Principles of Public Health
Fall 2011
10:832:232:01
8/11
Note: This syllabus is subject to change throughout the semester.
Instructor: Marci Berger, MA, MPH, PhD Candidate
E-mail: mberger@usrealestateacq.com
Phone: 732-603-9375
Office Hours: By Appointment
Overview:
This is a survey course about public health. We will briefly cover many different
facets of public health including policy; data; diseases; behavioral factors;
environmental issues; and emergency preparedness. We will learn about these
issues through textbook readings, news articles, class discussions and other
media. Class discussion is an integral part of this class and will count for 40% of
the final grade.
Our discussions will often focus on how current events – as emphasized through
news articles - inform the textbook readings. It is imperative that you read the
articles PRIOR to class and bring them with you. Occasionally, I will change the
assigned news articles to capture something very current in the news. We will
also study events in real world that impact public health such as – Hurricane
Katrina, HIV, and obesity/nutrition.
Themes for the Course:
1. The diverse roles of public health
2. The importance of communicating information and the different methods
involved
3. Data - a foundation of public health
4. Data – various uses
5. The conflict between individual vs. community responsibilities
Required Texts:
Carney, Jan. Public Health In Action: Practicing in the Real World. 2006,
Jones and Bartlett
Schneider, Mary-Jane. Introduction to Public Health, 3nd ed. 2011, Jones
and Bartlett
Additional Required Articles:
You will be assigned various articles weekly in addition to the textbook readings.
Some weeks your required readings may consist only of articles. I WILL
PROVIDE YOU WITH CITATIONS FOR THE ARTICLES, NOT ALWAYS DIRECT
LINKS. You are expected to be able to conduct a search for the required articles,
many of which CANNOT be found simply through using Google. You will often
have to use the Rutgers University Library database.
Some databases you may find useful include:
Access World News
EBSCO
JSTOR
You are expected to complete ALL readings prior to class as a requirement for
participation in class discussions. Please bring copies of the articles to class with
you each week.
Grading:
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Final
Class Participation
Class Assignment
10%
10%
20%
40%
20%
Grading is based on performance on 1 exam, 2 quizzes, a class/group
assignment and class participation. If you don’t attend class, you cannot get
credit for participating in the discussion. Discussion is an integral part of
the course. Please note that class participation is 40% of your final
grade. If you are not comfortable participating in class discussions,
please think twice about taking this class! There are other sections of
this class that may not emphasize discussion.
The Class Assignment will be discussed in class and guidelines for the
assignment will also be handed out during the semester.
All material covered by the texts, class discussions, videos, additional readings,
lectures and guest lecturers are to be expected on the exams.
Attendance:
Students are expected to attend all classes. If you expect to miss a class, please
use the University absence reporting website, https://sims.rutgers.edu/ssra/ to
indicated the date and reason for your absence. An e-mail is automatically sent
to me.
Papers:
Assignments that are to be handed in are due at the beginning of the class
period. Unless otherwise noted, assignments are to be handed in by hard copy,
not e-mail. Late assignments will lose one full grade for each day
they are late. Assignment extensions MUST be discussed no less than 2
days in advance of the due date.
Exams:
Exam clashes are to be discussed with the professor AT LEAST 4 DAYS
IN ADVANCE of scheduled testing date. ONE alternative testing date will be
offered for use by ALL students. Requests for an alternative date received less
than 4 days in advance will not be honored. Only valid exam clashes will be
grounds for utilizing the alternative date such as a conflict with another exam.
Family social engagements and volunteer activities are NOT legitimate conflict
reasons.
If there is serious illness or an emergency on the day of the exam, contact Ms.
Berger IMMEDIATELY. Failure to make alternative arrangements prior to
an exam will result in a 0 for that exam. There are no make-up exams for
unexcused absences.
Any questions regarding the grading of exams must be brought to Ms. Berger’s
attention within 4 DAYS after receipt back of graded exam. Questions
regarding exam grades will not be considered after this time period.
Class Assignment:
Each student is expected to work in a group to present a group project. You will
receive a separate handout with the information about this project later in the
semester.
Use of electronics in class:
Laptops are to be used by students for notetaking only. Please do not surf the
net or send e-mails during class. Do NOT send an e-mail to me during class
time. Cellphones must be turned OFF during class time. Texting during class
time will not be tolerated.
Sending e-mail:
I check e-mail daily. If you send me an e-mail, please make sure you include the
following: a greeting (such as “Dear Professor Berger” or “Hello Ms. Berger”);
the class name (I teach more than one class); and please sign off with your
name.
Coursework Requirements:
Rutgers University Policy on Academic Integrity applies to all coursework.
