London Summer Abroad

Live, Learn, Work and Play:
The Social Determinants of Health in London

Join us in London for two exciting, challenging, and transformative weeks this summer to learn about the social determinants of health in one of the world’s most diverse and unequal cities.

In-county dates

Tentatively, first two weeks of July 2024.
(final dates to be confirmed).

Academic course dates

Summer Session Z4: June 19-July 21, 2024

London as your laboratory

You will retrace the footsteps of contemporary and historical Black abolitionists, health care providers, engineers, educators, advocates, and community leaders as they’ve worked to create and influence modern London’s social, economic, and built environments.

These environments will serve as a laboratory for students to understand how education, health care, neighborhood, infrastructure, and social, community, and economic resources are generated, distributed, and sustained and how they shape health. We will build on these understandings to celebrate triumphs, cultivate community, and practice hope for a healthier, more just, and more equitable future.

Among many activities, you will:

  • Tour London’s transportation and sanitation infrastructure, its food and built environments, and its historical landmarks and institutions
  • Meet public health and community professionals working to improve health outcomes by addressing the social determinants of health,
  • Explore museums, community organizations, and clinics to learn about opportunities and challenges in healthy equity in both the U.K. and the U.S.

 

  Undergraduates only. Students from all majors/colleges welcome

Application Deadline

Mid-way through winter term (final date to be confirmed).

Informational Sessions

Both in Waldo 400 or via Zoom.

Monday, November 20, 12-1 p.m.
Wednesday, November 29, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

For more info

Read Public health comes to life in London

Contact

Stephanie Grutzmacher, Ph.D.

Co-leader

Ashley Vaughn, MPH

To apply visit

   OSU GO Application

Class cap

20 students

Waitlist

10 students

Pre-departure meetings

Three will be held in Spring 2024.

Course info

  • H399 (6 credits)

  

Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, learn, work, play, pray and age that strongly influence our health.

When these conditions result in the inequitable distribution of resources, they create health disparities, which are unjust and avoidable differences in health, quality of life and lifespan.

Learning objective 1

Evaluate the contexts that contribute to health disparities

Evaluate how particular social, economic and environmental policies, systems and contexts support or undermine health and contribute to health disparities.

Learning objective 2

Describe the factors that shape the distribution of social resources

Describe the role of historical, cultural, political, community, economic, environmental, technological, and social factors that shape the distribution of social resources and disparate health outcomes.

Learning objective 3

Learn how to improve social determinants of health

Evaluate opportunities in food, housing, education, employment and other areas of social policy and practice for their potential to improve social determinants of health, equitably distribute social resources and reduce health disparities.