Society for Medical Society for Medical Anthropology Anthropology

Survey of Applied/Practicing Survey of Applied/Practicing Medical AnthropologistsMedical Anthropologists

November 30, 2007November 30, 2007

Response OverviewResponse Overview

Survey Launched 11/05/2007 - 1:35 PMSurvey Launched 11/05/2007 - 1:35 PM Closed 11/30/2007Closed 11/30/2007 Visits = 355Visits = 355 Partials = 69Partials = 69 Completes = 224Completes = 224

Total Number of Questions = 24Total Number of Questions = 24

Whether currently member of Whether currently member of SMASMA

73%

27%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Yes No

Whether currently student Whether currently student member of regular membermember of regular member

73%

26%

1%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

RegularStudentNon Member

Duration of SMA Duration of SMA membershipmembership

18%

26% 26%24%

5%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Over 20 years10-20 years5-9 years1-4 yearsLess than a year

Whether currently member of Whether currently member of SFAASFAA

49%51% YesNo

Whether currently member of Whether currently member of National Association of National Association of

Practicing Anthropologists Practicing Anthropologists (NAPA)(NAPA)

14%

86%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Yes No

Whether currently full-time or Whether currently full-time or part-time anthropologistpart-time anthropologist

10%

5%

17%

55%

25%

5%

Full-time

Part-time

Self-employedNotemployedRetired

Other*

* e.g., Grad student, Research post-doc, On the Job Market,

If employed, work for:If employed, work for:

25%

5%

42%

14%

18%

15%

Federal, state,municipalgovernmentPrivatecorporation

Non-profitorganization

Hospital orsimilarInstitutionConsultant forvariousorganizationsOther*

* e.g., University Faculty, College of Public Health, College of Nursing

Professional qualification: Professional qualification: Highest degreeHighest degree

70%

19%

3% 3% 5%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Ph.D orsimilar

M.A., M.S.,M.P.H. orsimilar

M.D., D.O.,or similar

B.A., B.S.,or similar

Other*

*e.g., M. Phil, M.Ed., ABD

Whether multiple degreesWhether multiple degrees

59%

41%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Yes No

Multiple degreesMultiple degrees(multiple responses)(multiple responses)

39%

76%

37%

8% 7%

17%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Ph.D orsimilar

M.A.,M.S.,

M.P.H.,so

similar

B.A.,B.S., orsimilar

M.D.,D.O., orsimilar

R.N. orsimilar

Other*

*e.g., Dr.PH, MSW, MA,ATRIC, CMP

Whether received highest Whether received highest degree training in degree training in

Anthropology department or Anthropology department or programprogram83%

17%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Yes No

Whether “practicing” or Whether “practicing” or “applied” medical “applied” medical

anthropologistanthropologist12%

40%

48%PracticingAppliedOther*

* e.g., Medical Anthropologist, Nurse Anthropologist, Professional Research Anthropologist

Prefer to be called as:Prefer to be called as:(# of responses 214)(# of responses 214)

Examples:Examples: I call myself an "applied medical I call myself an "applied medical

anthropologist" to public health crowds, anthropologist" to public health crowds, because I want to emphasize the practical because I want to emphasize the practical qualities of my work. I call myself a "medical qualities of my work. I call myself a "medical anthropologist" to social sciences crowds anthropologist" to social sciences crowds because I don't think it's necessary to because I don't think it's necessary to highlight that part of my work that's highlight that part of my work that's applied.applied.

"Practicing" seems more involved in the "Practicing" seems more involved in the community of the people and practice-community of the people and practice-based; "applied" seems application of based; "applied" seems application of knowledge, thus academic-based. I prefer knowledge, thus academic-based. I prefer the former.the former.

If applied or practicing medical If applied or practicing medical anthropologist, what do you do that is anthropologist, what do you do that is

applied or practicing?applied or practicing?

(# of responses = 161)(# of responses = 161) Examples:Examples: Anti-tobacco activities (especially work related to promoting Anti-tobacco activities (especially work related to promoting

laws to restrict public smoking). laws to restrict public smoking).

Development of public health interventions, evaluation of Development of public health interventions, evaluation of interventions, policy advocacy work, etc.interventions, policy advocacy work, etc.

Community-based research; interventions; program Community-based research; interventions; program planning and evaluationplanning and evaluation

I run a non-profit organization that supports health projects I run a non-profit organization that supports health projects in Africa and South America. in Africa and South America.

