Anthropology in Medical Education: Sustaining Engagement and Impact

This volume reflects on how anthropologists have engaged in medical education and aims to positively influence the future careers of anthropologists who are currently engaged or are considering a career in medical education.The volume is essential for medical educators, administrators, researchers, and practitioners, those interested in the history of medicine, global health, sociology of health and illness, medical and applied anthropology. For over a century, anthropologists have served in many roles in medical education: teaching, curriculum development, administration, research, and planning. Recent changes in medical education focusing on diversity, social determinants of health, and more humanistic patient-centered care have opened the door for more anthropologists in medical schools. The chapter authors describe various ways in which anthropologists have engaged and are currently involved in training physicians, in various countries, as well as potential new directions in this field. They address critical topics such as: 

•the history of anthropology in medical education; 

•humanism, ethics, and the culture of medicine;

•interprofessional and collaborative clinical care; 

•incorporating patient perspectives in practice; 

•addressing social determinants of health, health disparities, and cultural competence; 

•anthropological roles in planning and implementation of medical education programs; 

•effective strategies for teaching medical students; 

•comparative analysis of systems of care in Japan, Uganda, France, United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada and throughout the United States; and 

•potential new directions for anthropological engagement with medicine. 

The volume overall emphasizes the important role of anthropology in educating physicians throughout the world to improve patient care and population health.