Author: Jane Saffitz

Dear members,

We are currently holding a vote for two new co-chairs who will come onboard after the November AAA meeting. You may vote here: forms.gle/nH4TKmNwFXAy1Akn7

Our three candidates for the co-chair positions are: Dr. Geoffroy Carpier, Dr. Michael Oldani, and Dr. Elisha Oliver. Following the link above, you will be able to access their individual candidate statements, which outline their visions for the future of this interest group. You may vote for up to TWO candidates. Voting will end at 11:59pm EST on Monday, November 1, 2021.

Finally, this is a reminder that we will be having our annual business meeting on Zoom on Thursday, November 4th from 8-10 pm EST. Log-in details are as follows: 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://denison.zoom.us/j/7262625160?pwd=NEk1ZVh3ZG51ODRZUzAzREZpQlZvQT09

Meeting ID: 726 262 5160
Passcode: anso_oh

The Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Integrative Medicine (IM) special interest group of the Society for Medical Anthropology (SMA) invites submissions of graduate student authored papers in the anthropology of “alternative” medicines. Papers should relate to the study of modes of healing that are either non-biomedical or marginalized within conventional medicine. The award committee prefers work that engages interest group members’ core concerns with questions of power, culture, and epistemology. The CAM/IM special interest group was organized in 2006 to encourage the anthropological study of CAM and IM as emergent socio-medical phenomena with global ramifications in the 21st century. Members recognize CAM/IM as inclusive of current examples of medical pluralism, as influenced by processes of globalization and hybridization, scientization and commodification. The author of the winning paper will receive a cash award of $200, and their name will be announced in Anthropology News and at the SMA business meeting at the American Anthropological Association meeting in November. Qualifying submissions will be judged by a committee of CAM/IM members. Submissions from all sub-disciplines are encouraged. 

QUALIFYING CRITERIA·  Primary or first author must be a graduate student at time of submission·  Preferably based on original fieldwork and data, but can be theoretical·  Must have been written in the past 24 months·  May be unpublished or submitted for publication at the time of submission·  Maximum of 8,000 words, not including references

JUDGEMENT CRITERIA·  Relevance to the CAM/IM SIG statement of purpose (above)·  Originality of fieldwork and data·  Richness of substantive or evidentiary materials·  Clarity of anthropological methods·  Effective use of theory and/or data·  Organization, quality of writing, and coherence of argument

SUBMISSION PROCESS·  Do not include your name or any identifying information in the paper itself·  Provide a separate cover sheet that includes your name, mailing address, email address, and affiliation·  Papers must be double-spaced and in PDF format (please include page numbers)·  References should be formatted in the American Anthropological Association style·  Email copies to Laura Meek at lameek@hku.hk and Jane Saffitz at saffitzj@denison.edu·  Submissions must be received by 11:59 PM EST, July 1, 2021 for full consideration

We look forward to your submissions!
-Laura Meek & Jane Saffitz, CAM/IM SIG Co-Chairs