HL 395 - Health Studies Seminar

Chile has gained international recognition for its health outcomes, innovative primary healthcare model, and efforts to address social and health inequities. This seminar offers an in-depth exploration of the Chilean healthcare system, examining how public policy, social determinants of health, community-based care, and healthcare reforms shape population health in one of Latin America's most dynamic countries. Through seminars, discussions, workshops, and site visits to healthcare and community organizations, students will engage directly with the realities of healthcare delivery in Chile. Topics include primary healthcare, public health policy, epidemiological transitions, mental health, migration and health, health equity, and the challenges and opportunities facing healthcare systems in a rapidly changing society. By combining academic analysis with experiential learning, the course encourages students to critically compare healthcare systems across cultural contexts while gaining a deeper understanding of how social, economic, political, and cultural factors influence health outcomes. This course is particularly relevant for students interested in public health, healthcare administration, medicine, nursing, social work, health policy, and global health.