Students in this class and in all courses at Rutgers University are expected to
uphold the highest standards of academic integrity. Cheating, plagarism in
written work, receiving and providing unauthorized assistance and sabotaging
the work of others are among the behaviors that constitute violations of the
Policy on Academic Integrity. You are expected to be familiar with this policy.
If you are not familiar with this policy, please review it at:
http://ctaar.rutgers.edu/integrity/policy.html.
You are expected to complete the assigned readings prior to class to be able to
participate in a class discussion.
Schedule:
September 1 - Lecture 1
Public Health and Health Policy
History of public health… Role of the government….Why Public Health
is Controversial … Role of Communication
READ:
Chapters 1 - 3 (S, Schneider)
Chapters 4, 14,15,17,55 (C, Carney)
Articles:
 Newsweek: “A Cure for Health Care Costs?” By Mary Carmichael,
1/4/10
 NYT (New York Times): “Sin Is Sure Lucrative”, by Catherine Rampell,
4/18/10
 NYT: “Panel Adds to Debate Over the Cancer Risk of Cellphone
Radiation” by Tara Parker-Pope and Felicity Barringer, 6/1/11
 Nation’s Health: “RU Healthy? Public Health Efforts Take on Texting
Messaging” by Kim Krisberg, March 2009, Vol. 39 Issue 2
 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR): Ten Great Public
Health Achievements – United States, 2001-2010. May 20, 2011, Vol.60,
No. 19
September 8 – No Class – Monday classes
meet
September 15 - Lecture 2
Public Health and Government
History of health insurance…Health care reform …. Impact of
government agencies: FDA…USDA
Handout for group projects
READ:
Chapters 23-25 and Chapter 28 pp. 513-515 (S)
Articles:
 Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics Supplement: “National Health
Care Reform and the Public’s Health” by Corey Davis and Sarah Somers,
Spring 2011.
 The Commonwealth Fund Blog: “How the Affordable Care Act is
Helping Young Adults Stay Covered” by Sara R. Collins, 5/26/11.
www.commonwealthfund.org/content/blog/2011/May
 NYT: “Competing to Design a New Label for Food” by Tara Parker Pope,
8/2/11
- For food label design, visit Berkeley.news21.com/foodlabel
 NYT: Editorial: “Sound Medical Advice” 7/21/11
 NYT: “Goodbye to the Food Pyramid, Hello to the Dinner Plate” by
William Neuman, 5/28/11
 Star Ledger: “’My Plate’ to Replace USDA’s Food Pyramid” by Mary Clare
Jalonick, 6/3/11 through Associated Press
- For USDA new food information: Choosemyplate.gov
September 22 - Lecture 3
Data, Epidemiology and Emergency
Preparedness
Types and usage of data … epidemiology basics…Emergency
Preparedness … Hurricane Katrina
READ:
Chapters 4,8,29 (S)
Chapter
43 ( C)
Articles:
 NYT: “Social Media Join Toolkit for Hunters of Disease” by Bronwyn
Garrity, 6/14/11
 NYT: “Defining An Illness is Fodder for Debate” by David Tuller, 3/8/11
 NYT: “Leprosy and Plague Down the Block” by Anemona Hartocollis,
2/11/11
 Department of Health and Human Services: Office of Assistant
Secretary for Preparedness and Response – 2011, Joplin, Missouri
Tornadoes. Begin at: www.phe.gov/emergency/news/sitreps
 NYT Magazine: “The Deadly Choices at Memorial” by Sheri Fink,
8/25/09
Assignment: Review CDC website – www.bt.cdc.gov/hazards-all.asp Browse
the site. What did you find most useful?
September 29 - NO CLASS.
October 6 - Lecture 4
Epidemiology II and Statistics
Incidence and Prevalence…Types of Studies…Limits of
Epidemiology…Basic Statistics…HIV Review
Group Projects and topics finalized
READ:
Chapters 5-7 (S)
Articles:
 NYT Magazine: “Do We Really Know What Makes Us Healthy?” by Gary
Taubes, 9/16/07
 NYT: “30 Years In, We Are Still Learning From AIDS” by Lawrence
Altman, MD, 5/31/11
 NYT: “A New Push to Let HIV Patients Accept Organs That Are Infected”
by Pam Belluck, 4/11/11
 NYT: “ Translation Matters in Choices on Data” by Nicholas Bakalar,
5/31/11
October 13 – Lecture 5
Biomedical Basis of Public Health
Infectious diseases…Chronic conditions…Genetic factors
READ:
Chapters 9,11,12 (S)
Articles:
 NYT: “Patrolling Cancer’s Borderlands” opinion section, by Siddhartha
Mukherjee, 7/17/11
 NYT: “Facing Life with a Lethal Gene” by Amy Harmon, 3/18/07
 NYT: “My Salad, My Health” by Elizabeth Rosenthal, 6/12/11
 NYT: “Why Parents Fear the Needle” by Michael Willrich, 1/21/11
 Reuters.com : “Swine Flu Shot Protects Against 1918 Flu: Study” by
Maggie Fox , 6/16/10 at
www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USTRE65E65S20100616
MOVIE: Influenza 1918
October 20 – Lecture 6
Environmental Health
Clean Air…Clean Water…Solid Waste
READ:
Chapters 19 – 22 (S)
Chapter 39 (C )
Articles:
 NYT: “Domestic Detox: Cleaning to Extremes” by Penelope Green,
5/27/10
 NYT: “At Issue in Gulf: Who Was in Charge? Hodgepodge of Oversight
for Rig Helped Set Stage for Disaster” by Ian Urbina, 6/6/10
 Discovermagazine.com: “The World’s Largest Dump: The Great
Pacific Garbage Patch” by Thomas Kostigen, 7/10/08.
