It is impossible to actually save a life. That’s because everybody—to the best of my knowledge—dies. But ideally, only after a long, healthy, meaningful life. And though we cannot save life, we can prolong life, improve life, and provide for equitable access to a long, healthy, meaningful life. In this seminar, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed will draw on his experiences at the intersection between politics, policy, and public health to explore how public policy shapes human well-being. Through this frame, we think about how modern systems of healthcare, public health, housing, air & water, and public space shape access to a long, healthy life.

Session 1: Rebuilding Detroit’s Health Department
Session 2: Public goods vs Private rights?
Session 3: Flint Town
Session 4: Prescription Drug Pricing
Session 5: The Green New Heal
Session 6: Why Healthcare is broken
Session 7: Medicare-for-All (and lesser healthcare proposals)

Intended Audience:

Honors students

This course is offered entirely online.

Class Format:

Learning Mode: Lectures and discussions will be online and synchronous, though lectures will be recorded for asynchronous participation when necessary.

Course Testing/Assessment: Testing for this course will be asynchronous and will consist of long essay questions, submitted via Canvas during a designated time frame.