders such as advisors, policymakers, and government officials. It would also be relevant for investors and donors of global health initiatives, or those working in a multilateral organization, bilateral agency, NPO, or NGO.
What will set you apart
An action plan to implement health interventions in your particular context.
A biosocial framework to assess how biological and social factors influence the spread of disease.
An understanding of the restrictions and challenges facing healthcare delivery.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Introduction to the biosocial
Module 2
Why ideas matter: Social theory in global health
Module 3
The history of global health and colonial legacy
Module 4
Political economy and foreign aid
Module 5
The global AIDS movement
Module 6
Challenges in healthcare delivery: Lessons from Liberia and Haiti
Module 7
Building an effective rural health delivery model in Rwanda
Module 8
Critical perspectives on metrics of disease
Module 9
The unique challenges of mental health
Module 10
Values and global health
Get course prospectus
What past students
think
Ellen Munemo
Program Director
The online course really opened my eyes to global health issues. I was so excited to learn about the different scenarios on how countries have managed to offer improved health services, especially the Rwanda experience. I also enjoyed the video session of real situations, and was able to relate to most of them. As a person working in public health, I know this course has taken me to another level of understanding how public health, global health, and international health are linked. The course is ideal for those who work with communities and in primary healthcare delivery. I enjoyed the discussions with colleagues, which made me understand what is happening in other countries.
Course Conveners
Anne Becker
Maude and Lillian Presley Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard University
Arthur Kleinman
Esther and Sidney Rabb Professor, Anthropology Department, Harvard University
About the certificate
Earn a premier certificate from Harvard’s Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning (VPAL), in association with HarvardX.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
Get a course brochure
Want to know more?
Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter, a 2U, Inc. brand, is an online learning expert with over 10 years' experience in developing high-quality online short courses from the world’s leading universities. We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required for the workplace of the future. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need.
Students are supported at every stage of the learning journey, enabling them to thrive professionally through increased relevance, competence, and confidence. Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing FAQ, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please see the list of university partner login pages here.
