COVID-19 Courses at UNC Gillings

Spring 2021

PUBH 420/PUBH 720

Tuesdays, 5:45-7 p.m.
1 credit
Online/Remote

This course offers a multidisciplinary perspective on HIV/AIDS – its etiology, immunology, epidemiology and impact on individuals and society. The course will ask what lessons about pandemics can be learned from studying HIV/AIDS, with a specific focus on COVID-19.

Instructors: Dr. Ron Strauss, Executive Vice Provost, and Dr. Christopher Hunt

EPID 760: Vaccine Epidemiology

Mondays, 3:35-6:35 p.m.
3 credits
Online/Remote

Vaccines are one of the biggest public health achievements of the 21st century. This course covers an overview of vaccinology principles, mechanisms of action, and herd protection, and statistical considerations. Students will obtain an understanding of how vaccines are produced by industry, undergo preclinical evaluation, and evaluated for efficacy in clinical trials.

Instructors: Dr. Jennifer S. Smith, Department of Epidemiology, and Dr. David Weber,  Department of Epidemiology and School of Medicine- Infectious Diseases

Fall 2020

SPHG 101-001: Exploring Public Health Fields: Global and local health issues, efforts, and solutions

Wednesdays, 6:50-7:50 p.m.
1 credit
Online/Remote

This seminar-based, introductory course serves to provide a foundation in the breadth and depth of public health, locally and globally. Students will develop an understanding of the basic concepts of the public health disciplines and how they are used to promote health at a population level; learn about public health topics, research, academic paths, and careers; and engage with speakers from different public health disciplines, community organizations, and national agencies to gain insight into how research and practice are integrated to promote health at a population level.  Speakers will provide commentary and perspectives on their areas of expertise in addition to the covid-19 pandemic and related topics (aerosols and mask wearing, epidemiology, clinical trials and vaccines, social determinants of health, data collection and testing, health disparities and inequities, etc.). Course open to all students/no pre-requisites.

Instructor: Dr. Gregory Bocchino, Gillings School of Global Public Health

SPHG 690-001: Public Health Implications of Research related to Covid-19: A Framework for Action

Saturdays, 9am-5pm (Sept. 26 and Oct. 17)
1 credit
Hybrid

Combatting Covid-19 is organized around an amazing set of Gillings as well as local, state and national COVID experts. Through a series of lectures, discussions, interactive sessions, an optional service project, and a brief written assignment, you will receive a solid, introductory foundation understanding the COVID-19 virus.  Class 1 will clarify the COVID-19 virology and disease patterns, clarify inequities and ethics; mitigation efforts and treatments; how local, state and federal health departments and agencies are responding; and then interventions that focus on food access and security; risk mitigation in schools; front line health workers; essential employees; and more. Along the way, you will be introduced to experts, including Gillings faculty who are doing research you can learn about, and potentially get involved with.

Instructor: Dr. Laura Linnan, Senior Associate Dean for Academic6 and Student Affairs, and Elizabeth French, Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives

EPID 799B-001: Pandemics (Focus on COVID-19):  History, Epidemiology, and Mitigation

Fridays, 1:25-3:25 p.m.
2 credits
Online/Remote

This course is designed to provide an overview of key issues related to the history, epidemiology and response to pandemics with a major focus on the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The course will be lecture based and remote. Some of the topics that will be included involve: history of pandemics, developing vaccines and therapeutics; clinical trials of vaccines and therapeutics;  public response to pandemics- international, national and local; mitigation of pandemics in developing countries; responding to pandemics in the military; epidemiology and spread of respiratory viruses on college campuses; modeling pandemics; psychological impact of pandemics. We will have experts on the topic including leading researchers, public health officials, and clinicians who are currently working on the SARS-CoV-2 response providing lectures. Course open to Gillings school majors now; open to non-Gillings School majors on August 10 if space is available.

Instructors: Dr. Audrey Pettifor, Department of Epidemiology, and Dr. David Weber,  Department of Epidemiology and School of Medicine- Infectious Diseases