Health Sciences

This course covers the practice of medical nutrition therapy for various disease states, including gastrointestinal tract disorders, hepatobiliary and pancreatic disorders, obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, pulmonary disease, anemia, and genetic metabolic disorders. Upon completion of this course, students are able to 1. Understand the etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations of various diseases, 2. Identify the role of medical nutrition therapy in the prevention or treatment of selected diseases, and 3. Apply principles of medical nutrition therapy to the care of patients with selected diseases. 

This course examines health and illness from a cultural perspective. Specifically, we will analyze the social meanings associated with health and illness, medical knowledge production, medical decision-making, and global health in cross-cultural contexts. The students will have a chance to delve into issues related to the social processes of framing illness, the medicalization of life, the complexity and uncertainty surrounding medical decisions, and the cultural aspects of health practices across the globe.

This course analyzes the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health in society. There have been consequences of the pandemic for mental health in the human population. Considering the potential scale of this problem, there is growing need for medicine to integrate knowledge from related subjects, such as psychology, criminology, psychotherapy, and neuroscience, to precisely understand the mechanisms of ill health. This course brings together the discoveries of science with the life stories behind diagnoses to clarify the mechanisms that drive mental health symptoms. In the book, The Myth of Normal, Dr Gabor Maté makes the claim that society is built on a hidden assumption of generational trauma. Trauma disrupts the connection between mind and body. This psychophysiological problem can be diagnosed by doctors as physical and mental health conditions. While diagnostic labels help individuals understand mental health problems to an extent, the individual remains a member of society and its many challenges. Therefore, this course draws upon research taking place at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health to understand resilience in the context of different challenges, such as adolescence, socioeconomic deprivation and war. The course illustrates the mechanisms by which life experiences impact the mind, including the impact of the pandemic on the disconnect between mind and body.

The Czech Republic is known for its rich cultural heritage, and its cuisine is an integral part of its identity. This course examines the historical, cultural, and social influences that have shaped Czech cuisine, and how this cuisine reflects the country’s culture and values. In addition to exploring the traditional Czech cuisine, its ingredients, and the methods used in preparing them, the course analyzes their nutritional value and impact on the overall health of the population, looks into recent food and consumption trends, food marketing, tourism, and sustainability. Throughout the course, students engage in critical thinking and analysis, as well as hands-on activities such as food preparation and field trips.

Explore the social, political, economic, and cultural elements that explain global health disparities. The course introduces the concepts of globalization and global health, illustrate the global burden of disease, and by doing so, deepen understanding of the inequities and inequalities between and within countries and why we think they exist. The main global health stakeholders and ´global health´ governance and explore diverse science paradigms that have dominated the way we analyze and comprehend the process of being healthy and ill, as well as how we approach global health issues. Review concepts such as determinants of health vs determination of health (a Latin-American theoretical construct), decolonialism and equitable discourses in global health. The course is delivered by global health experts at BSMS and our independent consultant Maria Cristina Quevedo-Gomez.

This course studies the natural healing power of forests and gardening environments. It covers the importance, hazards, and risks, as well as the health effects and benefits of forests, wood, and gardens.  

This course examines philosophical issues about food and its relation to ethics, objectivity, and values. Topics include moral issues such as the debate about animal rights, world hunger, the use of genetic engineering in agriculture, and the justification of health policies about food and drugs. It also looks at the relationship between food and art, and the objectivity of taste. 

This course introduces students to public health, a discipline which seeks to prevent disease and promote the health of populations through the organized efforts of society. Public health addresses complex health and social problems that are influenced by social, cultural, political, environmental, organizational, and economic factors. Students explore determinants that shape inequalities in health and explore how the organized efforts of communities and governments can help to ameliorate these. Students learn how different theories support public health practice and develop their skills in critically appraising evidence. They explore a breadth of public health topics – from sexual health to mental health - and include examples from low-, middle-, and high-income countries.

The digital physical education curriculum aims to combine sports science, AI and artificial intelligence, data analysis, and health management principles, based on physical exercise, and assisted by specific devices in the form of data to provide data support for physical exercise, provide decision-making basis for health management, and improve exercise fun and effectiveness. This course explores how to apply artificial intelligence and intelligent technology to improve performance, training, and management in the field of sports. Students will understand the applications of AI in data analysis, motion prediction, health monitoring, and virtual simulation. And combine theory with practical practice to help students understand how to use technology to optimize sports performance and health status in the fields of sports and health management. 

This course examines the principles of conventional (X-ray and Ultrasound) and modern (Computerized Tomography – CT; Magnetic Resonance Imaging – MRI; Nuclear Imaging and Optical Imaging) imaging techniques applied to biological systems and in medical diagnoses and the interpretations of these images.