2017-2018 · markov models, monte carlo simulations, and other stochastic methods. discusses...

Jefferson College of Population Health

Course Descriptions2017-2018

JCPH Course Descriptions

The JCPH Course Descriptions is intended to identify all courses, their descriptions and prerequisites at

the Jefferson College of Population Health (JCPH). It is accurate at the time of printing but is subject

to change from time to time as deemed appropriate by the College in order to fulfill its role and

mission or to accommodate circumstances beyond its control. Any such changes may be implemented

without prior notice and without obligation and, unless specified otherwise, are effective when made.

To obtain the latest information, please consult the online version on the JCPH website at:

http://www.jefferson.edu/university/population-health/student-resources/catalog.html

Thomas Jefferson University is accredited by The Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The

Master of Public Health (MPH) Program at JCPH is accredited by the Council on Education for Public

Health (CEPH).

Please direct any suggestions for changes to this document to Jennifer Ravelli, 901 Walnut Street, 10th

Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107, [email protected], (215) 955-8069.

Updated 11/3/2017

http://www.jefferson.edu/university/population-health/student-resources/catalog.html

mailto:[email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Applied Health Economics & Outcomes Research .......................................... 1

AHE 500: U.S. Healthcare Financing & Reimbursement (3) ........................................ 1

AHE 504: Economic Modeling in Health Care (3) ..................................................... 1

AHE 506: Subjective Outcomes in Health Evaluation (3) ........................................... 1

AHE 509: Epidemiology & Evidence for Outcomes Research (3) ................................... 1

AHE 510: Econometric & Observational Methods (3) ................................................ 2

AHE 511: Advanced Statistics for AHEOR (3) .......................................................... 2

AHE 512: Simulation for Economic Evaluation (3) ................................................... 2

AHE 514: Outcomes & Economic Analyses (3) ........................................................ 2

AHE 600: Capstone Seminar (3) ......................................................................... 3

AHE 601: Capstone Project (3) .......................................................................... 3

Health Policy ....................................................................................... 4

HPL 500: U.S. Healthcare Organization & Delivery (3) .............................................. 4

HPL 504: Health Law & Regulatory Issues (3)......................................................... 4

HPL 506: Health Policy: Analysis & Advocacy (3) .................................................... 4

HPL 508: Health Informatics & Population Health Analytics (3) ................................... 4

HPL 510: Health Research Methods (3) ................................................................ 4

HPL 520: Fundamentals of Health Statistics (3) ...................................................... 5

HPL 540: Health Economics (3) ......................................................................... 5

HPL 550: Comparative Health Systems (3) ............................................................ 5

HPL 552: Comparative Systems of Health Law (3) ................................................... 5

HPL 560: Comparative Health Finance & Economics (3) ............................................ 6

HPL 600: Capstone Seminar (3) ......................................................................... 6

HPL 601: Capstone Project (3) .......................................................................... 6

Healthcare Quality & Safety .................................................................... 7

HQS 500: Introduction to Healthcare Quality & Safety (3) ......................................... 7

HQS 501: Organization Development & Change in Health Care (3) ............................... 7

HQS 502: Introduction to International Healthcare Quality & Safety (3) ........................ 7

HQS 503: Healthcare Quality & Safety Measurement & Outcomes Analysis (3) ................. 7

HQS 505: Tools & Methods for Healthcare Quality & Safety Improvement (3) .................. 7

HQS 507: Advanced Healthcare Quality & Safety Tools & Methods in Clinical Settings (3) ... 7

HQS 600: Capstone Seminar (3) ......................................................................... 8

HQS 601: Capstone Project (3) .......................................................................... 8

HQS 650: Capstone Seminar & Project (3) ............................................................ 8

Operational Excellence .......................................................................... 9

OPX 325/525: Lean Thinking (3) ........................................................................ 9

OPX 527: Lean Project (1) ............................................................................... 9

OPX 530: Accelerating Transformation (3) ............................................................ 9

OPX 532: Project Management (3) ..................................................................... 9

OPX 535: Advanced Lean Thinking (3) ................................................................ 10

Population Health ............................................................................... 11

POP 500: Essentials of Population Health (3) ........................................................ 11

POP 510: Health Economics, Risk & Finance (3) .................................................... 11

POP 550: Disease Prevention & Care Management (3) ............................................. 11

POP 560: Population Health Management Applications (3) ........................................ 11

POP 600: Capstone Seminar (3) ........................................................................ 12

POP 601: Capstone Project (3) ......................................................................... 12

Population Health Intelligence ............................................................... 13

PHI 501: Introduction to Health Data Acquisition & Management (3) ........................... 13

PHI 516: Specialized Data Topics (3) .................................................................. 13

PHI 518: Data Science I (3) ............................................................................. 13

PHI 525: Data Science II (3) ............................................................................ 13

PHI 527: Analytics Leadership & Administration (3) ................................................ 13

PHI 532: Data Presentation Architecture (3) ........................................................ 14

PHI 538: Implementation Science (3) ................................................................. 14

PHI 600: Capstone Seminar (3) ......................................................................... 14

PHI 601: Capstone Project (3).......................................................................... 14

Population Health Sciences ................................................................... 15

PHS 602: Bioethics (1) ................................................................................... 15

PHS 615: Advanced Statistics for Population Health Sciences: Multi-Level Modeling (3) ..... 15

PHS 620: Teaching & Learning Seminar (3) .......................................................... 15

PHS 650: Evaluative & Outcomes Research & Design (3) .......................................... 15

PHS 660: Mentored Research Seminar (1) ............................................................ 16

PHS 670: Advanced Health Behavior Methods & Measurement (3) ............................... 16

PHS 680: Advanced Analytic Methods for Health Behavior Science (3) .......................... 16

PHS 700: Integrative Research Seminar (1 x 4) ...................................................... 17

PHS 800: Comprehensive Exam Prep (1) .............................................................. 17

PHS 801: Comprehensive Exam (1) .................................................................... 17

PHS 805: Dissertation Proposal Seminar (3) .......................................................... 17

