Posted by anderc8 on Monday, January 15, 2018 in News, The Nation's Health.

Written by Assistant Professor of Medicine, Health and Society Tara McKay & Assistant Professor of Health Policy Gilbert Gonzales

We are thrilled to be offering The Nation’s Health: From Policy to Practice again this semester. In this University Course, students learn about the health policy process, connect with state policymakers about current health related legislation and compare alternative approaches to improving population health in the U.S.

In February, students will visit the Tennessee State Capitol to present their research on current policy alternatives to state legislators. Experiencing the buzz of the Legislative Plaza was one of the highlights of the course last year. Students will also try their hand at writing Op-Eds for local and national newspapers. We experienced immense success with this exercise last year, placing a handful of pieces in The Tennessean and other publications.

This year’s ongoing debates in health care policy will not disappoint! The country continues to face rising health care costs, hospital closures and a widespread opioid epidemic. Some states are taking steps to stabilize the individual health insurance market while others identify different ways to expand Medicaid to low-income residents. We plan to discuss these issues as they unfold throughout the course.

For us, helping students use their knowledge and skills to inform and engage with the public on contemporary topics is highly rewarding. It is also one of the primary reasons we began teaching this course: to ensure that young people are engaged with the debates that will shape their lifetimes. Welcome back, UNIV 3325/5325!