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Health Justice Certificate

Health Justice Certificate Program Overview

Education with a Focus on Meeting Industry Changes

The study of health justice introduces students to the concepts that build and surround medical-legal partnerships. In recent years, medical-legal partnership has expanded across the country to embrace a grass-roots healthcare reform movement.

Medical-legal partnership expands the healthcare team to include lawyers to solve medical problems that have a legal cause. These medical problems often stem from population health and the social determinants of health including: income inequalities, adequate housing concerns, education and employment medical hurdles, determining legal status for immigrants and veterans, and implementing protective measures such as guardianships for children and the elderly to name a few. Lawyers and medical professionals are uniquely positioned to advocate for patients and clients to improve healthcare outcomes and potentially cut healthcare costs. Students will be poised to make a lasting impact on healthcare policies and practices essential to our current time. This material is applicable to students across law, policy, healthcare, community health, psychology, social work, and public health.

In this certificate program, coursework includes discussion of legal remedies for social determinants of health and other health inequities and health disparities by improving cross-discipline communication, identification of policy change to improve population health and serve the poor and vulnerable in order to achieve social justice. As students explore and discover the connections between poverty, law, disease, and healthcare infrastructure they can be better equipped to produce effective change to improve the health of their communities. This program will provide invaluable understanding for leaders in healthcare and law.

 

Program Curriculum

Health Justice Certificate

 

Skills You’ll Learn

  • Recognize indicators for medical-legal interventions.
  • Investigate social determinants of health, epidemiology, and health inequities.
  • Synthesize information about health inequities, social determinants, and epidemiology to create intervention strategies.
  • Demonstrate skills in searching and evaluating literature to facilitate evidence-based decision making.
  • Create and evaluate approaches to medical legal interventions.
  • Apply persuasive writing and oral communication techniques to advocate for legislative change.

 

Career Outcomes

This certificate blends theory and application with a goal of preparing students to serve as organizational resources for medical-legal interventions as part of population and community health efforts. Students will be encouraged to identify a specific area of interest as they begin coursework, and incorporate interests into assignments.  This strategic approach can result in a valuable portfolio of resources, data and advocacy statements, as well as visual and oral presentations that will be the cumulative work product. Those who complete this certificate can serve in roles such as:

  • Health Advocate
  • Public Health
  • Social Justice
  • Medical Justice
  • Program Outreach Manager
  • Health Equity Manager

 

Scholarship Opportunities

George M. Dennison Civic Engagement Scholarship is a scholarship opportunity that is available through Montana Campus Compact (MTCC) for volunteer-oriented students. In order to apply, University of Providence students must have completed at least one year towards a degree or certificate. Reference letters are highly recommended.

Find out more about our scholarship opportunities here.

 

Program Costs

The University of Providence is committed to affordability and providing pricing transparency for all School of Health Professions programs. Pricing transparency at UP includes:

  • Accessible and up-to-date information on tuition costs, university fees, application and admission fees, deposit amounts, and additional program costs.
  • Cost of attendance worksheets outlining specific tuition layouts by program and semester.
  • Information about scholarship opportunities and tuition discounts for specific groups.
  • Information about the financial aid process.

 

Visit our Tuition and Fees page to access the latest pricing information. Access the Health Justice Certificate Estimated Cost Breakdown sheet to view pricing information for this degree program, including a cost breakdown by semester and associated program costs. Visit our Financial Aid page to learn more about the financial aid process.

 

Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive

The University of Providence is committed to supporting the healthcare workforce by empowering current healthcare professionals to start, enhance or advance their career in healthcare. The Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive (HPTI) Program provides currently employed healthcare professionals with the opportunity to apply tuition discounts to in-demand programs offered through our School of Health Professions catalog.

Visit the Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive Program page to learn more.

 

Providence Health & Services Partnership

Our unique partnership with Providence Health allows eligible Providence Caregivers and their dependents to receive an exceptional education from an accredited, faith-based, university. Caregivers and their dependents who enroll at the University of Providence may receive many possible benefits, such as discounted tuition rates and preferred admission, as part of their education benefits. Visit the Providence Human Resources Service Portal to learn more about caregiver education benefits, the application process for our programs, and tuition discounts.