PHS 807: Dissertation Proposal Defense (1) .......................................................... 17

PHS 810: Dissertation (3) ............................................................................... 17



Public Health ..................................................................................... 19

PBH 501: Introduction to Public Health (3) .......................................................... 19

PBH 502: Social & Behavioral Foundations of Public Health (3) .................................. 19

PBH 504: Fundamentals of Health Statistics (3) .................................................... 19

PBH 506: Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3) ........................................................ 19

PBH 507: Fundamentals of Environmental Health (3) .............................................. 19

PBH 509: Public Health Policy & Advocacy (3) ...................................................... 20

PBH 510: Health Research Methods (3) ............................................................... 20

PBH 511: Health Communication (3) .................................................................. 20

PBH 512: Qualitative Research Methods (3) ......................................................... 20

PBH 514: Dimensions of Global Health (3) ........................................................... 20

PBH 515: Cultural Humility & Competence (3) ...................................................... 21

PBH 516: Human Rights of Refugees, Immigrants & the Internally Displaced (3) .............. 21

PBH 521: Program Planning, Implementation & Evaluation, Part I (3) .......................... 21

PBH 522: Program Planning, Implementation & Evaluation, Part II (3) ......................... 21

PBH 602: Advanced Social & Behavioral Theories & Interventions (3) .......................... 22

PBH 605: Advanced Statistical Methods for Data Analysis (3) ..................................... 22

PBH 606: Advanced Epidemiology (3) ................................................................. 22

PBH 609: Geo-Based Information Systems (GIS) Mapping (3) ..................................... 22

PBH 610: Capstone/Integrative Learning Experience Seminar & Project (3) ................... 22

PBH 611: Capstone/Integrative Learning Experience, LEAP Part I (2) ........................... 23

PBH 612: Capstone/Integrative Learning Experience, LEAP Part II (1) .......................... 23

PBH 650: Clerkship – Applied Practice Experience (C-APE) (3) ................................... 23

JCPH Course Descriptions 1

APPLIED HEALTH ECONOMICS & OUTCOMES RESEARCH

AHE 500: U.S. Healthcare Financing & Reimbursement (3)

Introduces financial management of healthcare services and focuses on identification of costs

of care and payment systems for medical and pharmaceutical services. Discusses mechanisms

for delivery and funding of care through private and public programs. Explains the impact of

benefit design on provider and patient behavior with particular focus on managed care versus

fee for service models. Reviews data sources and their applicability to economic analysis,

including inpatient billing and cost-accounting systems, Medicare and Medicaid and other

claims data sets, secondary data available through proprietary data vendors and federal and

state databases. Discusses impact of recent US healthcare legislation on the delivery of

healthcare services, including the estimated cost of the law.

Prerequisites: HPL 500

AHE 504: Economic Modeling in Health Care (3)

Presents the development, methodological approach, and application of quantitative models

used to inform health care decision trees, methodology and sensitivity analysis. Covers

Markov models, Monte Carlo simulations, and other stochastic methods. Discusses approaches

for uncertainty and risk adjustments, determination of probability values, costs, other key

model parameters, and the importance of perspective in modeling and simulation. Considers

application and presentation of models to policy makers, providers, health care managers,

and key stakeholders who have interests in modeled output and the quantification of

economic value.


AHE 506: Subjective Outcomes in Health Evaluation (3)

Focuses on concepts, theory, and applications of methods for measuring subjective health

outcomes including symptoms, functional status and well-being, health-related quality of life,

and satisfaction. Explores appropriate tools for measuring patient-reported outcomes and

considers the importance of evaluating the reliability, validity, feasibility, and responsiveness

of subjective measures, including special topics such as determining a clinically meaningful

difference and missing values. Covers current requirements for Patient-Reported Outcomes

endpoint filings with regulatory authorities, including conceptualization, validation and

evidentiary standards. Discusses weighting of health using "health-related" quality of life data

and utility methods. Explores characteristics of successful applications of Patient-Reported

Outcomes research.


AHE 509: Epidemiology & Evidence for Outcomes Research (3)

Presents methods and means to evaluate occurrence of disease and effects of interventions

on disease incidence, prevalence and outcomes. Covers conduct and synthesis of prospective

and retrospective research in generating estimates of the benefits and harms of different

interventions and strategies to prevent, diagnose, treat and monitor health conditions.

2 JCPH Course Descriptions

Considers strengths and weaknesses of research designs and statistical approaches to

evidence assessments. Includes methodological challenges in observational research such as

bias (systematic error) and confounding (mixing of effects). Discusses adjustments to deal

with limitations of evidence and analytical strategies. Explores practical applications of

epidemiological practice in outcomes research.


AHE 510: Econometric & Observational Methods (3)

Provides comprehensive overview of skills and knowledge necessary to design and implement

prospective and retrospective observational investigations. Targets econometric techniques

used to control for unobserved covariates considered problematic in observational

investigations due to lack of randomization. Topics include appropriate use of econometric

techniques such as propensity score matching, instrumental variables and common health

economic research designs including regression discontinuity and interrupted time series.

Considers how selected techniques improve the ability to make statistical inference within

randomized trial setting.


AHE 511: Advanced Statistics for AHEOR (3)

Presents general approaches to multivariate statistical analysis, including elaboration and

control of confounding, and key multivariate statistical analysis techniques, i.e., analysis of

variance; bivariate linear regression and correlation; multiple linear regression; multiple and

partial correlation; and binary and multinomial logistic regression. Analyzes selected

datasets, i.e., the 2012-2015 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey performed

by the Public Health Management Corporation, and federal datasets, e.g., NHANES.

AHE 512: Simulation for Economic Evaluation (3)

Introduces key concepts in the use of simulation for economic evaluations in health care.

Explores advantages and imitations of individual-level simulation in economic evaluation,

following the ISPOR-SMDM guidelines for good modeling practices. Considers rationale for

simulations and includes case studies and applications from experience in Health Technology

Assessment. Covers discrete event simulation as a tool, its components, how to conceptualize

a model, how to model clinical evidence and resource use, and how to codify variables and

decisions in modeling. Utilizes ARENA software for applications. Provides practical experience

in real world uses of simulation. Advances ability to select appropriate analytic methodologies

and critically analyze limitations of data.


