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Issues in Indian Health
Indian Health: Past, Present, Future
UCONJ 530
Winter Quarter 2009
1/6/09 to 3/10/09

Course Director: Theresa Maresca, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine; Director, NACOE

Class Time: Tues., 5:30pm-7:30pm
Class Location: TBD

Contact information: Office - 206-616-3043 (NACOE) 
Email: tmaresca@u.washington.edu 
Appointment with instructor: Every Tues. by appointment from 12:00pm-3:00pm

Introduction to course:

UCONJ 530 is designed to expand your understanding and knowledge of historical and contemporary issues in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) health. This course will help students interested in American Indian/Alaska Native health further explore the factors that impact healthcare to this population. Topics will include traditional Indian medicine, paleopathology and current disease epidemiology, development of Federal Indian Health policy and current systems of care, consequences of major legislation on Indian health, and current clinical and research challenges. A service-learning component in the local AI community is required.

Credit: 2.0

Specific Course Objectives:
Upon the completion of UCONJ 530, students should be able to:

  • Gain insight into his/her own worldview and relate this to  AI/AN culture and health perspectives
  • Name key historical federal policies involving American Indian/Alaska Native health, and understand the impact on current policy and programs at the federal, tribal, and urban levels
  • Explain the rationale for unique Federal legislation for AI/AN health, versus other minority groups
  • Contrast core components of the Indian Health Service, tribal, and urban health programs, including their challenges and how they currently interact
  • Appreciate the role and challenges of community-based participatory research in AI/AN communities
  • Discuss at least 4 major diseases causing morbidity and mortality among AI/AN people in the past and present, and compare these health disparities to other underserved populations
  • Discuss potential solutions to current major Indian health challenges, outlining potential future directions
  • Compare similarities and differences between traditional Indian medicine (TIM) concepts and Western medicine, and appreciate the role of TIM  in the care of patients today
  • Experience components  of contemporary AI/AN culture within a large urban community setting.

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