Fall

Clashing Views in Health and Society

The Great Works Symposium presents the first in its 2011-2012 series on "CLASHING VIEWS IN HEALTHCARE AND SOCIETY":

CLASHING VIEWS IN HEALTHCARE AND SOCIETY

UNIV 241, 3 credits
FALL TERM, 2011

Course Description:

Health care is an important social resource in any society and plays a critical role in the lives of individuals. These dual functions often create tension and conflict. This course provides students with a unique and compelling format to explore controversial issues in health care and public health in the United States and globally. For example, should parents have a right to forgo vaccinations for their children? Are municipalities in the right to assess “sin taxes” in the hope of curtailing unhealthy behaviors? Who decides how health resources are used for a population? Each week a controversial topic in health and society will be debated by a panel of experts. Drexel faculty will act as responders followed by intense student questioning of the panel. The course culminates in student led panels on a controversial issue in health and society. The debates are intended to invite students to apply knowledge and concepts--both from this course and their respective majors--as a means of developing a better understanding of a current or enduring issue facing health care and public health.

Course Learner Objectives

After completing this course students will be able to

capitalize on their personal knowledge and experiences to contribute to their assessment of problems and solutions when addressing controversial issues in health care.
develop the skill in making comparisons of information, points of view, and interpretations of controversial topics to formulate reasoned personal opinions.
utilize critical reading, writing, thinking and communication skills when analyzing, evaluating, and making judgments about current and enduring issues in public health and healthcare.
implement information management to include Internet searches, electronic mail, and library skills to search, select, interpret and use credible sources.
understand the roles of policy makers, administrators, health care professionals, patients, and communities in reform efforts to improve the health of a population.
define and identify the uses of propaganda in a health controversy.
comprehend the importance of legal and business structures, good practice in health care, and ethical reasoning when faced with controversial issues in healthcare.

Instructional Approach/Format :

Clashing Views in Health and Society is a Great Works Symposium interdisciplinary course designed for students who are willing to make a commitment to participating in and contributing to their learning. The course relies heavily on students’ open and intense participation in class, as we discover current and enduing controversial issues in health care and public health. Each week we will focus on an issue in health and society, using as a springboard for discussion and reflection assigned readings from a range of viewpoints and disciplines. We will then analyze this issue using a consistent framework which includes:

Identification of a viewpoint on an issue
Stated or implied assumptions
Analysis of the validity of the supporting arguments
Evaluate conclusions
Make recommendations or suggested action

Students are expected to complete readings before class. Students will have an opportunity to examine all sides of a controversial issue. Each student will be responsible for participating on a panel presentation. Further reading and research is recommended each week to gain a broader understanding of the issue at hand. Extensive research will be required to prepare the panel presentation as well as a supporting outline/narrative.

The role of faculty in this course is to 1) facilitate the learning process of individuals and the group; 2) serve as a subject matter expert when needed; and 3) to assist you in developing your panel presentations and other writing assignments.

Required Textbook/Supplies:

Readings from academic journals, newspaper articles, health organization publications as assigned by the instructors. Students can access the readings electronically on the Great Works Symposium website http://www.drexel.edu/greatworks/

Course Learning Activities :

Readings: Students will read journal articles, book chapters, newspaper articles, etc. as assigned by the faculty each week to prepare for the health and society issue. Students are encouraged to seek original or summary sources related to the week’s health & society issue.

Panel Discussions: The first three-fourths of the course will be panel discussions by experts commenting on a controversial issue in health and society. Each panelist will deliver a 15-minute presentation. Students will come prepared with questions for the panelists after conducting readings and further research. Each student will have an opportunity to present on a panel about a controversial issue in health and society which 1) identifies the issue at hand; 2) states implied assumptions by stakeholders; 3) analyzes the validity and strength of arguments (pro or con); 4) evaluates conclusions; and 5) states a thoughtful opinion or makes a recommendation or suggested action on the issue. See “Guidelines for Panel Discussion” handout.

Didactic Presentations: Faculty will present knowledge based and skill building sessions around process issues in health and society debates. These include topics such as generation, dissemination, and diffusion of health information; communicating health risk via the media; recognizing propaganda; and critical thinking.

Briefing Paper: Students are required to write a 5-page briefing paper on a controversial health and society issue of their choice. The briefing paper is a well researched and cited assessment of the controversial issue you wish to examine. This is not an opinion piece. It is a comprehensive and cogent summary of the issues surrounding the controversial health care issue. It tests your ability to identify issues, stakeholders, assumptions, and implications in resolving the controversial issue. This is due the 4th session of the quarter. See “Guidelines for Briefing Papers.”

Opinion Piece Article

Students are required to write an 800-1200 word Opinion Piece article reacting to a health and society issue. This is due at the 10th session of the quarter. See “Guidelines for Writing an Opinion Piece for Publication.” This is a challenging assignment that will command a synthesis of the knowledge and skills learned in this course.

Weekly Topic Focus, Readings, and Written Assignments:

See schedule at the end of the syllabus.

Assessment and Grading Policy:

The final grade for this course will be determined by the total percentage of credit awarded (100% maximum) for your participation and productivity as follows. Refer to the guidelines for each learning activity for criteria for evaluation.

