The Role of New Technology in Global Health Education

Abstract

There is an intensified interest in global health issues across health related departments in colleges and universities in the United States. This has spurred the emergence of a variety of globally inclined health related programs and courses. The author of this paper developed an interdisciplinary global health course to present an overview of salient issues in global health. The course explores the many ramifications of disease, in their social, cultural, economic, political, ethical, physiological, epidemiological, and public health dimensions. A significant portion of the course is devoted to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the developing world. The author believes the course, which has been taught once before, can be enhanced by emphasizing anthropological and cultural dimensions of healthcare, and by utilizing new media technology (Blackboard, etc.) to encourage today’s technology-savvy students become more actively engaged in learning.