(Reisebrev fra Thomas i California)
As part of my PhD journey at NTNU, I had the incredible opportunity to visit the University of California, Irvine (UCI) from January 8 to February 2, 2024. My stay was anchored in the UCI School of Social Sciences, specifically within the Department of Anthropology. I engaged deeply with courses and research that expanded my perspective on my research focus: medication management in municipal home care.
During my time at UCI, I attended a series of thought-provoking courses led by distinguished faculty:
- Medical Anthropology with Professor Angela Jenks: This course explored the intersections of health, culture, and society, offering critical insights into how broader social and cultural contexts shape medical systems. These discussions deeply resonated with my focus on the lived experiences of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in managing medications for older adults.
- Science, Culture, and Power with Professor Michael Fortun: This course was a fascinating dive into the dynamics of science and technology. It illuminated how power and culture influence scientific knowledge and practices, helping me better understand the institutional and systemic factors shaping medication management processes.
- Environment and Climate Justice with Professor Kim Fortun: This course emphasized the complex interplay between environmental crises and social inequalities, encouraging discussions on pathways to justice. The themes of justice and inequality provided valuable parallels to the challenges HCPs face working with vulnerable populations in home care settings.
- Advanced Social Medicine with Professor Kim Fortun, in collaboration with Nagasaki University: This seminar delved into the global dimensions of health and medicine, enriching my understanding of how systemic issues impact healthcare practices and medication accessibility, particularly in aging populations.
- Method Discussion Group with Professors Kim and Michael Fortun and Ph.D. candidates: These sessions highlighted my visit. They provided a platform for exchanging ideas on ethnographic methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches in anthropological research, which directly enhanced my methodological approach to understanding the experiences of HCPs as they navigate the complexities of medication management.
In addition to academic courses, I had the privilege of engaging with the EcoGovLab, a project led by Professor Kim Fortun that focuses on innovative governance models to address environmental and social challenges. Participating in the ALMA Children and CUAL Youth Project offered a glimpse into grounded, community-centered research aimed at empowering young voices.
To complement my academic experience, I also visited Apex Home Healthcare, a private company in Orange County, California. This provided a practical perspective on healthcare delivery in the region and enriched my understanding of the diverse organizational frameworks that shape medication management practices.
The perspectives I gained during this visit have been instrumental in deepening my ethnographic research. Specifically, they have enhanced my ability to critically analyze the challenges and complexities that HCPs experience in managing medications for older adults. By drawing connections between global health issues, systemic barriers, and localized practices, I am better equipped to explore how collaboration, communication, and innovation can address these challenges in municipal care contexts.
UCI’s well-connected campus facilities made navigating Orange County easy, and my accommodation during my stay offered a comfortable base for both study and exploration. This enriching stay at UCI has been a significant milestone in my PhD journey, offering invaluable perspectives and connections that will undoubtedly shape my future research and academic endeavors.
