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PHHP 655 Lifestyle Diseases and Risk Reduction Programs

This course examines the etiology and development of major lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, obesity, nutritional disorders, and selected infectious diseases. Emphasis is on identifying risk factors and examining of successful risk- reduction programs. Field experience.

Units: 3

 

WHO NEEDS THIS COURSE?

  • Graduate students:
    • MPH
  • This course may also be taken by
    • Non-degree external students who wish to study the LM101 curriculum authorized for AIIAS use by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (from 2022)
    • As an elective by professionals seeking continuing education through graduate credit equivalency
    • Graduate students of other programs as an elective for transfer credit

 

 

COURSE GOALS

Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Explain the most prevalent lifestyle-related diseases and leading infectious diseases in terms of their incidence, prevalence, risk factors, and impacts on individual and public health.
  2. Analyze different lifestyle disease programs, issues, and trends.
  3. Present effective and evidence-based lifestyle interventions currently used to address the growing challenge of lifestyle-related diseases.
  4. Develop a risk reduction program for a specific lifestyle disease with an integration of Christ’s method of behavior change.
  5. Conduct a lifestyle disease risk reduction program to a target group at high risk for a specific lifestyle disease.

 

TOPICS TO COVER

Week 1 Lifestyle is Powerful Medicine…The Leading Lifestyle Related Diseases…A Journey to Find Healing
Week 2 Empowering People to Change…Collaborating, Motivating, Goal-Setting, and Tracking…Risk Reduction for Accidents
Week 3 Improving Health Through Exercise….The Nutrition-Health Connection…Risk Reduction for COVID-19
Week 4 Sleep Matters…Stress & Resilience…Risk Reduction for Infectious Respiratory Disease
Week 5 Peace of Mind through Trust in God…The Power of Connection…Risk Reduction for Cancer
Week 6 Positively Positive…Substance Use Disorder…Risk Reduction for Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease
Week 7 Staying the Course:  Self Care…Risk Reduction for Type 2 Diabetes, Kidney Disease, Obesity, & GERD
Week 8 Lifestyle Education Reform…Lifestyle Medicine Practice…Community Health
Week 9 Research Presentation and Final Exam

 

 

FACILITATOR

Richard Nelson, MD MSc RRT FRSPH

Dr. Richard Nelson is professor in Public Health and VP for Academic Administration.  Before joining AIIAS in 2021, Nelson served for 35 years on the faculty of Loma Linda University Health, USA, and brings a wealth of clinical and applied health education experience to the course.  Nelson was the co-pioneer of the first university health program in the Middle East to obtain both USA regional and professional accreditation.  Nelson is also known for co-pioneering non-invasive lung ultrasound training for respiratory care practitioners in California.  Nelson’s experience in lifestyle education includes speaker at Health Expos in 22 countries, VP for Medical Affairs at Weimar Institute (outpatient and in-residence programs), Program Director for Respiratory Care at Loma Linda University, and Adventist Health director for a five-nation region of the former USSR.  Starting from 2022, Nelson has integrated the latest curriculum from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine into this course.