Central Michigan University and Indiana University partnered with the Swedish Healthcare Academy to design a new interdisciplinary course titled “At War with the Virus: Coping with COVID-19. Breaking through university walls, program and disciplinary boundaries required new technologies, funding models, and globe-wide outreach. Our 70 students (MDs, DHA, Master’s and undergraduate) interacted with 20 speakers from 5 continents to learn about the pandemic from the perspective of epidemiology, international health system design, political science, health communication, journalism, economics, and other social sciences. Students reflected that a course like this would never be possible in a traditional classroom. It is an example of value-added online education, according to our learners. The students enjoyed group learning, moderated discussions, panels, and roundtables.
Background
The unfolding global Covid-19 crisis presents a unique and important opportunity to learn about national health systems – their strengths, weaknesses, and resilience – by comparing their responses to the pandemic and lessons learned. At the outset of this course, diverse groups of undergraduate and graduate students are introduced to key concepts in epidemiology, emergency response, communication, and health system design.
Learning Objectives
Content
We explore such questions as:
Outcome
The speakers give an insight into regional differences in pandemic responses will be examined across multiple continents and countries. Our special focus will be on the characteristics of national health systems with the most effective responses.