I develop health communications campaigns that address I develop health communications campaigns that address AIDS prevention AIDS prevention

Whether working in a position that fully Whether working in a position that fully utilizes skills and knowledge as utilizes skills and knowledge as

applied/practicing medical anthropologistapplied/practicing medical anthropologist

55%

45%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Yes No

What SMA can do to better publicize, promote, What SMA can do to better publicize, promote, or educate the public about the skills and or educate the public about the skills and

qualifications of practicing or applied medical qualifications of practicing or applied medical anthropologistsanthropologists

(# of responses 153)(# of responses 153) Examples:Examples: Promote applied programs with a medical Promote applied programs with a medical

emphasis, encourage currently non-applied emphasis, encourage currently non-applied programs in medical anthropology to offer their programs in medical anthropology to offer their students at least the fundamentals of applied students at least the fundamentals of applied anthropology. anthropology.

Need to think of ways in which the SMA can have Need to think of ways in which the SMA can have greater visibility in making statements about greater visibility in making statements about public policy...this would be one way for public policy...this would be one way for increasing the public's awareness of medical increasing the public's awareness of medical anthropology and what it is about. anthropology and what it is about.

Most relevant or most helpful services of the Most relevant or most helpful services of the SMASMA

(# of responses 152)(# of responses 152) Examples:Examples: 1) Collegial networking at meetings1) Collegial networking at meetings

2) The creation of the Foster Award2) The creation of the Foster Award3) The SMA website3) The SMA website

The journal, SMA conference sessionsThe journal, SMA conference sessions

(1) intellectual nourishment through (1) intellectual nourishment through meetings and outstanding journal; meetings and outstanding journal;

(2) networking and diminution of sense of (2) networking and diminution of sense of isolationisolation

Needs that are particular to Needs that are particular to practicing/applied medical anthropologists practicing/applied medical anthropologists and differ from those of academic medical and differ from those of academic medical

anthropologistsanthropologists(# of responses 155)(# of responses 155) Examples:Examples:

Developing an understanding of applied work Developing an understanding of applied work among their peersamong their peers

Skills in grant writingSkills in grant writingNetworking possibilitiesNetworking possibilities

1) Interdisciplinary communication effectiveness1) Interdisciplinary communication effectiveness2) Familiarity with other discipline's research 2) Familiarity with other discipline's research methods; applied folks need much broader & methods; applied folks need much broader & stronger methods trainingstronger methods training3) Greater concern about practical applications of 3) Greater concern about practical applications of findings for improving health problems in the findings for improving health problems in the 'real-world''real-world'

What SMA should do to better serve What SMA should do to better serve applied/practicing medical anthropologistsapplied/practicing medical anthropologists

(# of responses = 107)(# of responses = 107)

Examples:Examples: Development of guidelines for working in Development of guidelines for working in

different sorts of applied domains outside different sorts of applied domains outside the academy, and in liaising with medicine the academy, and in liaising with medicine and public health institutions.and public health institutions.

Promoting research grantsPromoting research grants

Skills workshops, Ethics workshops, Skills workshops, Ethics workshops, interdisciplinary workshops,interdisciplinary workshops,

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

applied medical anthropologyapplied medical anthropology

89%

11%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Yes No

Suggested WorkshopsSuggested Workshops(# of responses = 131)(# of responses = 131)

Examples:Examples: How to negotiate a contract when doing How to negotiate a contract when doing

consulting. consulting.

Assisting students in getting articles Assisting students in getting articles printed. printed.

Methodology oriented workshops, rapid Methodology oriented workshops, rapid assessment techniques, tips & tricks for assessment techniques, tips & tricks for doing qualitative work on a short timelinedoing qualitative work on a short timeline

Professional development/careers; Professional development/careers; evaluation techniques; grant writing; evaluation techniques; grant writing; retooling careersretooling careers

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

medical anthropologistsmedical anthropologists

41%

59%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Yes No

Comments on licensing or certificate Comments on licensing or certificate programprogram

Examples:Examples: Double-edged sword. Only if it serves the medical Double-edged sword. Only if it serves the medical

anthropologists well; not if it is just a "ticket" to anthropologists well; not if it is just a "ticket" to appease other professions' sense of appropriate appease other professions' sense of appropriate credentialing (b/c that leads us into other kinds of credentialing (b/c that leads us into other kinds of problems, both with those professions and within problems, both with those professions and within our own ranks)our own ranks)

At first blush it looks good, but how does the At first blush it looks good, but how does the principle of autonomy and remaining a critical principle of autonomy and remaining a critical medical anthropologist become protected under medical anthropologist become protected under such a program?such a program?

I have seen this trend in health and I frankly think I have seen this trend in health and I frankly think it is bogus. Usually it is driven by people who are it is bogus. Usually it is driven by people who are mediocre who want some kind of outside mediocre who want some kind of outside legitimization to charge more money or self legitimization to charge more money or self gratificationgratification

Suggestions for the SMA Executive Suggestions for the SMA Executive

BoardBoard Example:Example: In the past, much of medical anthropology In the past, much of medical anthropology

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

Thank YouThank You

Results will be posted on the SMA websiteResults will be posted on the SMA website http/www.medanthro.nethttp/www.medanthro.net