Although the practice of public health has always been political, the role of politics and political actors have taken center stage in todays U.S. healthcare system. In recent years, few issues have attracted more controversy and political rancor than matters of womens health. Some issues may seem intractable due to conflicting but sincerely held beliefs rooted in religion, ethics and morality. Other matters are more clear-cut. For many women, this sweeping and intensifying political discord has compromised their health status, and curtailed their social and economic resources along with their legal rights.Relying on their complementary expertise in social work and law, Prof. Hawkins and Prof. Chirba will guide students in understanding the importance of interdisciplinary study when confronting problems of individual and public health, particularly when it comes to womens health. Thus, students will learn to understand the ways in which social, cultural, economic, political and legal forces impede the health status of women across the life course, and more specifically, hamper womens access to health care that is appropriate, adequate and affordable. Students will then use their interdisciplinary training to evaluate how to develop sound social and economic policies to mitigate gaps across the healthcare continuum, and how to use law to implement such measures to protect women regardless of age, race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status.
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