My Biography
What first sparked your interest in anthropology?
Initially trained as a nurse, I have always been interested in the connection between culture and health. Anthropology helped me understand how social structures influence healthcare, the experiences of pain and illness, and the innovative ways people around the world heal and care for each other.
What did you intend to do as a career after pursuing an education in anthropology?
After completing my PhD, I want to work in academia with health sciences students to provide them with the analytical and methodological tools I have learned from anthropology, which have made me a better health practitioner and researcher.
How do you utilize anthropological skills in your current position?
As a researcher interested in violence and care during pregnancy and childbirth, I use anthropological methods like institutional ethnography and scale analysis to understand people’s lived experiences and suggest practical changes that can be implemented at both the individual and institutional levels.
Why did you become a AAA member and how has it enhanced your professional development?
I joined the AAA to broaden my professional network and share my research with others. Anthropologists in and outside academia have inspired me to apply anthropology to real-world issues and positively impact people’s health and well-being.
What tips do you have for the next generation of student anthropologists?
Anthropology is like a connecting tissue that helps us see the world in unexpected ways. I encourage future students not to be afraid of making theoretical and practical connections with other disciplines and applying their knowledge outside of academia.
"I joined the AAA to broaden my professional network and share my research with others. Anthropologists in and outside academia have inspired me to apply anthropology to real-world issues and positively impact people's health and well-being."