AHE 514: Outcomes & Economic Analyses (3)

Provides an overview of medical-economic analyses in the healthcare sector. Reviews

conceptual foundations and practical applications of cost-effectiveness in healthcare.

Explores the landscape of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and typical requirements for

successful applications, including standards of evidence, the identification and measurement


of direct medical and non-medical costs, and indirect costs, and an overview of the main

forms of economic analyses, such as cost identification and burden of illness studies, cost-

effectiveness analysis, cost-benefit and cost-utility analysis. Demonstrates how these analyses

are designed, implemented, interpreted, and assembled in HTA dossiers to achieve market

access and utilization.


AHE 600: Capstone Seminar (3)

Prepares students for development and implementation of capstone project. Enhances ability

to interpret health economic analyses, especially with respect to cost of illness, cost-benefit

and cost effectiveness. Discusses and presents practical examples of health- related quality of

life, health utility, and health productivity research. Stresses the application of health

economic analyses in US decision making and how interpretation of health economic studies

differs depending on perspective.

Prerequisites: Completion of all required courses for the MS-AHEOR program except AHE 600

and AHE 601

AHE 601: Capstone Project (3)

Students develop and present AHEOR analysis or protocol. Serves as culminating experience

that demonstrates satisfactory achievement of AHEOR skills and competencies.

Prerequisites: AHE 600 (Can be taken concurrently with permission)


HEALTH POLICY

HPL 500: U.S. Healthcare Organization & Delivery (3)

Provides an overview of how health care is organized, delivered and financed in the United

States. Traces the historical evolution in political, economic, and social contexts, including

distribution and access to medical and other services, roles of public and private insurance

for health care, and structure of healthcare benefits. Addresses current issues in US

healthcare organization, delivery, and financing as well as policies and approaches that

impact changes in healthcare delivery. Compares US organization and delivery to systems and

models used in other countries.

HPL 504: Health Law & Regulatory Issues (3)

Explores critical legal and regulatory issues in health care using a case-based approach.

Demonstrates how the legal system overlays with the healthcare enterprise and prepares

students to critically analyze the impact of the law on healthcare delivery, policy decisions,

and payment. Examines risk management laws, approaches, and regulations. Analyzes liability

and “apology” for medical errors. Critiques and proposes approaches to developing and

modifying healthcare policy that consider legal and regulatory constraints, healthcare system

variables, and societal issues that affect the organization and delivery of care.


HPL 506: Health Policy: Analysis & Advocacy (3)

Prepares students to apply policy analysis tools to define and address health policy issues and

problems. Uses the Medicare program to illustrate the policy development process. Examines

the complexity of policy problems and provides the basic tools used in policy design,

feasibility analysis, implementation and evaluation. Builds on prior coursework and

incorporates stakeholder analysis and role of socio-cultural contexts, and economic, legal,

and ethical perspectives in establishing a policy analysis framework.

Prerequisites: HPL 500, HPL 504

HPL 508: Health Informatics & Population Health Analytics (3)

Focuses on the role of data and information in health care; its collection, storage, assembly,

display and presentation in healthcare settings. Emphasizes evaluation of managerial,

strategic, and process-focused applications and needs. Examines the translation of data and

information into intelligence and critiques its uses in health policy decision making.


HPL 510: Health Research Methods (3)

Provides an overview of the field of health services research as it applies to health policy with

capacity for critical appraisal of the literature and with ability to design a basic HP/HSR

project. Develops specific competencies which include review and synthesis of relevant

published and “gray” literature, research question/hypothesis formulation, operational


variable definition, choice of appropriate methodological designs, instrument

design/construction, evaluation of reliability and validity, understanding of probability

sampling techniques, and choice of appropriate statistical analysis techniques.


HPL 520: Fundamentals of Health Statistics (3)

Introduces basics of descriptive and inferential statistics, including sampling and probability,

in estimation and statistical decisions as used in public health. Applications include

estimation of confidence intervals; testing statistical hypotheses for population means,

proportions, and variances; and use of non-parametric tests. Utilizes Statistical Package for

the Social Sciences (SPSS) to enter and analyze public health data. Uses Philadelphia regional

data from the Public Health Management Corporation as basis for student projects.

HPL 540: Health Economics (3)

Applies general theoretical principles of economics to the healthcare sector. Recognizes the

importance of scarcity and incentives, especially as they contribute to differences peculiar to

health and the healthcare industry. Examines the supply and demand of health and medical

care as they involve consumers/patients, physicians, nurses and hospitals, technology, and

drugs. Explores market structures, market competitiveness, health insurance and the role of

government and the pharmaceutical industry. Presents international comparisons.


HPL 550: Comparative Health Systems (3)

Compares, contrasts and analyses non-US models of healthcare delivery and organization and

delivery. Analyzes the framework developed by World Health Organization and other

international organizations for ranking health care systems of every country based on

specified criteria, as well as setting health goals across all countries. Provides in-depth

exploration of systems and situations found in Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany,

Japan, Taiwan, China, Russia, India, Congo and Cuba. Special focus is on applicability of

international models to the US healthcare system and current health reforms.

HPL 552: Comparative Systems of Health Law (3)

Provides an international and cross-cultural perspective on legal and regulatory mechanisms

in mediating functions of the seven building blocks of health systems: information, financing,

service delivery, human resources, medicines and technologies, people, and governance.

Applies systems model to evaluation of healthcare services in selected developed and

developing countries, presenting contemporary United States as a central point of reference.

Analyses key components of real-world initiatives to strengthen health systems and improve

healthcare quality and safety. Students identify, analyze, and redesign a real-world health

systems intervention to optimize synergies and other positive effects while avoiding and

minimizing potential negative effects. These redesigns are constructively critiqued by faculty

and peers.



