Applied Collaborative Biomedical Anthropology in a State Health Department Setting

Abstract

State health departments offer a diversity of collaborative research opportunities for biological anthropologists. This article discusses some of the issues one may confront in conducting collaborative biomedical research in this kind of setting, drawing on my experiences in the New York State Department of Health. Unlike an academic setting, the choice of a research topic is likely to depend upon the bureau in which one works and not solely on one's interests or prior specialty in biological anthropology. Though findings may not be publishable in anthropological journals, one can contribute to the literature of other disciplines. It is relatively easy to find collaborators from other disciplines, both inside and outside the health department, and collaboration has significantly broadened my knowledge.