Courses

Dr. David Hemenway, Ph.D.

This course introduces a serious public health problem – intentional and unintentional injury – and provides frameworks for examining control options (e.g. the Haddon Matrix). Specific categories of injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes and violence, and specific risk factors for serious injury such as alcohol and firearms, are examined in detail. This course had an attendance of 40 students and received the highest possible excellence rating from students.

Dr. Matthew Miller, M.D.

In contrast to the significant reductions in rates of medical illness and unintentional injuries over the past half century, largely attributed to public health rather than medical interventions, rates of suicide in the United States remain at levels similar to those in the 1950s. This course explores the as yet unmet promise of a public health approach to preventing suicide through a combination of close readings of the empirical literature and interactive class discussion. Among the questions explored are: What acts qualify as suicide? What are the roles of impulse and deliberation in suicidal acts, by age (e.g. youth vs. elderly suicides) gender, and circumstance (e.g. a crisis involving intimate partner conflict vs. physical illness?) How does physician-assisted suicide differ from suicide generally? Is sexual orientation an independent risk factor for suicide? What is the evidentiary basis for existing prevention strategies? What social and cultural impediments stand in the way of effective interventions?

Instruction is through interactive lectures with a significant amount of class discussion.

Course Note: No previous background in medicine, psychiatry or evaluative sciences is necessary; enrollment limited, instructor’s signature required; no auditors.

Dr. David Lombardi
(with Matthew Miller and Deb Azrael)

This course will focus on the use of epidemiological methods to study injuries and their prevention. Topics covered include designing surveillance systems and analytic studies, measuring exposures and outcomes, and implementing prevention programs. Injury categories will focus on occupational and nonoccupational contexts, and intentional and non-intentional sources of injuries. New course given in Spring 2003.

Dr. Jack Dennerlein, Ph.D.
Mr. Theodore Courtney, M.S.
Mr. V. Ciriello

This course emphasizes the design of the job “to fit the worker.” It investigates specific problems resulting from the nature of the job itself and considers the physiological, biomedical, psychological, and anatomical characteristics of the worker in the development of good job design principles.

Dr. Jack Dennerlein, Ph.D.
Mr. R. Youngstrom
Mr. R. Spielvogel

This course furnishes an overview of principles of occupational safety, including safety regulation and standards, models of accident causation, investigation procedures, and techniques for accident control.

Dr. Jennifer Leaning

Designed for physicians, public health officers, or others who may be charged with responsibility for on-the-scene, immediate acute intervention during disasters. The focus will be on decision-making under stress, examining U.S. and international case studies within the theoretical framework of disaster planning, response, and assessment.

Click here for a series of free, online courses on suicide prevention co-sponsored by the Harvard Injury Control Research Center and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Continuing education credits available.