HPL 560: Comparative Health Finance & Economics (3)

In development


HPL 600: Capstone Seminar (3)

Critically analyzes strategies for health policy development and implementation within the

context of student proposals for capstone projects. Includes communication and negotiation,

analysis of socio-technical systems (interaction of people and technology), planning and ideal

design, stakeholder analysis, project management and oversight, business ethics, and

program evaluation

Prerequisites: Completion of all required courses for the MS-HP program except HPL 600 and

HPL 601

HPL 601: Capstone Project (3)

Students design, analyze and present a health issue and propose policy options and

recommendations for action or an evaluation strategy for a selected healthcare, government

or other relevant setting. Serves as culminating experience that demonstrates satisfactory

achievement of health policy skills and competencies.

Prerequisites: HPL 600 (Can be taken concurrently with permission)


HEALTHCARE QUALITY & SAFETY

HQS 500: Introduction to Healthcare Quality & Safety (3)

Presents concepts of health care quality and safety as horizontally and vertically integrated

throughout the healthcare system. Provides models for demonstrating the association

between quality and safety and healthcare economics, regulation, accreditation and

information technology and relates these concepts to population health.

HQS 501: Organization Development & Change in Health Care (3)

Introduces field of organization development (OD), an approach to organizational change that

uses behavioral science knowledge and techniques to help organizations achieve greater

effectiveness by learning how to diagnose and solve their own problems. Instills working

knowledge of planned change from entry and contracting through data gathering and

feedback to intervention and evaluation. Provides practice in diagnosing organizational

problems in a healthcare context, designing a change plan, and identifying opportunities and

challenges associated with different types of interventions. Explores techniques for

motivating and sustaining improvement efforts in healthcare quality and safety

HQS 502: Introduction to International Healthcare Quality & Safety (3)

In development

HQS 503: Healthcare Quality & Safety Measurement & Outcomes Analysis (3)

Establishes a basis for critical analysis of issues in healthcare quality and safety (HQS) and

presents conceptual and scientific approaches to evaluation of HQS in health care. Discusses

and evaluates historical trends and current issues in HQS/health policy and forces that drive

HQS. Presents conceptual frameworks and design measurement tools and analyzes how they

relate to the structure and organization of the US healthcare system.

HQS 505: Tools & Methods for Healthcare Quality & Safety Improvement (3)

Presents tools and methods required by healthcare professionals to create, analyze and

improve processes necessary for high quality, safe care. Provides an overview of systems

thinking that demonstrates how this thinking is applied with the healthcare system. Presents

material in three sections: tools and methods for patient safety; tools and methods for quality

and performance improvement; and integration of tools, methods and concepts to create high

value health care. Reviews mandate for creating value in healthcare delivery in context of

the business case for quality.

HQS 507: Advanced Healthcare Quality & Safety Tools & Methods in Clinical Settings (3)

Applies appropriate methods and tools to quality and safety problems observed by students in

clinical settings or that have been identified in case studies. Students conduct a literature

review of their selected problems; develop measures, a research design, and a method for


analyzing causes of the problem, including organizational barriers to change.

Prerequisites: HPL 500/550, HQS 501, HQS 503, and HQS 505

HQS 600: Capstone Seminar (3)

Prepares and analyzes proposals for healthcare quality and safety capstone projects.

Prerequisites: HQS 507

HQS 601: Capstone Project (3)

Students design and present a project that demonstrates ability to apply concepts, methods

and theories of healthcare quality and safety to an actual problem in a real setting. Serves as

culminating experience that demonstrates satisfactory achievement of HQS skills and

competencies.

Prerequisites: HQS 600 (Can be taken concurrently with permission)

HQS 650: Capstone Seminar & Project (3)

Two term sequence that prepares MS-HQS & MS-HQSM students to design, prepare and

execute applied capstone project in healthcare quality and safety. Serves as culminating

experience that demonstrates satisfactory achievement of HQS skills and competencies.

Prerequisites: HQS 507


OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

OPX 325/525: Lean Thinking (3)

Presents and applies Lean methodology as a key tool for process improvement in healthcare

settings that require management of multidisciplinary teams. Develops a framework for

creating Lean processes, focusing on five principles; 1) define value, 2) map the value stream,

3) establish flow, 4) implement pull, and 5) strive for perfection. Compares and contrasts

Lean with other process improvement strategies and methodologies used in healthcare to

evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches. Students seeking Lean Leader

certification can simultaneously enroll in OPX 527: Lean Project (1 c) to identify, design and

implement an appropriate Lean improvement strategy.

OPX 527: Lean Project (1)

Presents opportunity to design, implement, and evaluate a health-based Lean project under

supervision of certified Lean instructor. Project may be assigned within Thomas Jefferson

University Hospitals or, with approval of instructor, selected from an outside organization.

Submission of formal report and successful presentation to peers and key project stakeholders

results in Lean Leader certification.

Prerequisites: OPX 525 (Can be taken concurrently with permission)

OPX 530: Accelerating Transformation (3)

Presents and applies Rapid Improvements (RI) as a transformation strategy for cultural and

process-related change in healthcare settings that require management of multidisciplinary

teams. Develops framework for healthcare transformation by applying tools to DMAIC (Define,

Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) and the eight stages of change: 1) Establishing a

Sense of Urgency; 2) Creating the Guiding Coalition; 3) Developing a Vision and Strategy; 4)

Communicating the Change Vision; 5) Empowering Broad-Based Action; 6) Consolidating Gains

and Producing More Change; and 8) Anchoring New Approaches in the Culture. Compares and

contrasts leadership and management in healthcare to evaluate the differing and

complementary functions of each.


OPX 532: Project Management (3)

Provides framework and tools needed to initiate, plan, and execute performance

improvement initiatives. Designs project planning strategies at a system, department, or

front-line level. Presents underlying philosophies and practical application of tools. Develops

strategies to align, allocate, integrate, and coordinate resources to achieve project

objectives. Applies techniques for sustaining improvements over time. Develops approaches

to communicate effectively to a variety of stakeholders.



