PhD in Anthropology/MD

[skiracer123]

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Sorry, something wrong with my internet....

But anyway, I've been reading a lot of anthropology and I've fallen in love. What kind of career path could combine these two fields? Does anyone ever go MD/phd in anthro? Who? What do they do? Thanks!

 

[bailey39]

Hi-- there are many who have done so. Do you have any specific interests yet? Some people study clinical trials, others terminal illnesses, and others look at international medicine/human rights. The best examples (that I know) of the intnl group are Jim Kim, Joyce Millen, Paul Farmer et al. They're associated with the Brigham's Dept of Inf Dis and Social Inequality and/or the Dept of Social Medicine at Harvard. Sorry I don't know much about other schools or areas, but there are tons of opportunities in med-anthro.

 

[Pandora's Box]

I know that University of Chicago Med has a MD/PhD in non-biomedical sciences program that you might be interested. They also have a seperate MSTP program.

 

[GraC_undr_PrsR]

Hey -- Paul Farmer's written some great books on his medical anthropological work in Haiti -- my fave: Infections and Inequalities. I would say that book heavily influenced my decision to pursue an MD/PhD (in a science) to ultimately perform some research/clinical initiatives in underserved areas.
If you would like a MD/PhD in anthropology, go for it -- it has been done!

Best of luck!

 

[PublicHealth]

Read "Becoming a Doctor" by Melvin Konner. He's a PhD anthropologist who attended Harvard Medical School after being a professor for 10 years. He's currently a professor at Emory. Here's his website:

http://www.emory.edu/COLLEGE/ANTHROPOLOGY/FACULTY/ANTMK/

 

[Neuronix]

Check out this thread as well: http://www.studentdoctor.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=72941

bailey39's answer is right on the money. As to where you should go for such a program, check out my answer in that other thread. It's a fairly limited number of programs that will provide full-funding for Anthro PhD and MD, but they're out there.