Clergy Health Education Program
The Clergy Health Education Program currently offers clergy courses on infectious and chronic diseases. These courses are free, self-paced, and provide a basic understanding of each topic. To access the courses, please register or log in to your account.
An Introduction to Infectious Disease
This online series provides a basic understanding of many of the practical questions and needs of clergy and faith leaders that were illuminated during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside current questions related to influenza and other infectious diseases of relevance to local churches and faith communities. Topics will include infectious disease basics, clarification of common pharmaceutical interventions (e.g., vaccines, therapeutics), and application of non-pharmaceutical interventions (e.g., those most likely to be employed by clergy in their churches and faith communities).
Series Objectives
- Learn what infectious diseases are, how to describe them and how they spread
- Understand the properties of common infectious diseases such as Influenza and COVID-19
- Explore pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions to prevent and mitigate the spread of infectious diseases
An Introduction to Chronic Disease
This online, self-paced series provides a basic understanding of chronic diseases that are common in our communities, such as heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and kidney disease—making up to 8 of the 10 leading causes of preventable death in Texas and the US. Topics will focus on the practical role of clergy, common recommendations, and simple referral guides for better community engagement across key, lifestyle medicine ‘pillars’ for the prevention of chronic disease: Nutrition, Physical Activity, Obesity, Substance Abuse, Sleep, and Stress.
Series Objectives
- Learn what chronic diseases are, and their burden inside and outside faith communities
- Identify the key lifestyle medicine pillars of lifestyle for prevention of chronic disease
- Identify the role of clergy, common recommendations, and referral guides for community engagement