OPX 535: Advanced Lean Thinking (3)

Explores and applies advanced concepts to drive performance improvement in healthcare

settings. Designs improvement approaches to address system, mid-level, and front-line

problems as appropriate. Provides theory and application of continuous improvement.

Develops strategies to align high-level objectives with improvement efforts.

Prerequisites: OPX 525


POPULATION HEALTH

POP 500: Essentials of Population Health (3)

Introduces and extends the analytical framework provided by contemporary models of

community health and community Health Assessment to explore how health outcomes for

populations are influenced by social, economic, environmental, behavioral and political

factors. Addresses distinguishing characteristics of populations defined by geography,

diagnosis and/or point of care. Describes how clinical and non-clinical evidence is used to

measure health-related outcomes, analyze patterns, communicate results, identify best

practices and implement effective interventions. Poses ethical questions inherent to the

study of the health of populations and to strategies for managing population health.

POP 510: Health Economics, Risk & Finance (3)

Presents health economics as an extension of economics and introduces theories, concepts,

and issues specific to health economics. Examines role of supply and demand in establishing

equilibrium in the health/healthcare market. Applies concepts of risk and risk management

specifically to health and health care. Uses issues of risk to look at health finance. Describes

theory of risk management. Presents tools of risk management and how they are used to

avoid, prevent, or mitigate risk. Utilizes financial statements and controls to measure and

monitor risks. Examines health insurance as a mechanism for health finance. Speculates on

the impact of the Affordable Care Act and other health policies on healthcare finance.

Explores validation of a financial dashboard for managing economic risk of an Accountable

Care Organization.


POP 550: Disease Prevention & Care Management (3)

Reviews historical and emerging patterns of chronic disease prevalence and the underlying

socioeconomic factors in the United States. Introduces various evidence-based models as

frameworks for disease prevention and care management. Critiques strategies for population-

based prevention and care management, including payment options and roles/responsibilities

of care providers. Explores ethical concerns related to disease prevention and care

management.


POP 560: Population Health Management Applications (3)

Advanced integrative course utilizes case studies and applies key elements of population

health management learned in previous courses, including development of accountable care

processes and infrastructure, payer relationships, care coordination, health and financial

management system, and leadership.

Prerequisites: AHE 509, HPL 500, HPL 504, HPL 506, HPL 508, HQS 500, HQS 501, POP 500,

POP 510, POP 550


POP 600: Capstone Seminar (3)

Prepares students to apply knowledge and competencies developed in previous courses by

developing an actual implementation plan for an Accountable Care Organization.

Prerequisites: POP 560

POP 601: Capstone Project (3)

Comprehensively assesses a specific geographic area to identify health-related strengths and

deficits, community assets and existing relationships. Synthesizes and analyzes this

information to propose, justify and present a specific implementation plan designed to

maximize community benefit.

Prerequisites: POP 600 (Can be taken concurrently with permission)


POPULATION HEALTH INTELLIGENCE

PHI 501: Introduction to Health Data Acquisition & Management (3)

Introduces students to the broad array of health-related qualitative and quantitative data,

their sources and the methods required to manage such data. Explores the organization of

enterprise-wide health IT hardware and software platforms and infrastructure. Examines

issues of security compliance and the development of and conformance with related

governmental and institutional regulations and procedures.

PHI 516: Specialized Data Topics (3)

Population Health Intelligence is an emerging field requiring an ever-expanding array of

knowledge, skills, and competencies. Explores a variety of current issues in health data

including: (1) spatial information (GIS); (2) telehealth; (3) wearables; (4) qualitative data; (5)

human interface design; and (6) software purchasing. Course curriculum is subject to change

as new topics of interest to population health practitioners emerge.

Prerequisites: PHI 501

PHI 518: Data Science I (3)

Applies computational and statistical techniques to address or gain insight into a real-world

problem. Provides a comprehensive overview of data science, the practice of obtaining,

modeling and interpreting data. Explores the process of how to structure applications of

analytic methods for analyzing administrative, environmental, social, public health and

clinical systems data. Introduces the data analytic process, which includes analytic planning,

exploratory data analysis, multivariate statistical methods, statistical inference and practical

interpretation of results.

Prerequisites: PHI 501, HPL 520, POP 500, AHE 509

PHI 525: Data Science II (3)

Engages in an array of advanced data mining methods used by health analytic practitioners to

answer clinical and health services research questions and population health. Emphasizes

exposure to methods such as simulation, predictive modeling, neural network analysis and

natural language processing. Focuses on applications of these methods to demand/utilization

forecasting, risk stratification, cost reduction and quality improvement. Provides case studies

that involve hands-on analyses of datasets, interpretation and presentation of findings.


PHI 527: Analytics Leadership & Administration (3)

Provides students with the skills necessary to design, implement and evaluate analytic

solutions for healthcare systems and related organizations. Examines the data, technical and

organizational requirements necessary for the success of analytical solutions. Provides

students with real-world case studies that examine the role of analytics in an organization.


Emphasizes the implementation and leadership of the analytical function in an enterprise.

Prerequisites: PHI 501, HPL 500, POP 500

PHI 532: Data Presentation Architecture (3)

Explores the art of data visualization, communications, organizational psychology and change

management with the goal of driving operational, tactical and strategic decision-making

within healthcare organizations. Focuses on how to use data to a) provide knowledge in the

most effective manner possible (i.e., provide relevant, timely and complete data to each

audience member in a clear and understandable manner that conveys important meaning, is

actionable and can affect understanding, behavior and decisions) and b) provide knowledge in

the most efficient manner possible (i.e., minimize noise, complexity and unnecessary data or

detail given each audience's needs and roles).

Prerequisites: PHI 518, PHI 516

PHI 538: Implementation Science (3)

Provides a multidisciplinary framework and methodology to promote the integration of

scientific evidence into healthcare practice, policy and research. Focuses on a range of

theories and methods used to determine factors that promote or impede the adoption,

adaptation and maintenance of healthcare interventions by individuals, providers, payers and

communities. Prepares students to plan and manage the implementation of new or the

improvement of existing programs and policies. Provides training on analytic methods for

assessing and addressing implementation issues in clinical settings and healthcare systems.


