The first course of the Addressing Racial Health Inequity in Healthcare specialization will first situate the role of public health in healthcare, and walk through important concepts and definitions that you will see throughout the course and subsequent courses. You will walk through the social and biological perspectives on the concepts of race and racism, and unpack the history of unequal treatment in the U.S. You will learn about the health insurance system in the U.S., differential access to care, and professional challenges to diversity in healthcare. And finally, you will explore examples of resilience in healthcare that were critical to preserving the health of marginalized populations.
History of Racial Inequity in Healthcare
History of Racial Inequity in Healthcare
This course is part of Addressing Racial Health Inequity in Healthcare Specialization
Instructor: Minal R. Patel
1,845 already enrolled
Included with 
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.6
(13 reviews)
Beginner level
No prior experience required
12 hours to complete
3 weeks at 4 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
What you'll learn
How history & the factors of lack of access & representation in healthcare parallels other sectors in the U.S. and international contexts
The evolution of the health insurance system in the United States and in international contexts, and its impact on racial and ethnic populations
Historical events, policies, economic and legal mechanisms created disproportionate disease burden within racial and ethnic groups
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
Shareable certificate
Add to your LinkedIn profile
Assessments
11 assignments
Taught in English
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your subject-matter expertise
This course is part of the Addressing Racial Health Inequity in Healthcare Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV
Share it on social media and in your performance review
There are 5 modules in this course
This week, we will structure and root our understanding of what race is and how it interacts with and affects all aspects of our society. To observe and understand inequities in the healthcare system, we must first have a basic understanding of concepts and definitions in the health equity literature, the origins of race, and how it came to be a ubiquitous part of modern society.
What's included
8 videos13 readings3 assignments3 discussion prompts
The purpose of this week’s lessons is to understand specific events that contributed to the disproportionate disease burden seen in certain communities, and illustrate why health disparities, and in turn, healthcare disparities, exist by race.
What's included
9 readings2 assignments4 discussion prompts
This week, we will learn about the history of health insurance in the United States. The US health insurance system is complex and can vary based on your location, age, ability status, and for some groups, your identity. Understanding these differences helps shed light on how health insurance plays a role in health inequity and, specifically, racial health inequity.
What's included
9 videos11 readings2 assignments5 discussion prompts
This week, we will explore how the lack of access and representation in various sectors has had an impact on healthcare equity. By illustrating exclusion and discrimination in other sectors of society, we can better see the same parallels that are observed in healthcare and how exclusionary practices outside of healthcare contribute to health disparities and causes of inequities that will be detailed in Course 2 of this specialization.
What's included
8 readings3 assignments1 app item1 discussion prompt
This week, we will spend time learning about how marginalized communities came together to take care of themselves and their demonstration of resilience in the face of inequity. This not only occurred in the US but around the world with many groups.
What's included
1 video8 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Instructor
Instructor ratings
4.0 (7 ratings)Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Public Health
University of Michigan
University of Michigan
University of Michigan
University of Michigan
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Learner reviews
Showing 3 of 13
4.6
13 reviews
- 5 stars
84.61%
- 4 stars
7.69%
- 3 stars
0%
- 2 stars
0%
- 1 star
7.69%
New to Public Health? Start here.
Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.