Public Health Leadership and Crisis Management

Learning Objectives
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the importance of leadership for effectivepublic health programs and health service provision particularly in crises situation and duringdisasters and unexpected events which require extraordinary inputs and initiatives. TheCourse provides an understanding about the principles of public health leadership to leadthe health care system and address the challenges posed by crises and disasters.The students will learn about the role and responsibilities, and attributes and skills that arerequired to fulfill those responsibilities. The class room discussions will also illustrate thecomplexity of the health care systems and the challenges that leaders in public health andhealth care need to address.At the end of the course the students will be able to:1. Define leadership for health care and public health;2. Understand the attributes and skills for leadership3. Discuss the complexity of health services organizations and health system, anddescribe the skills and competencies that leaders require to address challenges posed by that complexity;4. Understand how disasters undermine public health programs and provision of healthcare, and discuss leadership’s role to address the acute needs during disasters andmitigate the disruption to health care program and services caused by the disasters
 

Course Description
The subject empowers health professional with the appropriate leadership knowledge andskills required for effective performance during rapidly changing situations and crisis eventswithin and external to most organizations. Leadership in internal or external crisis eventsnecessitates the application of general leadership principles under extreme circumstancesoften characterized by  uncertainty and disorder, non standard risks and consequences,limited timeframes in the context of rapid change and limited communication. Despite bestlaid plans, actual crises often requires the ability to deal with the unexpected. Howe wouldyou lead when preparations and insufficient and when core values are threatened? Howwould you respond to unanticipated situations when time is of the essence and plannedapproaches don’t work? Crises events require not only flexibility but also depend heavily oneffective delegation, and well planned resources logistics. Health professional planning orpreparing for deployment to situations that experiences rapid change or crisis events,specially need to carefully consider what skills they requires. This subject provides the skills,knowledge and awareness to assist health professionals in dealing with crises events ofvarying magnitude and scope. The importance of self awareness in identifying andaddressing crisis leadership strengths and challenges is emphasized. Students will leave withnew and improved knowledge, awareness and skills, and extensive resources. Studentsparticipate in online learning throughout the study period and required to attend aresidential which will convey some theoretical and practical components. Learning issupported by group work, discussions, case studies, medial, interactive exercises, and asimulated international crisis that puts students crisis management skills to the test.Opportunities are provided for the students to share their experiences in crisis leadershipwith others and to develop valuable network for ongoing support.