<p>Seminar, four hours. Introduction to the interdisciplinary field of social medicine. Examination of how health and disease outcomes are shaped by social, political, and economic forces—including racism, colonialism, gender inequality, labor exploitation, and environmental injustice. These forces, including language, culture, housing, immigration status and income levels, are often referred as social determinants of health and provide crucial insights into a patient’s health needs. Reading of key texts in medical anthropology, social epidemiology, public health, and critical race theory to learn to analyze health not merely as biological but as deeply social. Key texts on theoretical frameworks are paired with contemporary ethnographic pieces that demonstrate the application of these theories to understand social and ecological health problems. Examination of the importance of intersectional research and community engagement in mitigating health harms and designing effective health interventions. Letter grading.</p>

Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences

David Geffen School of Medicine

PSYCTRY 185 - Introduction to Social Medicine

Introduction to Social Medicine

Develop grounded policy or advocacy recommendations.

Evaluate qualitative and quantitative methods used in social medicine research.

Explain how structural violence produces health disparities.

Produce analytic and field-based writing on a problem of health inequity.

Analyze intersections of inequality, race, gender, labor, and health.

Apply theoretical frameworks to contemporary health issues.

Understand the foundations and core concepts of social medicine.

General Catalog

Introduction to Social Medicine

PSYCTRY 185

4 units