Social Determinants of Health

  • HealthXcelerate
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Examine how social determinants shape health outcomes for individuals and communities, and delve into various social, economic, and environmental factors that impact health disparities and inequalities.

  • Online; Self-Paced

Enroll and gain access to course materials to complete at your own pace.

$495

Save and learn more with discounted multi‑course bundles or our all‑access HMX and HealthXcelerate Learning Pass.

Certificate

Earn a short course certificate of completion when you finish all coursework within 8 weeks.

3-4 Hours

Most people can expect to complete short courses in 3-4 hours.

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Overview

In Social Determinants of Health, led by Enrique Caballero, M.D., you will explore how social determinants—such as socioeconomic status, education, and access to nutritious foods and housing—shape individual and community health outcomes.

By examining the social, economic, environmental, and historical factors that impact health disparities, you will gain insight into the broader context shaping today’s health care challenges. In this course, you will also review evidence-based strategies that health care systems, providers, and policymakers use to improve health equity and enhance population health. 

Learning Objectives

  • Explain how social determinants of health (SDoH) impact individual health outcomes.
  • Describe the different approaches health care systems and providers use to address SDoH.
  • Explain the benefits of utilizing a multidisciplinary, collaborative care approach to promote health equity.
  • Analyze the interconnected impact of economic instability, environmental conditions, and digital access disparities on health outcomes.
  • Evaluate the effect of systemic biases and discriminatory policies on disparities in health care access and quality of care.
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Who Should Participate

Health care professionals throughout the industry seeking better understanding of the health care system

What Will You Gain

  • An understanding of how social, economic, and environmental factors shape individual and community health outcomes 
  • A framework for designing and evaluating equity-focused interventions 
  • Skills to recognize and address bias/discrimination in clinical and organizational contexts 
  • Practical strategies for integrating SDoH into care and operations 
  • Tools for building multidisciplinary, community-connected approaches to patient care 

About the Course

HealthXcelerate courses offer a foundational, 360‑degree view of the health care ecosystem, drawing on the expertise of Harvard Medical School faculty and industry leaders. With a focus on the patient experience, the curriculum explores how the U.S. system compares with those of other countries, how clinical care connects to the broader health care industry, and how patients navigate and influence the system. Learners who complete HealthXcelerate courses build fluency and credibility in communicating key issues, critically assessing barriers to quality and access, and identifying opportunities for leadership and innovation.

Who Should Participate

This program will benefit industry and clinical leaders across the health care ecosystem; research and innovation managers with increasing global responsibility; entrepreneurs and consultants; business and technology professionals who work closely with health care organizations; and those transitioning into the health care space. 

Extend Your Learning and Save More

Whether you are building your medical science knowledge, preparing for advanced study, or expanding your understanding of the health care ecosystem, combining courses helps you connect concepts across disciplines while saving on enrollment.

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Enroll in Multiple Courses and Save

Combine up to five courses and unlock discounts up to 40%

You can bundle up to five HMX or HealthXcelerate courses. Bundle discounts apply to all courses selected. A bundle can consist of courses in the same upcoming enrollment period or the following enrollment period. 

Two-course bundle: 25% discount 
Three-course bundle: 30% discount 
Four-course bundle: 35% discount
Five-course bundle: 40% discount

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Multi-course discounts will be changing on October 1, 2026. Register now and lock in these savings by bundling multiple courses.

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HMX and HealthXcelerate Learning Pass

Unlock both HMX and HealthXcelerate courses all year long with one simple enrollment fee

With the HMX and HealthXcelerate Learning Pass, a $4,950 investment unlocks one year of unlimited enrollment to Harvard Medical School's portfolio of HMX and HealthXcelerate online courses, empowering you to advance your knowledge of health care and medical science in the areas that matter most to your goals. Start Learning

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Learn as a Team with Group Enrollments

Expand your impact and savings when you learn together

HMX and HealthXcelerate courses are ideal for organizations looking to train teams or larger groups. Group pricing is available, making it a cost-effective investment in team development.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Additional FAQs

Social Determinants of Health is an online course from Harvard Medical School exploring how non-medical factors—such as socioeconomic status, housing, environment, and food security—shape population health outcomes, health care spending, and clinical efficacy.

