Dr. Gen Meredith, a graduate of McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine (Occupational Therapy) and the University of Massachusetts’ School of Public Health (Master of Public Health), has come to Cornell to help design and lead the Master of Public Health program. Prior to this, Dr. Meredith spent eight years leading large international development projects with a focus on national public health systems development in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean, and four years doing the same in the United States. Dr. Meredith’s work has centered primarily on institutional capacity development and growth specifically related to integrated disease surveillance and response systems, the routine collection and use of data, and effective public health leadership and management infrastructure to support population health access and accountability.
Course Overview
Human health depends upon the health of the environment in which we live. We create systems to bring us clean water and to take away our waste, or we try to plant trees to keep land from washing away and to filter the air. Unfortunately, we also make changes to our environment that have the unintended effect of hurting our health.
Sometimes people think issues like air pollution or natural disasters are “too big,” yet there are things we can each do that will help protect ourselves. When combined, these individual actions can make a real difference.
You will start by understanding the risks then, using a case-study approach, examine some of the main environmental issues that affect our health. Looking back at history as well as into the future, you will share ideas for your role in addressing these problems.
You are required to have completed the following courses or have equivalent experience before taking this course:
- Public Health Foundations
- Assessing and Implementing Public Health
- Using Public Health Data for Action
- Supporting Public Health Behaviors
Key Course Takeaways
- Recognize environmental risks to human health, including air pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental disasters
- Identify opportunities to shape the health of your environment and the health of your community
- Develop an action plan to learn more about and support emergency preparedness in your community
How It Works
Course Authors
Dr. Alex Travis’s research explores a diverse set of subjects related to One Health, which is interdisciplinary work that links the functions and well-being of people, animals, and the environment. His interests include animal health and fertility as well as efforts to help alleviate poverty and hunger in developing countries, work that indirectly benefits local wildlife. Dr. Travis serves as Associate Dean of International Programs and Public Health at the College of Veterinary Medicine, and he is founding Director of Cornell’s Master of Public Health program.
Who Should Enroll
- Community health leaders
- Emerging public health leaders
- Public health volunteers
- Volunteers working with high-risk populations
- Outreach coordinators
- Anyone interested in personal and collective health and wellbeing, community development, preventing disease and injury, or leading change to support health equity
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