Full course description
Differences in health and health risks exist across race and ethnicity, age, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and many other dimensions. Importantly, such health disparities can be perpetuated by inequitable or unfair differences in the social determinants of health.
Estimated Hours to Complete: 24
This microcredential course will introduce fundamental principles and practice of health disparities and health inequity affecting populations across multiple dimensions. The overarching goal is to impart on learners an integrated understanding of theoretical framework of health disparities that can be used in practice. The theoretical framework is aligned with National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework. Concepts will include defining health disparities and health equity, basic methods of measuring heath differences, influences of social determinants, current issues in health disparities, and developing interventions to address health disparities.
Requirements
There are no prerequisites for participation in this course.
Course Faculty:
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Harlan Jones, Ph.D. Harlan Jones, is the Director of the Institute for Health Disparities and Associate Professor of Immunology in the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center. Dr. Jones conducts biomedical and health disparity research to identify mechanisms of disease pathogenesis involved in cancer, infectious, and inflammatory diseases that disproportionately affect underrepresented minority populations. His research program has identified novel mechanisms through which neuroendocrine factors mediate host cellular immune and respiratory inflammatory responses against pneumococcal disease, asthma, and lung cancer, elucidated potential roles through which microbial species directly respond to corticotropin releasing hormone and other hormones to escape host defenses. His most recent research, defining use of “bacterio-mimetic” components for immune-based targeted nanoparticle cancer therapeutics forms the basis of this application. Dr. Jones is a recipient of the UNTHSC Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award and National Role Model Award. He also serves as Director of the Center for Diversity and International Programs at UNTHSC. Dr. Jones believes strongly in promoting continuing education and professional development for postdoctoral fellows and early-stage faculty. As such, he has taken a keen interest in developing mentoring and professional development skills through active training within the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN). As a certified master facilitator, Dr. Jones provides training in best mentoring and professional development practices across the country. Dr. Jones directs the NRMN Professional Development Program, NRMN STAR at UNTHSC, and is Principle Investigator of two summer undergraduate research training programs funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. |
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Riyaz Basha, Ph.D. Dr. Riyaz Basha, is an Associate Professor & Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics and Women’s Health. Dr. Basha's research expertise is in the field of experimental therapeutics, cancer and health disparities. His research focuses on examining aberrant expression of molecular markers associated with aggressive disease and poor prognosis for a variety of human malignancies. Ongoing research focuses on testing the combination of novel investigational agents with other standard therapeutic options (chemotherapy and/or radiation), and understanding the potential molecular pathways associated with proposed combinations. Novel therapeutic strategies involving small molecules, herbal products, and their analogs are under testing through rigorous pre-clinical screening using models for leukemia, pancreatic, ovarian, prostate, and central nervous system cancers. Dr. Basha is the recipient of national and international awards for research presentations including four awards from the Society of Toxicology and the best presentation award at the Conference on Drug Discovery and Development held in Dubai, UAE. He edited books and served/serving as Guest Editor for a few journals. He is a Fellow of American Association of Clinical Chemistry and trained facilitator and offering Entering Mentoring workshops nation-wide. His research and training activities have been funded by national, state and non-profit organizations. |