An overview of the U.S. health care system using an interdisciplinary perspective. Students will learn about the financing, delivery, and use of healthcare in a historical, economic, and political context. An emphasis will be given to contemporary policy issues and debates, and there will be a focus on inequality within the U.S. health system.
Terms Offered
Fall 2026
Course Details
Taught with the faculty of the Health Services Management Center at the University of Birmingham UK, this course will provide an understanding of healthcare systems enabling students to lead the process and develop population health improvement strategies.
Terms offered: Fall
Global Classrooms Sections: PLH1, PLP1
This course provides an interdisciplinary approach to gain an overview of healthcare systems and its driving forces. Through real world comparative case studies of the US and UK healthcare systems, learners will assess health system performance using the 'Quintuple Aim' framework and consider today's major health policy issues in a historical, economic, and political context. Learners will gain knowledge, skills, and abilities to develop strategies aimed at improving quality and access to care, reduce costs, address workforce challenges, and advance health equity.
Cultural Connection
United Kingdom
General Education Credits
None
School/College
School of Public Health
Prerequisites & Restrictions
PLH1. Students must be in Public Health Practice and Policy, Online. Golden ID students are not eligible for this section.
PLP1. Students must be in Health Administration, Online. Golden ID students are not eligible for this section.
Faculty Highlight
Negin Fouladi
Dr. Negin Fouladi serves as program director and academic and career development advisor of online programs (MPH in Public Health Practice and Policy, MHA, dual MD/MHA with UMB School of Medicine) in the Department of Health Policy and Management (HPM). She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on health systems, health policy and services research methods, health care strategic planning & marketing, global health and health policy and mentors internship and capstones of HPM online programs. She has expertise in Translational Science focused on T3/T4 translation to practice and policy.
Faculty Highlight
Mark Exworthy
Mark Exworthy is a Professor of Health Policy and Management at the Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham and Co-Director of the MBA Clinical Leadership course. He is director for the Health Management and Leadership intercalation course for medical students. His Research interests include governance and implementation relating to policies to tackle health inequalities and other social problems, professionals and managerialism in health care organisations relating to management of clinical performance, and decentralisation in health care organisations. Mark has previously held posts at Southampton University, London School of Economics (LSE), University College London (UCL), Oxford Brookes and Royal Holloway University of London. He was also a Harkness Fellow in health care policy, based at University of California-San Francisco (UCSF) (funded by the Commonwealth Fund of New York).
Faculty Highlight
Iestyn Williams
Iestyn Williams is a Professor of Health Policy and Management in the School of Social Policy and Society. He is involved in a range of research, teaching and knowledge transfer work and has a broad methodological experience and expertise. He specializes in social science approaches to Health Services Research, employing mixed methods study designs. He has specific expertise in: priority setting, decision making and decommissioning in health care; strategic planning and decision making; implementation studies, and; qualitative evidence synthesis and reporting.
Tuition & Scholarship
Course costs should be calculated based on the university’s standard tuition and fees for undergraduate students and graduate students.
Students enrolled in winter and summer Global Classrooms courses may be eligible for the International Education Scholarship.
Cancellation and Refunds
Spring and Fall Global Classrooms courses follow UMD's Schedule Adjustment policies.
Questions & Contact Info
For more course information contact Dr. Negin Fouladi at fouladi@umd.edu.
For general questions, please contact the Global Classrooms team at globalclassrooms@umd.edu.