Medical Anthropology is the application of anthropological methods, including participant observation and semi-structured interviews, and theories in health related studies. "Because health is a major concern for all human societies, anthropologists have long taken an interest in the health-related activities of the people with whom they have worked (Chambers 1985: 69)." Medical anthropology focuses on cross-cultural perceptions of health problems and also human factors relating to health and illnesses.

"The popularity of medical anthropology as a subfield can be attributed in part to the fact that the topic appeals both to biological and cultural anthropologists (Chambers 1985: 69)."

Some topical areas that medical anthropologists have studied include:

a) Nutrition and Culture
b) HIV/AIDS
c) Abortion
d) Tobacco
e) Cancer

Many applied medical anthropologists with Masters in Anthropology are working for non-for-profit and governmental agencies in health related research. Some of the organizations that medical anthropologists are working for are:

1. Center for Disease Control
2. Hispanic Health Council
3. Midwest Bioethics Center
4. World Health Organization

Erve Chambers. 
       1985. Applied Anthropology: A Practical Guide. Waveland Press, Inc.