PHI 600: Capstone Seminar (3)

Critically analyzes strategies for population health development, implementation and analysis

within the context of student proposals for Capstone Projects.

Prerequisites: PHI 538, PHI 532, HQS 501

PHI 601: Capstone Project (3)

Requires the students to apply the knowledge and competencies developed in the program by

developing a population health intelligence strategy or initiative. Comprehensively assesses

organizational and community data needs and resources along with identifying ethical and

regulatory requirements for protection of protected health information. Synthesizes and

analyzes this information to propose and justify a specific strategy or initiative. Students are

evaluated according to criteria, negotiated and communicated in advance.

Prerequisites: PHI 600 (Can be taken concurrently with permission)


POPULATION HEALTH SCIENCES

PHS 602: Bioethics (1)

This seminar course introduces bioethics in research from a population health perspective.

Develops an understanding of the legal requirements and ethical considerations associated

with conducting research in humans, as well as frameworks for analyzing these issues.

PHS 615: Advanced Statistics for Population Health Sciences: Multi-Level Modeling (3)

Introduces multilevel modeling, aka, hierarchical linear modeling. Investigates the

relationships between individuals and their contextual lives (i.e., neighborhood, culture,

family, etc.) to determine which individual and contextual variables contribute to mortality

and morbidity. Introduces methods to determine the predictors at both levels and the

variance between and within individual and contextual levels. Also introduces methods for

longitudinal modeling approaches and analysis. Uses software such as the Hierarchical Linear

Modeling (HLM) software.

Prerequisites: PBH 605

PHS 620: Teaching & Learning Seminar (3)

Introduces fundamentals of course design and facilitation for f2f and online learning,

including instructional design theory, online moderation techniques, technologies for online

learning, development of course objectives, the Quality Matters Rubric for quality online

course design, and support resources available to both faculty and students.

PHS 650: Evaluative & Outcomes Research & Design (3)

Provides experience in design of scientific evaluative studies through lectures, group work,

and student proposal development. Critically examines various approaches and methods for

scientific evaluation paradigms. Presents operationalization of variables, threats to validity,

and experimental, quasi-experimental and non-experimental research designs. Outcomes

measurement will also be covered in PHS 660: Mentored Research Seminar (1, 2 or 3)

This course is intended as an opportunity for Population Health Science PhD students to gain

skills and experience in the conduct of research and in the application of various research

methods, and to apply already learned skills to real world research problems. Appropriate

research activities may be any across the spectrum of research including planning a study,

writing a grant application, joining an already underway research project as a research

assistant, collecting data, data analysis and dissemination and/or authoring or co-authoring a

manuscript. The student will choose a research mentor and arrange for the activities and

deliverables that will constitute the PHS 660 course. The student is expected to work with the

mentor/team to detail activities and deliverables that correspond to the number of credit

hours for which the student is registered (1 cr = approx. 2-3 hrs/week).


PHS 660: Mentored Research Seminar (1)

This course is intended as an opportunity for Population Health Science PhD students to gain

skills and experience in the conduct of research and in the application of various research

methods, and to apply already learned skills to real world research problems. Appropriate

research activities may be any across the spectrum of research including planning a study,

writing a grant application, joining an already underway research project as a research

assistant, collecting data, data analysis and dissemination and/or authoring or co-authoring a

manuscript. The student will choose a research mentor and arrange for the activities and

deliverables that will constitute this course. The student is expected to work with the

mentor/team to detail activities and deliverables that correspond to the number of credit

hours for which the student is registered (1 cr = approx. 2-3 hrs/week).

Prerequisites: Approval by Program Director required

PHS 670: Advanced Health Behavior Methods & Measurement (3)

Course focuses on health and health outcomes measurement. Particular focus on self-report

instrumentation/patient-reported outcomes (SRI’s/PRO’s) development & testing, selection

and interpretation of instrumentation, analysis of studies in which self-report instrumentation

is used. Some coverage of instrument development will be included. The central focus will be

on the methodology of instrument development and testing for of a patient-reported

outcomes instrument (PRO) and related assessment tools. PROs are typically self-report

questionnaires on quality-of-life health concepts, such as anxiety, fatigue, pain, or physical

function. The course material will emphasize the design of PRO development and the

psychometric (item) analysis used in this process. The topics will take students through the

“life cycle” of a health measurement instrument, starting with concept development and

proceeding through cognitive interviews, classical item analysis, factor analysis, item

response theory, scoring, score interpretation, and validation.

Prerequisites: PHS 605, PHS 700 (1x)

PHS 680: Advanced Analytic Methods for Health Behavior Science (3)

Survey course of additional conceptual topics and their appropriate analytic techniques

relevant for health behavior science/ health behavior measurement including additional

instruction on exploratory factor analysis and the introduction of confirmatory factory

analysis. Implementation science and evaluation frameworks (such as RE-AIM) and longitudinal

modeling will also be included, as well as advanced regression and categorical data analysis

topics according to student interest. The course will focus on conceptual understanding of

these topics, their application and interpretation, rather than statistical treatments. Students

will produce written results sections corresponding to analyses. The objective of this course is

to equip students with expertise in a broad range of techniques and concepts common in

health behavior science, and with adequate analytic expertise to conduct original research. Prerequisites: PHS 605, PHS 700 (1x)


PHS 700: Integrative Research Seminar (1 x 4)

Provides a venue for critiquing scientific literature and analyzing various methodologies in

preparation of dissertation proposal. Under the direction of invited faculty, students discuss

and analyze articles from major journals to evaluate significance of the issue(s) presented,

appropriateness of the research design, choice of statistical methods, and the meaningfulness

of the findings.

PHS 800: Comprehensive Exam Prep (1)

Student will employ a variety of provided resources and strategies to prepare themselves for

the comprehensive exam. Students work closely with the Program Director and competency

examination committee.

