This elective course is focused at the intersection of interprofessional education, cultural diversity, and environmental justice in Puerto Rico. This longitudinal elective will help students understand the Puerto Rican healthcare system to better prepare them to work with diverse communities and to address health inequities. Topics covered in this course will include structural health inequities, and the impacts of colonialism on healthcare, the effect of climate change on healthcare and the complexities of providing ethical healthcare aid. Facilitated group discussions will focus on environmental justice, social determinants of health, structural racism and social justice. Students will gain the skills to not only identify health inequities unique to Puerto Ricans, but also how to mitigate their effects by working interprofessionally with nurses and social workers.

The course will combine in person classroom instruction, self-directed online learning, and an optional onsite experiential learning opportunity in San Juan Puerto Rico within the El Cano Martin Pena (ECMP) community. Spots for the travel portion of this elective are limited.