Medical anthropology studies various facets of how human health is affected by culture. More than a system of health care practices, medical anthropology works to identify customs and procedures that shape how people take care of themselves. It is found throughout the world; impacting populations in various countries as well as local individuals. Its areas are diverse, including primary healthcare, social medicine and mental health, as well as research and strategy to change policies. Medical anthropology is imperative for social change, and functions to bring different populations together toward a common goal of health.
Global Health
- Anthrologica: A research organization motivated to improve health processes in developing countries.
- BMC Public Health: An open-access journal with articles related to many aspects of global public health.
- Duke Global Health Institute: Addressing global health disparities, this organization performs fieldwork to treat and prevent health problems in the international context.
- Explanations of Illnesses: A discussion of some cultural variations of the source of illness from Palomar College.
- Global Health Council: A membership association that works to recognize global health issues and report them to authorities with the power to make improvements.
- International Genetics and Health Collaboratory: A society working together with other groups to organize new standards and procedures for global human health.
- Medical Anthropology and Global Health: A specific area of interest within the University of Washington Department of Anthropology. The academic program focuses on directing changes in health framework both locally and around the world.
- The Science of Improving Lives: Homepage of the FHI organization, which focuses on global health, sustainable development and enriching lives.
- World Health Organization: The global health initiative that sets standards for care and changes policy to protect the health and livelihood of those around the world.
Social Medicine
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Information about the development of working groups within the CDC and their contributions to social medicine.
- Psychosomatic Medicine: From the American Psychosomatic Society, a dialogue of the involvement of anthropology in psychosomatic medicine.
- United States National Library of Medicine: A brief discussion of the relationship between medical anthropology and social medicine.
- University of Amsterdam: A discussion of the various types of medical and social practices. Explanations of the areas of medical anthropology compared to medical sociology and medical science.
- University of Vermont: A history of the development of the partnership between social medicine and public health through management of the Bubonic plague in Europe.
- University of Washington School of Medicine: Information about ethical practice for diverse beliefs and cross-cultural influences.
Health Care Systems
- Brunel University: A background of medical anthropology and its degree of importance. The article connects information for those with medical backgrounds, persons with an interest in cross-cultural medicine and anyone concerned with health issues overall.
- A Call to Anthropology of Health Policy: Promoting the work of anthropology toward changing health initiatives. A selection from the American Anthropological Association.
- Center for Cross Cultural Health: Promoting equality in health by providing equal opportunities for all people, regardless of background.
- Cross Cultural Healthcare Resource Guide: A manual for working with others of diverse cultural backgrounds in the health care setting from Children’s Mercy Family Health Partners.
- Cross Cultural Medicine: Resources for practicing medicine among patients from diverse backgrounds from the journal of the American Family Physician.
- Journal of the Society for Cultural Anthropology: An essay about the effect of culture and social inequalities on organized medicine.
- The Cross Cultural Healthcare Program: Provides publication materials in various languages for connecting people with a language barrier to access to health care systems.
- Think Cultural Health: A guide for healthcare providers for working with others who have different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Provides educational materials and cultural competency resources.
Biocultural Adaptation
- Biocultural Diversity Learning Network: Working with various institutions around the world, this network gives international people an ability to obtain the necessary tools for education and research.
- Biological Adaptation: Aptitudes and Acclimatization: An essay discussing the concept of cultural evolution within certain populations.
- Institute of Human Origins: An organization that works with scientists and researchers to study various aspects of biocultural evolution.
- Journal of African History: A study of the racial history and cultural development of a specific archaeological population.
- Principles of Biocultural Anthropology: An essay of how anthropology studies human culture and its evolutionary behavior and limitations.
- Public Anthropology: An article outlining the comparison of physical evolution to cultural adaptation. From the archives of the American Anthropologist in 1966.
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Website for the museum that asks the question of what it means to be human. The exhibit focuses on human origins and physical and cultural evolution.
Ethnographic Studies and Research
- Anthropology in the Clinic: The Problem of Cultural Competency and How to Fix it: A discussion of cross-cultural expertise and how it relates to the practical world of medicine.
- Anthropology of Healing: An Historical Summary of Medical Anthropology: A research essay discussing the history and development of medical anthropology from the 1960s to the present.
- British Medical Journal: An article discussing the importance of incorporating ethnography into research methods, assessment and study.
- Centre on Migration Policy and Society: An organization focusing on research and policy changes specifically in the field of migration.
- Durham University: Information about the Medical Anthropology Research Group, which studies biological, social and community medicine on both a local and international scale.
- Medical Anthropology: A background and history of medical anthropology and how it functions alongside other disciplines. Subjects discuss medical ecology and ethnomedicine, as well as the applications of medical anthropology to the research and publications arena.
- Medical Research Council: Improving health by supporting biomedical research while educating and communicating with the public.
- PBS DGA: A background of the importance of ethnography in research. Includes brief examples and interviews.
- Penn Anthropology: A discussion of applying objectivity to ethnographic research.
Medical Anthropology Journals and Associations
- American Anthropological Association: The large organization that promotes various branches of anthropology and provides opportunities for research, publication and networking.
- Anthropology and Health Journal: Publishing articles, theories and research about the field of medical anthropology through peer-reviewed sources.
- European Association of Social Anthropologists: A European network of medical anthropologists for collaborating about research topics and mutual interests.
- International Journal of Epidemiology: An international journal publishing research about current developments and advances in public health and culture around the world.
- Journal for the Centre of Cultural and Community Studies: An online journal publishing research reports and editorials focused on western Canada.
- Medical Anthropology at Home: A professional medical anthropology organization that provides continuing education programs and networking opportunities for professionals.
- Medical Anthropology Research Group: An organization focused on reducing vulnerabilities and promoting access to health for various populations.
- National Association for the Practice of Anthropology: An organization providing support for anthropologists; including communication, networking, job opportunities and annual meetings.
- Society for Medical Anthropology: An international association for medical anthropologists. Publishes the journal Medical Anthropology Quarterly.
- Society for Social Studies of Science (4S): A non-profit association that brings professionals from various backgrounds together; including science, medicine and technology to better understand each context.