PHS 801: Comprehensive Exam (1)

Competency examination is a two-part exam. Part one is an in-person essay examination and

part-two is a written research proposal completed by the student during the term and

defended at the end of the term. Students work closely with Program Director and

competency examination faculty.

Prerequisites: PHS 800

PHS 805: Dissertation Proposal Seminar (3)

Intended for the student who is advancing to doctoral candidacy and taken in the final

semester of course work. Prepares students for the dissertation process. Culminates in

preparation of annotated outline of a dissertation proposal that includes the first three

chapters: (1) introduction and background to the issue/problem and research

questions/hypotheses; (2) literature review; and (3) description of methods including design,

variables, sample(s) and outcome measures. Graded on a Pass/Fail basis.

Prerequisites: PHS 800, PHS 801, Advancement to Candidacy

PHS 807: Dissertation Proposal Defense (1)

Students register for this course during their dissertation proposal and in the term in which it

will be defended. Defense is a presentation to committee. Graded on a Pass/Fail basis.


PHS 810: Dissertation (3)

Students are working on completing their dissertation research and drafting dissertation

manuscript. Graded on a Pass/Fail basis.


Students are working on completing their dissertation research and drafting dissertation

manuscript. Must be taken immediately following PHS 810. Graded on a Pass/Fail basis.




Dissertation continuation.1 credit until dissertation is successfully defended



PUBLIC HEALTH

PBH 501: Introduction to Public Health (3)

Introduces history and basic principles of public health and their application to the health

status of populations. Presents public health resources used to monitor the health status of

the community and to evaluate public health interventions. Focuses on the basis of public

health, settings and tools for public health practice, provision of public health services and

the future of public health practice.

PBH 502: Social & Behavioral Foundations of Public Health (3)

Addresses behavioral, social and cultural factors related to individual and population health

and health disparities over the life span. Examines research and practice that contribute to

the development, administration and evaluation of public health programs and policies that

promote and sustain healthy lives and environments for individuals and populations.

PBH 504: Fundamentals of Health Statistics (3)

Introduces basics of descriptive and inferential statistics, including sampling and probability,

in estimation and statistical decisions as used in public health. Applications include

estimation of confidence intervals; testing statistical hypotheses for population means,

proportions, and variances; and use of non-parametric tests. Utilizes Statistical Package for

the Social Sciences (SPSS) as software tool to enter and analyze public health data. Uses

Philadelphia regional data from the Public Health Management Corporation as basis for

student projects.

PBH 506: Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3)

Introduces epidemiology and its application in public health. Addresses basic epidemiologic

terminology and definitions. Presents public health problems in terms of magnitude, person,

time, place, and disease frequency. Examines correlation measures between risk factors and

disease outcomes; strengths and weaknesses of standard epidemiologic study designs; and

ethical and legal issues related to epidemiologic data. Students calculate basic epidemiology

measures, draw inferences from epidemiologic reports, and use information technology to

access, evaluate, and interpret public health data.

PBH 507: Fundamentals of Environmental Health (3)

Introduces environmental health sciences. Addresses social, political and economic factors

that influence environmental health, including identification of major pollutants, their

sources and adverse health effects. Examines general mechanisms of toxicity following

environmental exposures, including the impact of such exposures on children’s health. Studies

risk assessment of environmental hazards and surveys government regulations and their

significance in protecting human health. Specific topics include solid, liquid, and hazardous

waste, food safety, water and air pollution, and climate change.


PBH 509: Public Health Policy & Advocacy (3)

Introduction to public health policy. Surveys legal structure that supports health and public

health policy. Addresses process by which policy is developed and implemented and explores

role of advocacy in this process. Focuses on key public and private stakeholders and examines

public health policy initiatives that originate at federal, state, local, and institutional levels.

Students analyze policies related to maternal and child health, obesity, tobacco control,

environmental health, climate change preparedness, and delivery of primary care.

Emphasizes role of public health advocacy planning and implementation.

Prerequisites: PBH 501, PBH 502

PBH 510: Health Research Methods (3)

This course presents a fundamental framework for health research methods, including critical

analysis of public health and health services research literature. Each research

method/technique and associated topic areas will be presented through lecture, and

reinforced through small group exercises and homework. You will be developing a research

proposal this semester. As such, I encourage you to select a research topic area of interest

that is tied to a potential MPH Capstone research project, although that is not a requirement

of the course. The skills you gain in proposal writing will serve you in many different contexts

in the future. Course will include an overview of the field of health services research as it

applies to public health, with the capacity for critical appraisal of the literature and with the

ability to design a basic public health/health services research project.

Prerequisites: PBH 501, PBH 502, PBH 504, PBH 506

PBH 511: Health Communication (3)

Introduces health communication at both the individual and community levels. Presents

dominant approaches in health communication and social marketing. Topics include micro-

and macro-level theories of health behavior change; skills in patient care communication;

role of communication in health care and public health promotion and disease prevention;

design, implementation, and evaluation of health communication and social marketing

campaigns; media advocacy; and the media and health.

PBH 512: Qualitative Research Methods (3)

Introduces philosophy, techniques and uses of common forms of qualitative research with an

emphasis on data collection and analysis. Addresses strengths and limitations of qualitative

research and ethical issues surrounding its use. Students practice qualitative research

methods through participant observation, fieldwork, in-depth interviewing, focus groups, and

case studies.

PBH 514: Dimensions of Global Health (3)

Explores major issues in global health from the perspective of multiple health disciplines.

Emphasizes global/local aspects of public health. Focuses on issues in less developed

countries including global burden of disease; social determinants of health; health and socio-

economic development; advocacy, policy, trade and health; and health and human rights.


Discusses global health from perspectives of non-communicable diseases, the built

environment, water and sanitation, nutrition, tobacco, maternal/child health, unintentional

and intentional injuries, and communicable diseases such as HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and

malaria. Surveys role of health care delivery systems and global institutions as they relate to

global health issues.

