Dr. Payán previously taught undergraduate and graduate courses in health policy, health care systems, and research methods as a tenure-track faculty member at UC Merced. She was also an adjunct lecturer at California State University, Northridge and USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. Below are are courses she currently teaches at UC Irvine:
PUBHLTH 139: HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDERS
This course provides students with an introduction to U.S. health care and health-related institutions and professions. Beginning with an overview of the development and present state of the U.S. health care system, we will cover the history and professionalization of medicine and public health and will investigate the structure of health institutions, personnel, and practice in America. We will focus on describing how the government, major providers, and funders of health care work together, identifying where problems or gaps arise, explaining how previous attempts to improve coverage and access to health care have worked, and analyzing how health care reforms might change the way health care is delivered, financed, and received. Students can also expect to gain a broader understanding of the major roles, responsibilities, and careers across the professions of healthcare and public health.
PUBHLTH 225: HEALTH POLITICS AND POLICY ANALYSIS
The World Health Organization defines health policy as “the decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific health care goals within a society.” This course provides students with an understanding of key political institutions, stakeholders, and interest groups that influence health policy; the policymaking process; and policy analysis skills and advocacy strategies. The course employs an interdisciplinary approach to describe the health policy process and explores political, social, and economic determinants that shape health care policy and public health policy in the U.S.