To be completely honest, when I enrolled in this summer introduction to medical anthropology course, I had no idea what to expect or what kind of class it would be. I had never taken an anthropology class before. Most of what I have studied in college thus far includes chemistry, anatomy, and physiology and the scientific aspect of medicine. My studied have only really consisted of the human body, math, physics, and science related courses. After completing this class, I have learned how culture and ethics related so closely to the human body and its important relation to medicinal practices. Many other factors besides biological reasons could be reasons that a person acquires a specific disease. Things like culture, social relationships, economics, and environment all have influences upon a person's health. By medical anthropologists studying a person's culture and beliefs, treatment of patients is improved dramatically. The picture above is actually a photo of MSU students studying abroad in the Dominican Republic providing treatment to people of different cultures and backgrounds, which is what a medical anthropologist does.
In this course, we have studied and analyzed a number of different approaches that medical anthropologists utilize on a daily basis. They are all important and beneficial to patients and their treatment in one way or another. As a future doctor, I believe that the biological approach of medical anthropology is something I really related to and understood the most. It will also be an approach that will help me in the future as a medical professional. The biological approach focuses on the reasons genetically that a person may have an illness, something that I will definitely utilize in the future as a doctor. I also feel that the ethnomedical approach was very helpful to me because before taking this class, I never really realized how important discovering other cultures was in relation to medicine. Treatment plans may vary from culture to culture, so it is important for medical professionals to understand their patient's cultural beliefs and values to provide the best treatment for them possible. Although these approaches were the most helpful for me, I believe all of the approaches we have studied in this medical anthropology class are important in treating as well as studying different illnesses.
The most interesting aspect of the course for me was the difference in cultural treatment plans. Researching autism, I really enjoyed the story and film of the Horse Boy. It demonstrated how different cultures use folk sector healing rituals and ceremonies to help provide treatments for different illnesses, in this case, autism.
I believe medical anthropology courses such as this one should be a requirement for pre-medical as well as any students pursuing a career in the medical field. Before this class, I never really understood how much of an impact anthropology has on medicine and treating patients. I think understanding the culture of different people as well as other factors really creates a well rounded medical professional. It isn't all about just prescribing something to treat the symptoms. Medical anthropology allows us to understand how our lifestyles impact health and illnesses.
A video I would recommend to be shown in this course is a youtube video I found on narcolepsy. I analyzed narcolepsy and cataplexy during the True Life episode I watched on MTV for this class. This video provides more insight to the lives of loved ones of patients with narcolepsy and how it effects them.
Citations:
"The Horse Boy THAT HAD AUTISM." YouTube. Accessed August 13, 2014.
"Dominican Republic." Study Abroad : Undergraduate Students : Institute of International Health. Accessed August 14, 2014.
"Living with Narcolepsy." YouTube. Accessed August 14, 2014.
In this course, we have studied and analyzed a number of different approaches that medical anthropologists utilize on a daily basis. They are all important and beneficial to patients and their treatment in one way or another. As a future doctor, I believe that the biological approach of medical anthropology is something I really related to and understood the most. It will also be an approach that will help me in the future as a medical professional. The biological approach focuses on the reasons genetically that a person may have an illness, something that I will definitely utilize in the future as a doctor. I also feel that the ethnomedical approach was very helpful to me because before taking this class, I never really realized how important discovering other cultures was in relation to medicine. Treatment plans may vary from culture to culture, so it is important for medical professionals to understand their patient's cultural beliefs and values to provide the best treatment for them possible. Although these approaches were the most helpful for me, I believe all of the approaches we have studied in this medical anthropology class are important in treating as well as studying different illnesses.
The most interesting aspect of the course for me was the difference in cultural treatment plans. Researching autism, I really enjoyed the story and film of the Horse Boy. It demonstrated how different cultures use folk sector healing rituals and ceremonies to help provide treatments for different illnesses, in this case, autism.
I believe medical anthropology courses such as this one should be a requirement for pre-medical as well as any students pursuing a career in the medical field. Before this class, I never really understood how much of an impact anthropology has on medicine and treating patients. I think understanding the culture of different people as well as other factors really creates a well rounded medical professional. It isn't all about just prescribing something to treat the symptoms. Medical anthropology allows us to understand how our lifestyles impact health and illnesses.
A video I would recommend to be shown in this course is a youtube video I found on narcolepsy. I analyzed narcolepsy and cataplexy during the True Life episode I watched on MTV for this class. This video provides more insight to the lives of loved ones of patients with narcolepsy and how it effects them.
Citations:
"The Horse Boy THAT HAD AUTISM." YouTube. Accessed August 13, 2014.
"Dominican Republic." Study Abroad : Undergraduate Students : Institute of International Health. Accessed August 14, 2014.
"Living with Narcolepsy." YouTube. Accessed August 14, 2014.