Society for Medical Anthropology Survey of Applied/Practicing Medical Anthropologists November 30, 2007

Response Overview Survey Launched 11/05/ :35 PM Survey Launched 11/05/ :35 PM Closed 11/30/2007 Closed 11/30/2007 Visits = 355 Visits = 355 Partials = 69 Partials = 69 Completes = 224 Completes = 224 Total Number of Questions = 24 Total Number of Questions = 24

Whether currently member of SMA

Whether currently student member of regular member

Duration of SMA membership

Whether currently member of SFAA

Whether currently member of National Association of Practicing Anthropologists (NAPA)

Whether currently full-time or part- time anthropologist * e.g., Grad student, Research post-doc, On the Job Market,

If employed, work for: * e.g., University Faculty, College of Public Health, College of Nursing

Professional qualification: Highest degree *e.g., M. Phil, M.Ed., ABD

Whether multiple degrees

Multiple degrees (multiple responses) *e.g., Dr.PH, MSW, MA,ATRIC, CMP

Whether received highest degree training in Anthropology department or program

Whether “practicing” or “applied” medical anthropologist * e.g., Medical Anthropologist, Nurse Anthropologist, Professional Research Anthropologist

Prefer to be called as: (# of responses 214) Examples: Examples: I call myself an "applied medical anthropologist" to public health crowds, because I want to emphasize the practical qualities of my work. I call myself a "medical anthropologist" to social sciences crowds because I don't think it's necessary to highlight that part of my work that's applied. I call myself an "applied medical anthropologist" to public health crowds, because I want to emphasize the practical qualities of my work. I call myself a "medical anthropologist" to social sciences crowds because I don't think it's necessary to highlight that part of my work that's applied. "Practicing" seems more involved in the community of the people and practice-based; "applied" seems application of knowledge, thus academic-based. I prefer the former. "Practicing" seems more involved in the community of the people and practice-based; "applied" seems application of knowledge, thus academic-based. I prefer the former.

If applied or practicing medical anthropologist, what do you do that is applied or practicing? (# of responses = 161) Examples: Examples: Anti-tobacco activities (especially work related to promoting laws to restrict public smoking). Anti-tobacco activities (especially work related to promoting laws to restrict public smoking). Development of public health interventions, evaluation of interventions, policy advocacy work, etc. Development of public health interventions, evaluation of interventions, policy advocacy work, etc. Community-based research; interventions; program planning and evaluation Community-based research; interventions; program planning and evaluation I run a non-profit organization that supports health projects in Africa and South America. I run a non-profit organization that supports health projects in Africa and South America. I develop health communications campaigns that address AIDS prevention I develop health communications campaigns that address AIDS prevention

Whether working in a position that fully utilizes skills and knowledge as applied/practicing medical anthropologist

What SMA can do to better publicize, promote, or educate the public about the skills and qualifications of practicing or applied medical anthropologists (# of responses 153) Examples: Examples: Promote applied programs with a medical emphasis, encourage currently non-applied programs in medical anthropology to offer their students at least the fundamentals of applied anthropology. Promote applied programs with a medical emphasis, encourage currently non-applied programs in medical anthropology to offer their students at least the fundamentals of applied anthropology. Need to think of ways in which the SMA can have greater visibility in making statements about public policy...this would be one way for increasing the public's awareness of medical anthropology and what it is about. Need to think of ways in which the SMA can have greater visibility in making statements about public policy...this would be one way for increasing the public's awareness of medical anthropology and what it is about.

Most relevant or most helpful services of the SMA (# of responses 152) Examples: Examples: 1) Collegial networking at meetings 2) The creation of the Foster Award 3) The SMA website 1) Collegial networking at meetings 2) The creation of the Foster Award 3) The SMA website The journal, SMA conference sessions The journal, SMA conference sessions (1) intellectual nourishment through meetings and outstanding journal; (1) intellectual nourishment through meetings and outstanding journal; (2) networking and diminution of sense of isolation (2) networking and diminution of sense of isolation

Needs that are particular to practicing/applied medical anthropologists and differ from those of academic medical anthropologists (# of responses 155) Examples: Examples: Developing an understanding of applied work among their peers Developing an understanding of applied work among their peers Skills in grant writing Networking possibilities Skills in grant writing Networking possibilities 1) Interdisciplinary communication effectiveness 2) Familiarity with other discipline's research methods; applied folks need much broader & stronger methods training 3) Greater concern about practical applications of findings for improving health problems in the 'real-world' 1) Interdisciplinary communication effectiveness 2) Familiarity with other discipline's research methods; applied folks need much broader & stronger methods training 3) Greater concern about practical applications of findings for improving health problems in the 'real-world'

What SMA should do to better serve applied/practicing medical anthropologists (# of responses = 107) Examples: Examples: Development of guidelines for working in different sorts of applied domains outside the academy, and in liaising with medicine and public health institutions. Development of guidelines for working in different sorts of applied domains outside the academy, and in liaising with medicine and public health institutions. Promoting research grants Promoting research grants Skills workshops, Ethics workshops, interdisciplinary workshops, Skills workshops, Ethics workshops, interdisciplinary workshops,

Whether SMA should sponsor more practicing skills workshops at professional meetings for anthropologists interested in applied medical anthropology

Suggested Workshops (# of responses = 131) Examples: Examples: How to negotiate a contract when doing consulting. How to negotiate a contract when doing consulting. Assisting students in getting articles printed. Assisting students in getting articles printed. Methodology oriented workshops, rapid assessment techniques, tips & tricks for doing qualitative work on a short timeline Methodology oriented workshops, rapid assessment techniques, tips & tricks for doing qualitative work on a short timeline Professional development/careers; evaluation techniques; grant writing; retooling careers Professional development/careers; evaluation techniques; grant writing; retooling careers

Whether SMA should create a licensing or certificate program for applied or practicing medical anthropologists

Comments on licensing or certificate program Examples: Examples: Double-edged sword. Only if it serves the medical anthropologists well; not if it is just a "ticket" to appease other professions' sense of appropriate credentialing (b/c that leads us into other kinds of problems, both with those professions and within our own ranks) Double-edged sword. Only if it serves the medical anthropologists well; not if it is just a "ticket" to appease other professions' sense of appropriate credentialing (b/c that leads us into other kinds of problems, both with those professions and within our own ranks) At first blush it looks good, but how does the principle of autonomy and remaining a critical medical anthropologist become protected under such a program? At first blush it looks good, but how does the principle of autonomy and remaining a critical medical anthropologist become protected under such a program? I have seen this trend in health and I frankly think it is bogus. Usually it is driven by people who are mediocre who want some kind of outside legitimization to charge more money or self gratification I have seen this trend in health and I frankly think it is bogus. Usually it is driven by people who are mediocre who want some kind of outside legitimization to charge more money or self gratification

Suggestions for the SMA Executive Board Example: Example: In the past, much of medical anthropology has been devoted to attacking aspects of biomedical practices and institutions. While carefully structured criticism is very useful, I feel that more progress has been made when medical anthropologists worked in partnership with biomedical and health sciences people, with constructive criticism at times, but also constructive appreciation of the situations and issues faced by the medical and community health people. In the past, much of medical anthropology has been devoted to attacking aspects of biomedical practices and institutions. While carefully structured criticism is very useful, I feel that more progress has been made when medical anthropologists worked in partnership with biomedical and health sciences people, with constructive criticism at times, but also constructive appreciation of the situations and issues faced by the medical and community health people.

Thank You Results will be posted on the SMA website Results will be posted on the SMA website http/ http/