Professor: Smith Course format: Seminar Number of respondents: 19 Total Enrollment: 21 Class Composition: Froshs: 11 Sophs: 10 Jrs: 0 Srs: 0

Instructor Average: 1.13 Course Average: 1.21

How often, even at our fine university, do you find a course that everyone who has taken it loves? "Cost versus Care: the Dilemma for American Medicine," with Professor Steven Smith, is one of those rare classes that not only endows its students with knowledge but teaches them how to effectively analyze issues and communicate their viewpoints. No prerequisites were required for the small seminar, which focused on problems inherent to the U.S. healthcare system.

Respondents unanimously praised Professor Smith for his supremely organized presentations and his ability to lead general discussion while giving each participant individual attention. Since he regularly requested student feedback, he was able to adjust the level of discussion to fit the class' needs. In addition, he was extremely approachable and always willing to help students with personal problems.

"Cost versus Care" was unique in that it required that each student perform a service project requiring about four hours of community service a week and keep a "service journal" detailing his or her experiences. It also had more traditional course requirements: reading from the text and from articles, one two-page paper, one group project involving a paper and a 90-minute presentation, preparation for two debates, and a fifteen-page final paper. Reading was light, and most students found it enjoyable (though a few said it was sometimes repetitive). Though some students said that the paper topics were too narrow, most felt they learned from working on the papers and presentations.

The workload for this course was variable, ranging from six hours per week (including community service) in regular weeks to 12 hours per week when a paper or presentation was scheduled. Students were prepared to work hard on this class, though many noted they did not expect the community service requirement. In general, however, students loved this course and its professor, urging anyone with an interest in medicine or public policy to take it.

View BC/0007 in the Brown Online Course Announcement.