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Meet Morgen Chalmiers

Morgen-Chalmiers-.jpgTell us a bit about your background

I am pursuing a dual degree (M.D./Ph.D.) in psychological and medical anthropology through the Medical Scientist Training Program at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and the Department of Anthropology. Prior to matriculation, I received my undergraduate degree in the self-designed major of women's global health at Pomona College and plan to pursue a residency in obstetrics and gynecology following graduation from medical school.

What are you studying/ researching?

I work with a collaborative team across the UC campuses to conduct community-engaged, multi-sited research on resettled refugee women’s experiences of reproductive healthcare through the theoretical lens of psychological anthropology. My current project employs critical feminist theory and phenomenological analysis to explore the gendered dimensions of interpretive frameworks surrounding trauma and psychopathological categories such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I am passionate about integrating anthropological insights into clinical practice and health policy through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Describe your involvement in the UC San Diego community

 I served as the Co-Manager of the Women’s Health Subspecialty Clinic at the UC San Diego Student-Run Free Clinic, where I am an active medical student volunteer. I designed and co-facilitated a Breakout Session at UC Global Health Day (2018) entitled “Complications and Contradictions in Community-Based Participatory Research: An Interactive Panel Discussion.”

Have you been awarded any fellowships?

In 2017, I was awarded the Critical Language Scholarship, U.S. State Department: Hindi Language Study in Jaipur, India. This provided a full scholarship and stipend for the summer Hindi language study in Jaipur, India. In 2010, I was awarded the Critical Language Scholarship, U.S. State Department: Arabic Language Study in Amman, Jordan. This provided a full scholarship and stipend for the summer Hindi language study in Jaipur, India.

Why UC San Diego?

I chose to pursue an M.D. /Ph.D. dual degree at UC San Diego because of the nationally recognized strength of the medical school curriculum and the unique expertise in psychological anthropology available here. San Diego is an ideal location for my research on refugee and immigrant women’s experiences of reproductive and mental healthcare.