www.discovermagazine.com/2008/jul/10-the-worlds-largest-dump/article


NYT: “To Nullify Lead, Add a Bunch of Fish Bones” by Felicity Barringer,
7/21/11
S.L. Editorial: “The Dirty Water Act” 7/17/11
October 27 – Quiz 1 and Discussion
Emerging Topics in Public Health
Study for short quiz
No Texts, just articles.
Articles:
 NYT: “College Bound, DNA Swab in Hand” by Tamar Lewin, 5/18/10
 NYT: “Circuitry with a Feel for Humanity” by Amy Harmon, 7/5/10
 NYT Magazine: “A Routine of One’s Own: Do exercise scientists know
enough about women?” by Gretchen Reynolds, GET DATE
 Newsweek: “The Great Divide- Why racial disparities in health care
persist” by Mary Charmichael, 2/15/10
 NYT: “Side Effects? These Drugs Have a Few” by Gina Kolata, 6/5/11
 NJ Lawyer: “Public Policy Can Trump Patient’s Confidentiality” by
Scibiorsky, Chris, 12/31/07 – to be handed out in class.
November 3 – Lecture 7
Social and Behavioral Factors in Public
Health
Health behavior models…Maternal and Child health…Vaccines
READ:
Chapters 14, 17, 18 (S)
Articles:
 NYT: “Risk and Reward in Utero” by Pam Belluck, 2/13/11
 Star Ledger from the Associated Press: “Vaccine Fears Complicate
Measles Outbreak in Minnesota” by Steve Karnowski, 4/3/11



Star Ledger: “Lack of Vaccinations Creates Greater Risk” by Lawrence
Frenkel, 4/28/11
NYT: “Grasping Risk in Life’s Classroom” by John Tierney, 7/19/11
Time Magazine: “Take Two Texts and Call Me in the Morning” by
Bonnie Rochman, 5/3/10
November 10 – NO CLASS
Work on your group projects!!
November 17 – Lecture 8
Current Public Health Concerns
Individual Responsibility…. Smoking…. Obesity
Movie: Supersize Me
READ:
Chapters 13,15,16 (S)
Articles:
 NYT: “E-Mails Reveal Dispute Over City’s Ad Against Sodas” by



Anemona Hartocollis, 10/29/10
Time: “Soda Taxes May Not Be Enough to Curb Obesity” by Alice Park,
12/13/10
NYT: “Tipping the Scales Over” by Jere Longman, 1/29/11
S.L.: (Article from Washington Post) “We Know the Danger of Lighting
Up” by Christopher Buckley, 6/26/11
TUESDAY, November 22 - Switched for
Thursday classes:
QUIZ # 2
Assignments: Follow up articles
No texts, only articles
 For maternal/child health –
- TIME: “The First 9 Months: How the First 9
Months Shape the Rest of Your Life” by Annie
Murphy Paul, 10/4/10
- NYT: “The Sleepover Question” by Amy Schalet,
7/24/11
 Nutrition/Obesity –
- NYT Magazine: “Fresh Approach” by Rob
Walker, 11/14/10
- CNN.com: “Twinkie Diet Helps Nutrition
Professor Lose 27 Pounds” by Madison Park
11/8/10
- NYT Magazine: “The Workout Enigma” by
Gretchen Reynolds
- S.L. (from Associated Press) “Parents Should
Lose Custody of Obese Kids, Experts Argue” by
Lindsey Tanner, 7/13/11
December 1 –
Final Group Presentations
 All groups to go today
 Each group has 15 minutes
 See handout for specific information
December 8: Final Day of Class and
FINAL EXAM
Final exam is CUMULATIVE, meaning it will cover material from the entire
semester.