Social Determinants of Health in the Age of COVID-19

Format: Self-paced online

This course was developed by the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus.

The impact of COVID-19 is disproportionately high in underserved communities. Evidence of social determinants of health impacting communities across the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic has been prominent; minorities are more often “essential workers”, and economic insecurity preventing “work from home” correlates with increases in confirmed COVID-19 cases in neighborhoods primarily composed of people of color. In this continuing medical education course, COVID-19 will be used as a case-study to model how providers can address structural inequalities key to treating patients from traditionally underserved communities. Throughout this course, participants will develop strategies to unpack the health effects of social determinants that may disproportionately harm rural communities and persons of color and work to apply their knowledge to their own communities. Using asynchronous training models, participants will engage in self-reflection exercises, evidence and data based activities related to their own communities and case-based learning. Course completion depends on demonstrating competencies for each module and each module must be completed to move forward to the next module in the course. While these social issues are particularly relevant in the wake of COVID-19, this course provides a platform for training medical professionals that is widely transferable, focusing on education and advocacy that can be transferred to specific patient communities and needs relating to multiple aspects of social determinants of health.

Course Structure
This course is an asynchronous, self-paced work through of online modules related to Social Determinants of Health using COVID-19 as a case study. This course consists of eight modules, including six content modules as well as an Introduction and ungraded pre-quiz module and a Course Wrap-Up module including an ungraded post-quiz. The six content modules relate to the five major Social Determinants of Health (SDH) identified by the US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (Social and Community Context, Neighborhood and Built Environment, Economic Stability, Education, and Health and Health Care) as well as an Introductory Module which explores SDH broadly and unpacks the entangled relationships between SDH, Health Equity and the adverse effects of COVID-19. Within each Module there are varying assignments and content required to complete the Module and move on. Throughout the course, we intentionally focus on removing traditional multiple-choice assessment and prioritizing exploratory narrative exercises that promote critical thinking and allow the participant to relate the information to their own experiences and patient communities. The word count for all narrative assignments must be at least 250 words for completion of the assignment. There is no maximum word count as many sections have multiple questions to answer. The specific requirements for completion of each module can be found below and within each module. Within each module there are linked Additional Resources that are not required reading, but may provide additional context to those who are interested. We encourage participants to share other resources they may know of with all participants using the Optional Discussion Board.

The steps to complete the course and receive credit are:

1. Register for the course

2. Complete the pre-quiz

3. View each module and complete the associated assignments in order

4. Complete the post-quiz

5. Complete the course evaluation 

University of Minnesota Continuing Professional Development adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education and has policies in place to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all of its educational activities.

There are no relevant financial relationships to report on behalf of the planning committee or presenters. This content of this course focuses on social determinants of health, a topic that is non-clinical in nature and does not discuss healthcare goods or services used on or by patients.

Planning Committee
Alexandra Zachwieja, PhD, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth
Kendra Nordgren, PhD, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth
Cathy McCarty, PhD, MPH, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth
Sandy Stover, MD, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth
Michael Schroeder-Toya, BA, JA, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth
Tegan Carr, BA, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth
Brenna Doheny, PhD, MPH, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth
Amy Seip, MBA, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth
J. Neil Henderson, PhD, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth
Mary Owen, MD, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth

1. Describe key inequalities that affect health and health care access and have been exacerbated by COVID-19, providing examples from each of the five key determinants of health (Social and Community Context, Neighborhood and Built Environment, Economic Stability, Education, and Health and Health Care) as defined by the US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and identify them in their own communities.
2. Evaluate COVID-19 patient case-studies and unpack the effects of social determinants of health on patient presentations and during treatment planning.
3. Evaluate their own patient-provider interactions and self-correct to create more comfortable, accessible patient care that accounts for social determinants of health
4. Utilize and adapt strategies to increase equity in their patient care and treatment in the wake of COVID-19.
5. Identify specific needs related to their patient communities. (e.g. What are the specific healthcare needs of this population? How have structural social determinants of health contributed to the rise of these specific needs? What are local community resources that may offset specific social determinants in my patients?)

Registration opens June 1!

Registration for all individuals is $200.00

A minimum of 3 registrants are required for a group discount of $20 per person to be deducted from the corresponding registration fee listed above.  Please complete and email the Group Registration Form to [email protected].  

Cancellation Policy

The registration fee is non-refundable.

Credit Designation Statements

American Medical Association (AMA)
The University of Minnesota, Interprofessional Continuing Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 10.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Other Healthcare Professionals
Other healthcare professionals who participate in this CE activity may submit their certificate of participation to their appropriate accrediting organizations or state boards for consideration of credit. The participant is responsible for determining whether this activity meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. 

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

University of Minnesota Continuing Professional Development adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education and has policies in place to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all of its educational activities.

There are no relevant financial relationships to report on behalf of the planning committee or presenters. This content of this course focuses on social determinants of health, a topic that is non-clinical in nature and does not discuss healthcare goods or services used on or by patients.

Planning Committee

Alexandra Zachwieja, PhD, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth

Kendra Nordgren, PhD, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth

Cathy McCarty, PhD, MPH, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth

Sandy Stover, MD, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth

Michael Schroeder-Toya, BA, JA, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth

Tegan Carr, BA, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth

Brenna Doheny, PhD, MPH, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth

Amy Seip, MBA, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth

J. Neil Henderson, PhD, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth

Mary Owen, MD, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth