Society for Medical Anthropology: executive committee highlights 2002
Highlights of SMA Executive Committee activities and actions during 2001-2002
Mark Luborsky, Secretary/Treasurer
During the AAA meetings and in the months afterward the Executive Committee worked to develop and vote on several future-looking initiatives to sustain and invigorate SMA internally and to strengthen external linkages. Notable among these are:
- Student Representative terms on the Executive Board extended by 1 year to help mentor incoming member. The new Rep’s will be member-elect similar to that of the President.
- Ad Hoc Committee of medical anthropologists working in federal agencies and national and international foundations was formally approved to enhance liaisons with SMA. One representative will serve as a non-voting member of the board.
- Revitalized SMA web site supported by approval of a quarter-time graduate student web master to develop and maintain a multi-service web site. It will now serve as a meeting place, source of research, teaching, and funding materials, and network tool.
- Dues modestly increased to support web site initiatives ($8 members, $5 students).
- Policy task force inaugurated and charged with goal of yearly identifying a policy related issue and investigating possible roles for SMA anthropologists. This is intended to be relatively distinct from issuing consensus document unless such is recommended
- MAQ news: The MAQ Editorship began the shift from Mac Marshall (Univ. Iowa) to Pamela Erickson (Univ. Conn). Once again the MAQ brought in hefty revenues beyond estimates due to ads and sales. Coming in 2003 will be a redesigned cover.
- AAA Publications is seriously revamping how it manages and supports section journals (e.g., MAQ) nothing is clear yet. The SMA Board is engaged with the process and also joined an informal ‘kitchen cabinet” of other section journals. Major AAA actions are expected at the fall conference in New Orleans as the AAA Board will vote on recommendations from an external consultant on academic publications.