2003 Annual Reports
Report on Annual Awards in the Practice of Medical Anthropology
The Society for Medical Anthropology is pleased to announce two new awards in applied medical anthropology. The awards will be given in recognition of significant accomplishment in applying anthropology to real world problem solving in the area of health. Candidates for both awards will be selected based on evidence of engagement in and contributions to socially relevant problem solving. Of particular importance is a candidate’s demonstrated ability to use effectively the full range of anthropological tools – methods, theory, and principles – in cross-disciplinary contexts. Two awards will be offered: a Career Achievement Award, and a Practicing Medical Anthropology Award. Inaugural awards will be announced at the Joint SMA/SfAA meetings in Dallas, Texas, March 31 - April 4, 2004. Each Awardee will be presented with a plaque of appreciation, and a two hundred dollar check.
The Career Achievement Award is designed to honor career-long (at least 10 years post Ph.D.) contributions to establishing the practice of medical anthropology as a full partner in solving health problems. Of primary interest is a record of working effectively as part of interdisciplinary health research efforts, and of academic or popular publications, presentations, lectures and technical reports produced for audiences both within and outside of anthropology.
The Practicing Medical Anthropology Award is designed to honor scholars engaged in applying anthropological principles in particular health project settings. It will be presented in recognition of anthropological contributions made in the context of a specific project setting or problem arena. Successfully working as an integral team-member in applied projects demonstrating innovative problem definition and research methods for solving health problems is a primary interest.
The Selection Committee will be composed of six people: the SMA president and two SMA board members, two people selected from the SMA membership, one holding an academic position and one an applied position, and one previous Award winner. For the first year, in the absence of previous award winners, there will be three people from the general SMA membership included in the selection committee.
Please see the SMA website for nominations procedures
http://www.medanthro.net/awards/practicing.html