Class Attendance and Participation (10%)
Briefing Paper on Your Select Issue (20%)
Opinion Piece on Your Select Issue (25%)
Panel Discussion (45%)

The numerical to letter grade system is as follows:

Grade    % earned            quality points per credit
A+        97-100               4.0
A          93-96                4.0
A-         90-92                3.7
B+        87-89                3.3
B          83-86                3.0
B-         80-82                2.7
C+        77-79                2.3
C          73-76                2.0
C-         70-72                1.7
D+        67-69                1.3
D          63-66                1.0
F          below 63            0.0

Other grades without quality points may be given for special situations; consult the Drexel undergraduate catalog for these grades. If the student warrants an incomplete (I) grade, it is the student’s responsibility to make sure he/she meets the College, University, and Instructor criteria and deadlines for requesting this grade and ensuring the change of grade in a timely manner.

Disability Statement:
Student with disabilities requesting accommodations and services at Drexel University need to present a current accommodation verification letter (AVL) to faculty before accommodations can be made. AVL’s are issued by the Office of Disability Services (ODS). For additional information, contact ODS at www.drexel.edu/ods, 3201 Arch St., Street, Suite 210, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215.895.1401 (V), or 215.895.2299 (TTY).
Faculty Profiles:

See faculty profiles on the respective Colleges’ webpages.

Student’s Responsibilities:

Academic Honesty and Integrity:

Drexel University is committed to a learning environment that embraces honesty. Faculty, students, and administrators share responsibility for maintaining this environment of academic honesty and integrity, accepting responsibility for all actions, personal and academic. Each member of our community is expected to read, understand, and uphold the values identified and described for academic integrity. An explanation of what constitutes academic dishonesty can be found on the Provost’s website at:
http://www.drexel.edu/provost/policies/academic_dishonesty.asp
An explanation of the sanctions given for academic dishonesty can be found in your Student Handbook and on the website of the Office of Conduct and Community Standards at
http://www.drexel.edu/studentlife/judicial/honesty.html

Student’s Responsibilities:

Drop/Add/Withdrawal Policy:
Once you are registered in this course, it is your responsibility to attend the course, drop the course, or withdraw from the course. Dropping and withdrawing are distinct actions that affect your course enrollment status. In either case, a form from the Registrar’s Office, with signatures, is required to change course enrollment status. There are billing, financial aid, and academic record affects for changes to your enrollment status in this course; therefore, you must attend to the proper procedure when dropping or withdrawing from a course. Please refer to the University’s drop/add/withdrawal policies and timelines on the Registrar’s website or contact your academic advisor.

Financial Obligations:

Students who do not satisfy financial obligations to the University and have been placed on financial hold are not entitled to a grade by the instructor.

The student acknowledges receipt of this syllabus and the information herein contained by continuing to attend this course. The instructors reserve the right to make changes to this syllabus if circumstances warrant such change. All major changes will be provided to the students in writing.

See schedule of weekly topic focus, readings, and written assignment deadlines chart below.

MAJOR COURSE CONTENT, READINGS and ASSIGNMENTS
(Date is for the Thursday evening class meeting. Readings are to be completed prior to the class. Readings are posted to The GWS website at http://www.drexel.edu/greatworks/)

Content	Readings and Assignments Due
Session One: Course overview, expectations, and review of syllabus. Faculty perspective and the benefits of interdisciplinary investigations. Didactic on “Critical Analysis Framework.” Work in Course Sections (Briefing for students on teaching/learning approach and critical analysis) 22 September
Session Two: Have we become a nanny state: Health risk, regulation and free agency? Panel presentation with Public Health Professional, and invited “free agency, less government” speaker. Saeed Hydaralli serves as reactor. Presentation by Saeed Hydraalli on Canadian School Board regulation to protect anaphylactic children. 29 September	Readings
Session Three: Plenary Panel Presentation--*Body Modification: Yearning for the “Fountain of Youth”* Panel with guest lecturer on the bioethics of body modification and a healthcare professional. Work in Sections (Skill Building for Briefing and Panels) 6 October	Readings - Download PDF Download Supplemental Reading
Session Four: Plenary Guest Panel: *Should Parents Have the Right to Forgo Medical Treatment for their Children?Guest Panel Discussion. Didactic on Propaganda by Michael Howley* 13 October	Readings - Download PDF Briefing Written Assignment Due
Session Five: A city sin tax: obesity prevention or a city in distress? Plenary Panel Moderated by Dean Marla Gold, School of Public Health. Panelist from industry and city administration. SPH. Work in Sections Discussion on Commentary and Briefing 20 October	Readings - Download PDF
Session Six: *Rationing Health Care: The Other Iron Triangle: Who Dies, Who Says So, and When?* Panel moderated by Dr. Connie Perry CoN&HP. Panel composed of religious leader and physician. Michael Howley Reactor) “Decades of Deception: A Chronicle of Tobacco advertising in the U.S.” by Stephen Gambescia 27 October	Readings - Download PDF
Session Seven: Health Status and Who Needs to Know. Some Whys and Why Nots… Representatives from community, individual, insurance company or workplace, and healthcare professions. Saeed Hydaralli reactor. Work in Sections 3 November	Readings - Download PDF
Session Eight: Student Panels 10 November
Session Nine: Student Panels 17 November
Thanksgiving Holiday (24 November)
Session Ten: Student Panels 1 December	Written Opinion Piece/ Commentary Due