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Anthropology Occasional Seminar

The Anthropology Dept presents: An Occasional Seminar with Anna Rivara, Ph.D., MPH Yale School of Public Health. Cardiometabolic diseases have become pervasive globally, yet there are major disparities among who is impacted, and the severity of illnesses that are experienced. This talk will explore how anthropology provides a lens in which to understand how evolution, structural factors and violence, behaviors, and culture interact and influence who is at risk, and their likelihood of positive or negative outcomes. Using examples from her work in Samoa and Brazil, this talk will explore how human variation, psychosocial factors, and the larger socio-political environment have shaped risk perceptions and health outcomes in these locales. With an interdisciplinary focus, the talk will also emphasize the need for translation and application of research findings and showcase methods and tools that can help to mitigate adversity. Anna Rivara is an associate research scientist in the Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health. Dr. Rivara received her Ph.D. in Applied Anthropology (Biocultural Medical Anthropology) and MPH at the University of South Florida. She currently conducts research in Samoa and American Samoa, and has previously conducted research in Goías, Brazil and the US. Dr. Rivara uses mixed methods approaches to understand and improve health outcomes and health disparities among adults at risk for, or living with cardiometabolic disease, in low and under-resourced settings. With funding from a NIDDK K01 award, she is currently undertaking a prospective assessment of glycemia, diabetes care preferences, and illness experiences (using longitudinal interpretative phenomenological analysis) among adults living with diabetes in Samoa.

Event Sponsor
Anthropology, Mānoa Campus

More Information
Marti Kerton, 808-956-7153, anthprog@hawaii.edu, , Anna Rivara Flyer (PDF)