Data-Driven Crisis Response: Public Health Lessons from New York City

When a public health crisis strikes, timely data is the most powerful tool a city has to save lives and manage resources. This course teaches you how to analyze public health data, monitor disease spread, and evaluate hospital capacity using the real-world strategies developed during New York City's emergency response. Through clear written explanations and practical scenarios, you will explore how data shapes policy and operational decisions in real time. What you'll learn: Understand the foundational metrics of public health surveillance and outbreak tracking. Analyze municipal data sets to evaluate healthcare system capacity and resource allocation. Evaluate data-driven decision-making frameworks used by government agencies during emergencies. Apply privacy and ethical standards when handling sensitive public health information. Interpret modern epidemiological data models to predict trends and inform policy. The course begins with key terminology and foundational concepts in public health informatics before diving into the specific data pipelines, reporting structures, and policy responses used during the crisis. This course is designed for beginners, public policy students, health analysts, and civic tech enthusiasts. No prior programming or advanced statistical background is required. Start learning how data shapes modern crisis management today.