Medical Sociology or Sociology of health is a specialization of Sociology, offered at Undergraduate and Post graduate levels. It examines medicine with sociological perspective, using sociological concepts and theories. The primary goals are to solve medical problems and improving medical care through emphasis on the critical role and the social factors play in determining or influencing the health of individuals, groups and larger society. It is concerned with action to bring changes in the environment or in the knowledge, attitudes, behavior or health status in the community.
They can also play an important role at the level of policy, planning and evaluation of social and organizational problems. Their inputs based on in depth understanding of social context can improve the quality of care given by the health care organizations and Social Welfare organizations.
S. No |
I Year |
II Year |
III Year |
INTERNSHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Anatomy & Physiology |
Medical Sociology -I |
Medical Sociology -II |
|
2 |
Foundations of Sociology & Cultural Anthropology |
Social Problems & Medical Social Work |
Medical Ethics, Legal Aspects & Human Rights |
12 months of Clinical Training |
3 |
Social & Health Psychology Medical Terminology & Coding |
Community Health & Social Medicine Social Research Methods and Statistics |
Management ,Principles and Hospital Operations |
|
4 |
English Basics of Computer |
Disaster Management & Environmental Studies |
||
5 |
Hospital –Oriented Project |
Dr. G. Jothimani is the Course Director for the B.Sc Medical Sociology as a Associate Professor, Madras Medical Mission College of Health Sciences in Chennai. She has completed her under graduation in Business Administration (BBA) fromPeriyar University, Salem in the year 2006, completed Post Graduation in Sociology (M.A) in the year 2008 from BharathidasanUniverity, Trichirappalli. She also completed her Doctoral Degree (Ph.D) in the year 2013 from Periyar University, Salem.
Her area of specialization is Sociology of Health, Social Gerontology, and Gender Studies and so on. To her credit she has more than 6 publications in international and national journals.
She has guided more than 10 PG projects and more than 35 UG projects for her credentials.
She has been appointed as Member in Board of Studies from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R Medical University, Chennai.
Medical Sociologists get job opportunities in both private and public sectors. They can teach, do research and consultancy in the Government and non-governmental organizations. Graduates can become community health trainer, community development programme officers, work for International organizations in the field of health and social welfare.
They can work as Medical Journalists, Design and conduct research studies independently or as a member of a research team(like ICMR, PRC, NIH, ICSSR etc)., researchers in the field of Bio-medical ethics and laws or a team member of epidemiological investigation.
In the hospital, they can work as Health Educators, Counselors, Hospital Administrators, Patient Relations Officers, Medical Coders, International Patient Care Managers, Organ Transplant Counselors, Hospice Workers, Discharge Planners, Grief Counselors, Corporate Relations and Communication Managers, Medical Insurance and Medical Transcriptionists.
Other areas of their employment in both government and non- governmental sectors are Basic Life Support (BLS) providers, members of emergency response team and information specialists, Rehabilitation Counselors, juvenile probation officers, palliative care counselors, CSR coordinators, HR executives, Coordinator in employees’ health and welfare departments.