Free Online Health Course Titled, “Understanding and Improving the U.S. Healthcare System,” Open to All U-M Students!

Imagine a learning experience that could bring together students from ALL 3 CAMPUSES of the University of Michigan, about a topic relevant to all of them in their lives…

The UM Medical School and Office for Digital Education and Innovation at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor have an opportunity for undergraduate, graduate and professional students at the Dearborn, Flint, and Ann Arbor campuses — coming in January-February 2015!  UM students have a UM-only opportunity to participate in the University's first all-campus, massive open online course (MOOC) on the U.S. healthcare system. 

The course is led Matthew Davis, MD, MAPP, professor of pediatrics and internal medicine/public policy/health management & policy at UM Medical School, School of Public Policy, and School of Public Health.  Dr. Davis also serves as Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan.

For this course entitled “Understanding and Improving the U.S. Healthcare System,” ALL UM STUDENTS ARE WELCOME.  This course will bring principles and challenges of the U.S. healthcare system to learners in an accessible way, and will encourage them to examine their own assumptions and experiences as they learn-through-innovation.

The course launches on January 12 and lasts for 6 weeks.  It is designed for full-time students to be CO-CURRICULAR, to take ALONG WITH their UM course load.  The MOOC format allows for asynchronous learning, so that students can view the content and participate in online discussions at times convenient to them.  There's no cost to participate.  And for students who participate, a Statement of Accomplishment will be available.

As a unique feature of the course, students will participate in small-group discussions regarding the design of health plans during Week 5 of the course.  The group discussions will be held on campus at a variety of times during Week 5 to be convenient to students, and will be facilitated by faculty from the UM Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.  The Institute is sponsoring this learning experience along with the Provost’s Office for Digital Education and Innovation.

If you would like to view the learning materials during the course as a faculty member, you are welcome to do so.  However, the discussion boards and assignments will be limited to students only, to encourage “classroom” dialogues among peers. 

Please visit umich.learnushealthcare.org for more information!