Sara van Leusden
Pronouns: She/Her
Contact
ATS Associate Lecturer, School of Public Health
- vanleusd@ualberta.ca
Courses
SPH 200 - Introduction to Public Health
This course will introduce you to fundamental knowledge and concepts related to public health. Starting with the history and evolution of the discipline of public health, onto how the health of populations is protected and measured, you will gain a better appreciation of the importance of the social determinants of health and how health inequities, chronic and communicable diseases, injuries and the environment can impact health are explored. Additional topics include how promotion of healthy communities can be achieved through knowledge translation and advocacy. If you are interested in health then this course will serve as an excellent primer to your future studies in any health field. Topics are covered using a mix of lecture, discussion and interactive case study evaluation.
SPH 302 - Fighting Misinformation for Public Health
This course confronts the growing challenge of misinformation and disinformation about interventions aimed at improving health, at the individual and population level. Through illustrative examples involving vaccinations, supplements, exercise and diet, you will learn to recognize common patterns and strategies through which misinformation is spread. We will also cover strategies to fight misinformation, including debunking, crafting counter messages and regulatory responses at the systemic level. Prerequisite: SPH 200 or consent of instructor.
SPH 320 - Substance Use and Health
This course takes an in-depth look at the relationship between substance use and health, examining it through multiple lenses - neurobiological, medical, sociocultural, epidemiological, and political economy. We'll dissect how substances interact with the body and brain, explore the biological underpinnings of dependence, and analyze sociocultural, political, and economic factors that influence substance use patterns and health outcomes. You'll critically evaluate various prevention, treatment, and harm reduction strategies and policy debates, gaining a comprehensive understanding of this complex public health challenge across individual and population levels. Get ready to connect the dots between molecules and movements, biology and behaviour, and individual experiences and societal impact.