Prerequisites: PBH 501 (Can be taken concurrently with permission)

PBH 515: Cultural Humility & Competence (3)

Explores cultural competency as it applies to health/human service practitioners. Facilitates

development of cultural competence and humility in one’s self, colleagues, health service

and public health work environment. Reviews literature on diversity and cultural competence

as it relates to disparities in health status and access to quality care. Applies students’

knowledge and personal reflection to their professional work and develops an individual or

community health initiative that reflects cultural humility and competency. Students develop

an action plan that promotes diversity and cultural awareness in professional development

and organizational settings.

PBH 516: Human Rights of Refugees, Immigrants & the Internally Displaced (3)

This course focuses on human rights and the public health of Refugees, Immigrants, and the

Internally Displaced. Begins with an overview of how universal human rights are described and

upheld by international human rights legislation and key global and national organizations.

Analyzes unique populations that have been personally affected or whose story accurately

demonstrates an aspect of human rights on a global scale. Includes populations with both

historic (e.g., native Americans) or current (e.g., Syria) perspectives. Utilizes multiple

methodologies of case studies, IQ, debates, “flipped classroom,” documentaries,

videos, team and individual projects and presentations.

PBH 521: Program Planning, Implementation & Evaluation, Part I (3)

Utilizes the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s (TJUH) Community Health Needs

Assessment as a major case study, allowing students to work in teams of two or three to

assess and choose a priority area of community need, then develop a detailed plan to address

and evaluate proposed interventions woven into a grant proposal. Develops and practices

writing SMART objectives and logic models. Applies public health models to program planning,

learns tools to prioritize community needs, and uses resources to identify evidence-based

best practices for choosing interventions. PBH 522: Program Planning, Implementation and

Evaluation will follow this course and continue building on these competencies.

Prerequisites: PBH 501, PBH 502, PBH 504, PBH 506, PBH 507, PBH 509*, PBH 510* (* Can be

taken concurrently with permission)

PBH 522: Program Planning, Implementation & Evaluation, Part II (3)

Builds on the objectives, logic model and program plan developed in PBH 521 by allowing

students to continue working in teams of two or three and further developing their grant

proposal. Using implementation science, this course enables students to develop


implementation and evaluation plans with a focus on summative evaluation (process, impact

and outcome evaluation). Prepares students to learn about and practice writing the key

sections of a grant proposal. Covers how and where to identify funders, reviews typical

Requests for Proposals and funder guidelines, and develops skills in researching, writing and

refining each of the various parts of a grant. Culminates in students presenting their proposals

to a mock funding review committee.


PBH 602: Advanced Social & Behavioral Theories & Interventions (3)

Advanced presentation and analysis of behavioral, social and cultural factors related to

individual and population health and health disparities over the life span. Critically examines

individual, interpersonal, and community level evidence-based research and practice that

contribute to development, administration, and evaluation of public health intervention

programs and policies that promote and sustain healthy lives. Focuses heavily on published

literature and intensive class discussion.


PBH 605: Advanced Statistical Methods for Data Analysis (3)

Presents general approaches to multivariate statistical analysis, including elaboration and

control of confounding, and key multivariate statistical analysis techniques, i.e., analysis of

variance; bivariate linear regression and correlation; multiple linear regression; multiple and

partial correlation; and binary and multinomial logistic regression. Analyzes selected

datasets, i.e., 2012 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey performed by the

Public Health Management Corporation, and federal datasets, e.g., NHANES.


PBH 606: Advanced Epidemiology (3)

Builds on PBH 506. Presents examples of epidemiological theory and methods such as:

Bayesian Epidemiology, design and analysis of cross-over studies, multivariate analysis, and

propensity scores.


PBH 609: Geo-Based Information Systems (GIS) Mapping (3)

Introduction to mapping and analyzing health-related data using a geographic information

system (GIS). Mapping exercises address substantive health care policy and planning issues

such as cancer morbidity and mortality, health patterns of uninsured and poor populations,

and environmental hazards.

Prerequisites: PBH 504, PBH 506 (Can be taken concurrently with permission)

PBH 610: Capstone/Integrative Learning Experience Seminar & Project (3)

Prepares students research and develop key components of the Capstone Project. Explains

types of projects, topic selection, problem definition, selection of capstone chair and

formation of capstone committee. Reviews essential steps in project development such as


literature review, framing questions, assessment of best practices, and analytical methods

and evaluation. Students prepare formal presentation as the culminating activity in the MPH

program. Students also prepare a project abstract for presentation at a local, regional or

national public health meeting.

Prerequisites: PBH 510, PBH 650* (*Can be taken concurrently with permission) Only open to

students in the LPHT Pathway

PBH 611: Capstone/Integrative Learning Experience, LEAP Part I (2)

This two semester course will provide students an important opportunity to demonstrate a

holistic understanding of the public health field and the important link between public health

and healthcare. This course will provide support to LEAP students in order to assure they can

process, integrate, refine and apply the tools and skills they are acquiring in their MPH core

courses, their elective courses and the skills they are developing during their Clerkship-

Applied Practice Experience (APE).

Prerequisites: PBH 510, PBH 650* (*Can be taken concurrently with permission) Only open to

students in the LEAP Pathway

PBH 612: Capstone/Integrative Learning Experience, LEAP Part II (1)

This course is the second part of the two-part course. This course will provide students an

opportunity to demonstrate mastery of programmatic and individual goal specific, public

health competencies and leadership skill development. It will address identification and

evaluation of evidence to inform public health practice, and it will focus on synthesizing and

translating evidence to inform and improve communication to the lay community. Students

will demonstrate integration of knowledge through the completion of authentic individual and

group assignments. A secondary objective of this course is to prepare students for the

comprehensive exam.

Prerequisites: PBH 611 Only open to students in the LEAP Pathway

PBH 650: Clerkship – Applied Practice Experience (C-APE) (3)

Provides an experiential learning activity in public health. Students work as volunteers in a

public health organization with the guidance of a preceptor. Roles vary by interest and

organizational need, but may include developing and implementing health education

campaigns and training programs, conducting health needs assessments, evaluating programs,

and/or participating in community health events.

Prerequisites: PBH 501, PBH 502, PBH 504, PBH 506

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