Harvard collaborates with controversial West Bank university in social medicine course
August 9, 2024
Harvard University has partnered with Birzeit University, a Palestinian institution located in the West Bank, to offer a course titled “Social Medicine.” The course aims to explore the social, structural, political, and historical determinants of Palestinian health, moving beyond the biological aspects of disease.
“This three-week intensive summer course is designed to introduce students to the social, structural, political, and historical aspects that determine Palestinian health beyond the biological basis of disease.”
Birzeit University has been a subject of controversy due to its student council’s affiliation with the Islamic Bloc, a group known for its support of Hamas. Some members of the council have been arrested for terrorism-related offenses. Despite these concerns, Harvard maintains that these issues are “not germane” to the academic collaboration.
Harvard’s engagement with Palestinian health issues extends beyond this course. The university’s Palestine Program for Health and Human Rights takes a multidisciplinary approach to address health inequities for Palestinians. The program emphasizes the importance of human rights, law, politics, and history in understanding and improving Palestinian health.
Critics argue that the focus on political activism within these programs diverts attention from the core principles of medicine and public health. They contend that the emphasis on human rights and political issues leads to the production of activists rather than medical professionals.
The collaboration between Harvard and Birzeit University reflects a broader trend in academia where social and political contexts are increasingly integrated into the study of health. While this approach has its advocates, it also faces significant criticism for potentially politicizing education and straying from traditional medical training.