CONN 174 | Healing in Medicine and Public Health: A Pre-Health Exploration of Ethics and Care

This course examines healing, health, and care from interdisciplinary perspectives in the context of medicine and public health. Designed especially for students on pre-health pathways, it examines how definitions of health and healing are shaped by ethical, cultural, spiritual, technological, and structural factors. Students engage with real-world case studies and accessible media¿ranging from journalism and podcasts to documentary film and public health data¿to analyze pressing issues such as health inequity, disability, reproductive justice, artificial intelligence, mental health stigma, and end-of-life ethics. Emphasis is placed on collaborative learning, critical thinking, and self-reflection. Through weekly discussions, short assignments, and a final group project, students reflect on their academic interests, professional goals, and values in the context of liberal arts learning.