Program Details

Program Description

In the Health Justice Certificate Program, students will explore population health related challenges and the possibilities of Medical-Legal Interventions. The certificate program begins with an introduction to Population Health. This is followed by an exploration of health inequities and social epidemiology.  Next is a study of Health Justice where the social determinants of health and indicators for medical legal partnerships are examined. Collaborative approaches to improving the health of communities through policy advocacy will be explored.  The final Advocacy in Action Capstone seminar highlights how Health Justice grass root approaches can change the healthcare landscape.

The certificate blends theory and application with a goal of preparing students to serve as organizational resources for medical-legal interventions as part of population and community health efforts. Students will be encouraged to identify a specific area of interest as they begin coursework, and incorporate interests into assignments.  This strategic approach can result in a valuable portfolio of resources, data and advocacy statements, as well as visual and oral presentations that will be the cumulative work product.

Program Objectives
  1. Recognize indicators for medical-legal interventions.
  2. Investigate social determinants of health, epidemiology, and health inequities.
  3. Synthesize information about health inequities, social determinants, and epidemiology to create intervention strategies.
  4. Demonstrate skills in searching and evaluating literature to facilitate evidence-based decision making.
  5. Create and evaluate approaches to medical legal interventions.
  6. Apply persuasive writing and oral communication techniques to advocate for legislative change.

 

The certificate may be completed prior to enrolling in the MHA program or after completion of the MHA.

Program Entry Requirements
  • Students must have completed a Bachelor’s degree.
  • Seats are limited. Preference will be given to lawyers and professionals working within healthcare, community health, population health, and public health, as well as to applicants with resumes indicative of a direct relationship to aspects of Health Justice
Program Format
  • Content delivery: 8-week online master’s level courses with short breaks between courses.
  • Courses are designed for working professionals.
  • Length of semesters: Two 8-week terms and a brief break within each semester.
  • Program length if all courses are taken in sequence: 3 semesters.

Application & Course Information

Application Information
  • Application: Click Here to complete the online application
  • Official Transcripts: Applicants must submit official transcript(s) showing degree completion must be submitted to the university. Transcripts should be sent to the University of Providence via email from the institution, Parchment or the Student Clearinghouse or mailed to University of Providence, 1301 20th Street South, Great Falls, MT 59405.
  • Résumé: Submission of a résumé is required.
  • Application Fee: $38 application fee required by GradCAS.
    For questions email: healthprograms@uprovidence.edu
Health Justice Certificate Courses

Semester I (6 credits)
MHA 504 Health Justice (Medical-Legal Partnership) – First 8-week term
MHA 508 Health Inequities & Social Epidemiology – Second 8-week term

Semester II (4 credits)
MHA 518 Evidence-based Management for Healthcare Leaders – First 8-week term
MHA 521 Population Health –A Community Orientation – Second 8-week term

Semester III (6 credits)
MHA 525 Transformational Leadership – First 8-week term
MHA 528 Health Justice Advocacy in Action – Second 8-week term

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long will it take to complete this certificate?

Program Length if all courses are taken in sequence is three semesters. Length of semesters are two 8-week terms and a brief break within each semester. Content delivery: 8-week online master’s level courses with short breaks between courses.

 

Courses are designed for working professionals.

Why is health justice important?

The study of Health Justice focuses on equipping tomorrow’s healthcare leaders and legal advocates to embrace linking theory to practice for understanding and advocating for changes in the healthcare and legal systems. To quote Advisory Board member, Dr. Andrea Chatburn, students will learn to “value time spent “standing in the gap” of uncertainty” as questions relate both to clinical decision-making and exploration of legal remedies. The study of Health Justice promotes relationship across disciplines while learning to prioritize, manage, and assist with large scale medical-legal projects. Through collaboration students in the Health Justice Certificate Program will address the challenges of promoting health for a better world.

What kind of jobs can I get with a Health Justice Certificate?

Health Justice lends itself to several different fields and jobs can vary. This certificate will give you the opportunity to stand out from your peers for career advancement in medicine, law, social work, psychology, policy, and public health.

Advisory Board

Traci Rooks, JD, CHC

Investigator for Providence Risk and Integrity Services

Briana J. Goehring, BBM, CHC

Compliance Manager for Providence Risk and Integrity Services

Andrea Chatburn, DO, MA, HEC-C

Regional Director for Ethics, Providence St Joseph Health, Eastern Washington and Montana

Zaida C. Rivera, Esq.

Immigration Attorney

Kathy Jensen

Attorney at Northwest Justice Project

Contact Information

Email
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