Topics in Clinical Public Health: COVID-19 in the US*

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Department
Medicine
Course Number
MED 320 (formerly IDIS 320)*
Course Title Topics in Clinical Public Health: COVID-19 in the US*
Course Director
Marc Siegel, MD
Length (Weeks)

2
When Offered

*No longer offered
Prerequisites

None
Availability Notes

*Please note that this course is no longer offered as of June 30, 2024. 

This elective is particularly relevant for students interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the current base of knowledge surrounding COVID-19 in the U.S. and/or students with an interest in Clinical Public Health. Approval only required one week or less before start date. This was originally developed in May 2020 by Drs. Karla Bartholomew and Hana Axelrod and updated over time with new leadership from Dr. Marc Siegel starting April 23, 2023.
Contact Name
Kat Binney
Contact Phone
Contact Fax
Contact Email
kbinney86@gwu.edu
Other Contacts

Dr. Marc Siegel (see Dr. Siegel's faculty profile)
Location

Offered virtually/online, see description below
Limit
None
Report

Online
Evaluation

Pass/Fail (Pass requirements identified below)
Description

*Please note that this course is no longer offered as of June 30, 2024.

Purpose and Rationale for the Course: As a rapidly evolving pandemic, COVID-19 is now impacting—and will for the foreseeable future—the patients, families, communities, and institutions in which medical students are learning and working. This virtual elective responds to that reality by providing students with a foundational knowledge base regarding COVID-19. In addition, this elective uses the context of COVID-19, in which our existing knowledge base is often incomplete and/or potentially incorrect, to both foster self-directed learning among students and to highlight the need to function in a context of incomplete and/or rapidly evolving information.

Target Students: This elective is particularly relevant for students interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the current base of knowledge surrounding COVID-19 in the U.S. and/or students with an interest in Clinical Public Health.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Discuss the current foundational knowledge base surrounding COVID-19, including its origins, key epidemiologic measures, public health responses, disparities, and clinical care.
  2. Practice self-directed and reflective learning in the context of COVID-19 and its rapidly evolving knowledge base.

Course Description: This 2-week virtual elective comprises 10 modules to be completed in sequence. Each module includes a series of self-guided resources and activities as well as a brief required deliverable designed to expand student learning about the current knowledge base surrounding COVID-19.

  • Module #1: The Origins of SARS-CoV-2                             
  • Module #2: Measures of Infectious Diseases
  • Module #3: COVID-19 – Understanding the Basics
  • Module #4: Diagnostics in COVID-19
  • Module #5: Public Health Systems and Activities
  • Module #6: Social Determinants in a Pandemic
  • Module #7: COVID-19:  Marginalized Populations and Health Disparities
  • Module #8: Working Clinically in the Time of COVID-19
  • Module #9: Clinical Care for Patients with COVID-19
  • Module #10: Moving forward with COVID-19

These modules are augmented by two multiple choice quizzes and a weekly student-facilitated group discussion designed to both foster self-directed learning and to help prepare students to function in situations with incomplete and/or rapidly evolving information/knowledge base.
Additional Notes

*Please note that this course is no longer offered as of June 30, 2024.

Grading:  Pass/Fail  (Pass requirements identified below)

Type of Assignment Number of Assignments Grading Scheme # Points Each Total Points – Assignment Type
Module Assignment 10 Pass/Fail 5 50
Group Discussion - Reflection 2 Pass/Fail 12.5 25
Quizzes 2 Pass/Fail 12.5 25
         
TOTAL AVAILABLE POINTS 100
POINTS REQUIRED TO PASS COURSE 80

All assignments are:

  • Graded for submission/substantial completion (i.e., all potential points are awarded for submitting substantially completed assignments).
  • Subject to review by course director(s) who may determine the assignment has not been substantially completed and must be revised to receive points.
  • To be submitted by the assigned time unless express permission has been granted for an alternate time by the course director(s).

Module assignments:

  • Each module includes a brief required deliverable designed to expand student learning that will vary according to the content of the module.
  • An answer sheet or guide will be posted after each module assignment deadline for student self-assessment and additional learning.

Group discussion reflection:

  • Students participate in weekly 1-hour student-facilitated virtual small group discussions that are guided by assigned prompts.
  • Group discussions will allow students to provide feedback to each other; the assignment will be a brief reflection on how the group discussion contributed to their understanding of/approach to the assigned prompt.

Quizzes:

  • Quizzes will employ multiple choice questions (MCQs) that assess information provided in the modules (#1-5 and #6-10) as synthesized in the module assignments.