The History of Public Health 



 
 November 20, 2009

 
Course Syllabus

Course Description | Course Objectives | Course Topics | Course Format | Course Materials | Contact Information | Help | Grading Policy | LiveTalk Attendance | Ethical Conduct


 

Course Description

Provides a broad outline of the historical context and development of public health. Accesses the various challenging hazards to health throughout history.


Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Examine public health through its historical context and use this information in the evaluation of current public health issues

Course Topics

We will address historical developments in the following themes:
  • The "new" public health
  • Quarantine
  • Sanitary idea
  • Workplace health
  • Public health in the school and the home
  • Vaccination
  • Professionalization

Course Format

The content of this course is divided into eight separate lectures to be completed over a period of eight weeks. The lecture sections are presented sequentially and should be listened to in that order.

There will be two types of discussion sessions in this course: LiveTalks and Bulletin Board discussions. Both of these discussion sessions involve all the students and Dr. Mooney.

The two LiveTalk sessions will focus on contemporary issues related to the history of public health. The dates of these sessions can be found on the Course Content page.

The four Bulletin Board sessions will revolve around discussion questions posed by Dr. Mooney. When participating in the discussions, you should seek to develop thoughtful responses to the questions and the responses of other students. Regular participation is expected, though the quality of your comments is more important than the quantity. The class will likely be broken down into two or more groups to better facilitate discussion. The Bulletin Board forums will be open for one week each.


Course Materials

Required Reading

The required lecture outlines and readings are all available online via Welch Library E-Reserves. The required texts are as follows:

  • Ibsen, Henrik (1964). A Public Enemy in Ghosts and Other Plays, trans. Peter Watts, London: Penguin Books.
  • Porter, Dorothy (1999). Health, Civilization, and the State: A History of Public Health from Ancient to Modern Times.

The Ibsen play does not need to be purchased. It is available online in this course.

The Porter text can be ordered through . . .

Matthews Johns Hopkins Medical Book Center
1830 East Monument Street
Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
410.955.3931
800.266.5725
410.955.0576 Fax
http://www.jhumedbooks.com/

Recommended Reading

  • Fee, Elizabeth (1987). Disease and Discovery, The Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • Porter, Dorothy (ed.), (1994). The History of Public Health and the Modern State.
  • Rosen, George (1958, 1993), A History of Public Health, Expanded Edition, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

These readings are also available at the Matthews Johns Hopkins Medical Book Center. Because they are not required, the number of copies available will be limited.

    General Reading References

    Some specific references will be provided with each lecture outline. The following general references may be helpful to those who wish to do further reading. In Baltimore, the references are on the reserve bookshelf in the Rare Book Room, 3rd floor, Welch Library. However, you may be able to locate them through libraries in your area.

    Knowledge of the general and specific references will not be assumed for the examination.

    • Brockington, C. Fraser (1956). A Short History of Public Health, London: J. & A. Churchill.
    • Cartwright, Frederick F. (1977). A Social History of Medicine.
    • Duffy, John (1990). The Sanitarians.
    • Feierman, Steven and Janzen, John M. (eds.) (1992). The Social Bases of Health and Healing in Africa, Berkeley: Univ. California Press.
    • Leslie, Charles (ed.) (1976). Asian Medical Systems, Berkeley: Univ. California Press.
    • Leslie, Charles and Young, Allan (eds.) (1992). Paths to Asian Medical Knowledge, Berkeley: Univ. California Press.
    • Porter, Roy (1997). The Greatest Benefit to Mankind.
    • Shryock, Richard H. (1947). The Development of Modern Medicine.
    • Sigerist, Henry E. (1941). Medicine and Human Welfare.
    • Sigerist, Henry E. (1943). Civilization and Disease.
    • Sigerist, Henry E. (1956). Landmarks in the History of Hygiene, Oxford University Press.
    		 

    Contact Information

    Instructor

    Graham Mooney, PhD
    Assistant Professor
    Department of the History of Medicine
    School of Medicine
    1900 E. Monument St./Room 326
    Baltimore, MD 21205-2113
    Phone: (443) 287-6147
    Fax: (410) 502-6819
    Email: gmooney3@jhmi.edu


    Help

    Concerns
    Contact
    Concerns about course topics and assignments
    Technical concerns about the functionality and operation of course Web pages (before emailing, please make sure that you can replicate the problem)
    • DEHelp, the central help system for all tech support inquiries related to DED courses
    Technical help on weekends
    • JHSPH User Support: 410-955-3781
    Concerns about your Internet connection
    • Your Internet service provider (e.g., AT&T, Erols, etc.)
    Concerns about your personal software
    • Your software vendor


    Grading Policy

    This is a pass/fail course. A passing grade can be achieved through meaningful participation in the LiveTalk and Bulletin Board discussions and successful completion of the final examination. You are expected to listen to all the lectures.
    Grades will be allocated on the basis of the following distributions:
    • Participation: 20%
    • Final-examination: 80%

    There will be a take-home examination posted to the Bulletin Board after the final lecture, based on Henrik Ibsen's A Public Enemy in Ghosts and Other Plays. The text of the play is available as an eText in the Online Library and in the eReserves for this class.


    LiveTalk Attendance

    You are expected to attend all of the LiveTalks. If you are unable to attend a Live Talk, please follow these steps:

    1. Inform Professor Mooney in writing by email BEFORE THE LIVETALK that you can't attend the LiveTalk.
    2. Consult the LiveTalk preparation documents (if necessary). These are posted in the relevant folder in the Online Library.
    3. Listen to the archived LiveTalk, which usually appears a day or so after the LiveTalk has taken place.
    4. Before the date of the Final Exam, you must make a written contribution to the post-LiveTalk discussion page set up in the BBS.

    LiveTalk attendance and participation is required for you to achieve a passing grade in this course. However, timetable clashes and other urgent commitments sometimes make attendance at LiveTalks impossible. Following the above guidelines will ensure that you do not put your final grade at risk.


    Ethical Conduct

    The academic ethics code, as discussed in the Policy and Procedure Memorandum for Students, March 31, 2002, will be adhered to in this class.


    Disability Support Services

    If you are a student with a documented disability who requires an academic accommodation, please contact Betty H. Addison in the Office of Career Services and Disability Support: dss@jhsph.edu, 410-955-3034, or Room E-1140.

     

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    Copyright to individual contributions may be retained by contributing authors.