Population Health (POP)

This course introduces the core concepts, principles, and frameworks that define the field of population health. Students examine the social, behavioral, environmental, and economic determinants that shape health outcomes across diverse populations, with a foundational focus on health equity and the drivers of disparities. Population assessment methods and basic epidemiological concepts are explored as essential tools for understanding and responding to community-level health needs. Systems thinking is introduced as a primary lens for analyzing how policies, organizations, and environments interact to influence health at scale. Together, these elements establish the knowledge base from which all subsequent coursework in the program builds.

This course is designed to equip students with both foundational and applied skills to leverage data, analytics, informatics, and digital technologies to improve population health outcomes. The course emphasizes the management and analysis of population health data to support risk stratification, total cost-of-care analysis, quality improvement, and value-based care performance. Students apply epidemiologic methods and publicly available datasets (e.g., CMS, Census, AHRQ) to identify disease burden, health disparities, and priority interventions. Additional focus is placed on health information systems and interoperability standards, including HL7, FHIR, ICD-10, and SNOMED, to enable integrated, high-quality data exchange. The course also explores digital health tools, analytics-driven workflows, and the transition to digital quality measures to support real-time, actionable insights across clinical and public health settings.

This course addresses health equity, cultural competence, and community engagement as essential competencies for effective population health practice. Students examine the structural and social determinants that produce persistent health disparities across racially, ethnically, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse communities, with attention to how systemic inequities shape access, outcomes, and trust in health systems. Long-term and post-acute care considerations are explored as integral components of a whole-person, equitable population health strategy. Evidence-based frameworks for culturally responsive practice and cross-sector collaboration are applied to co-design interventions that reflect community priorities and lived experience. Upon completion, students are prepared to advocate for and implement equitable, community-centered approaches within complex organizational and population health environments.

This course explores value-based payment models, alternative payment structures, and risk-based contracting within the context of population health management. Students examine the financial mechanisms that underpin accountable care organizations and other value-oriented delivery systems, including cost-effectiveness analysis, quality measurement frameworks, and performance-based incentives. Emphasis is placed on integrating clinical and financial data to support decision-making that improves outcomes while managing the total cost of care. Students apply these concepts to real-world scenarios, developing competency in evaluating trade-offs between cost, quality, and access across diverse patient populations. By the course's end, students are equipped to design and assess strategies that align financial structures with high-quality, equitable, patient-centered care.

This course is an integrative course completed following all other program requirements, designed to bring the full curriculum into applied focus. Students synthesize knowledge across competency domains through case studies, project management frameworks, and real-world leadership challenges that demand integration of clinical, financial, policy, and equity perspectives. The course emphasizes translating evidence-based strategies into actionable, sustainable solutions within complex organizational and community environments. Students demonstrate advanced competency by designing and presenting comprehensive responses to population health problems, with particular attention to strategic communication and stakeholder engagement. This course serves as direct preparation for the capstone and represents the program's penultimate standard of professional readiness.

This course examines economic principles applied to population health, including health economics theory, financing mechanisms, resource allocation, and the financial structures that govern public and private health systems. Students explore return on investment analysis, budgeting, and financial modeling as practical tools for evaluating the feasibility and sustainability of population health interventions. The course addresses trade-offs among equity, efficiency, and cost that are embedded in program design and policy decisions at the organizational and system levels. Real-world applications ground economic concepts in the realities of value-based care, risk-sharing arrangements, and population health program management. Upon completion, students are prepared to evaluate financial implications and communicate evidence-based recommendations to diverse stakeholder audiences.

This course examines how health policies are developed, implemented, and evaluated within population health settings. It explores the roles of governmental and regulatory frameworks in shaping health outcomes and guiding evidence-based decision-making. Emphasis is placed on advocacy strategies that influence policy agendas and promote equitable health initiatives, including stakeholder engagement across local, state, and federal levels. In addition, it highlights core program management principles essential for designing, executing, and assessing population health programs. Together, these components provide a comprehensive overview of policy processes that impact population health systems and outcomes.

This course offers a comprehensive survey of current and emerging trends, innovations, and challenges reshaping population health practice, policy, and delivery. Students engage with cutting-edge research and technological advances, including artificial intelligence applications, precision public health, digital health innovation, and evolving payment and care delivery models. The course explores how these developments interact with longstanding equity, access, and workforce challenges, creating both opportunities and risks for health systems and the communities they serve. Students critically evaluate emerging evidence and diverse stakeholder perspectives to assess the readiness, scalability, and ethical implications of new approaches before they reach widespread adoption. Through this forward-looking inquiry, students develop the adaptive thinking and professional agility required to lead effectively in a rapidly evolving health environment.

This course develops leadership competencies specific to population health contexts. Change management, strategic planning, organizational awareness, and cross-sector collaboration are explored through the lens of applied leadership frameworks. Students employ systems thinking to identify organizational challenges and design strategies that drive population-level improvement while balancing stakeholder priorities. Value-based care and health information systems are contextual drivers used to ground leadership practice in operational realities. Upon completion of this course, students will demonstrate mastery of core leadership and management principles and practices in population health.

Builds upon Pop 560 by preparing students to apply principles and practical aspects of population health management, value-based care and payment, to clinically integrated networks, accountable care organizations, and health systems. Critically examines organizational readiness for the transition from fee- for-service to value-based care and payment. Explores risk contracting strategies and pitfalls and lessons learned from international population health management programs. Addresses employer-directed health plans, application of technology (including population health information systems, telehealth, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence), ethical and legal issues, and innovation.

The capstone is the culminating experience of the graduate program, requiring students to demonstrate integrated mastery of program competencies through a comprehensive, applied project. Building on the synthesis work completed in POP 507, students identify a significant population health challenge and develop a rigorous, evidence-based response that addresses systems complexity, equity, and implementation feasibility. The capstone process includes structured milestones, faculty mentorship, and peer review to ensure scholarly rigor and professional growth throughout the 15-week experience. Students present their work to faculty and practitioners, demonstrating their ability to apply learning across all program domains in a real-world context. Graded on a pass/fail basis, successful completion of the capstone signifies the student's readiness to assume advanced roles in population health.