Medical Anthropology

Medical anthropology is one of the most sought-after specializations within the broader field of anthropology. Situated at the margins of the clinical and social sciences, medical anthropology seeks to understand the social, economic, and political contexts of health and illness by 1) examining conceptions of self and body, narratives of affliction, and practices of treatment, and 2) exposing the structures of inequality—such as capitalism, racism, patriarchy, and heteronormativity—that prevent people from achieving health and receiving adequate care.