Medical anthropologist
Medical Anthropologist
A Medical Anthropologist (pronunciation: med-i-cal an-thro-po-lo-gist) is a professional who applies anthropological theories and methods to the study of health, illness, and healing.
Etymology
The term "Medical Anthropologist" is derived from the combination of two words: "Medical", which originates from the Latin medicus, meaning "physician", and "Anthropologist", which comes from the Greek anthropos (human) and logia (study). Thus, a Medical Anthropologist is essentially a professional who studies human health.
Role and Responsibilities
A Medical Anthropologist studies the factors that contribute to disease or illness and the ways that human populations deal with disease or illness. They often work in public health, where they may study and address issues related to health disparities, cultural beliefs about illness, and community health. They may also work in academic settings, where they conduct research and teach.
Related Terms
- Anthropology: The scientific study of humans, human behavior and societies in the past and present.
- Public Health: The science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities.
- Health Disparities: Differences in health outcomes among groups of people.
- Cultural Beliefs: Shared beliefs and values established by a group of people, influencing their behaviors, perceptions, and decision-making.
- Community Health: A field of public health that focuses on studying, protecting, or improving health within a community or a geographical area.
See Also
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