  • Format: 100% online, flexible, and interactive
  • Focus Areas: SDOH frameworks, health disparities, social care integration, data collection, community partnerships, and value-based outcomes

This course will benefit industry and clinical leaders across the health care ecosystem; research and innovation managers with increasing global responsibility; entrepreneurs and consultants; business and technology professionals who work closely with health care organizations; and those transitioning into the health care space.  

This course may particularly interest professionals such as:

  • Health system Chief Medical Officers, Chief Quality Officers, and population health directors
  • Payer executives and Medicaid managed care plan leaders
  • Public health officials, community health center directors, and non-profit leaders
  • Health care consultants and digital health innovators addressing health disparities 

The curriculum examines structural drivers of health inequities, screening protocols, cross-sector community partnerships, and sustainable financial models for funding social care interventions.

Key Topics Include:

  • SDOH Frameworks & Impact: How structural, economic, and environmental conditions drive up to 80% of health outcomes.
  • Screening & Data Integration: Implementing SDOH screening tools (Z-codes) and integrating social risk data into electronic health records.
  • Community-Clinical Linkages: Building partnerships between health systems, social service agencies, and community organizations.
  • Economics & Policy of SDOH: Funding social care interventions through value-based contracts, Medicaid Section 1115 waivers, and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). 

No prerequisites or clinical background are required. The course is built for cross-sector leaders from health care, government, philanthropy, technology, and community development. 

Participants who successfully complete the course requirements receive a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Medical School.

  • Validates expertise in social determinants of health, population health management, and health equity strategy.
  • Enhances professional resumes, CVs, and LinkedIn profiles. 

Delivered 100% online in an asynchronous format, the program requires an estimated 3 to 4 hours total.

  • Learning Components: On-demand video lectures, real-world case studies, and knowledge checks.
  • Flexibility: Designed to accommodate the schedules of working executives and full-time professionals. 

HealthXcelerate courses are designed by Harvard Medical School educators and feature leading faculty and experts. This course is led by:

A. Enrique Caballero, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Faculty Director, Diabetes Education, Office for External Education
Director of International Innovation Programs, Office for External Education, Harvard Medical School
President of Medicine and Science, American Diabetes Association 

This course provides health care professionals across the ecosystem a better understanding of what is needed to design interventions that address the root causes of poor health, reducing avoidable hospitalizations and optimizing value-based care performance.

Key Benefits:

  • Implement standardized screening and referral workflows for social needs
  • Leverage Medicaid waivers and value-based payment models to finance social care
  • Build health equity strategies that improve quality metrics and clinical outcomes 

HealthXcelerate courses provide concentrated, actionable training focused on real-world implementation, avoiding the multi-year timeline and theoretical focus of traditional public health degrees.

  • Actionable Learning: Direct application to ongoing clinical and community initiatives.
  • High Efficiency: Completed in hours rather than academic semesters.
  • Open Enrollment: Straightforward registration without application fees or standardized testing. 

Enroll online directly as an individual or Contact Our Team for inquiries regarding group enrollment discounts.

Faculty Leads

Each course within the HealthXcelerate program features Harvard Medical School faculty and leading experts in the field.

Dr. Caballero

A. Enrique Caballero

MD

  • Associate Professor of Medicine
  • Faculty Director, Diabetes Education, Office for External Education
  • Director of International Innovation Programs, Office for External Education, Harvard Medical School
  • President of Medicine and Science, American Diabetes Association

Susanna Bianzano, TA CRM Medicine, Boehringer Ingelheim

HealthXcelerate is an excellent opportunity to learn more about all aspects of the U.S. health care system. The flexible course framework makes it easier to integrate into my busy work days than other programs.

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  • HealthXcelerate
  • Online; Self-Paced
  • Group Enrollment Option
  • Start Today

Dates: Always Available

For: Health care professionals throughout the industry seeking better understanding of the health care system

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