At the Interface of Culture and Medicine

Waugh (religious studies, U. of Alberta), Szafran (family medicine, U. of Alberta) and Crutcher (family medicine, U. of Calgary) introduce this collection of 13 essays as an interrogation into the limits of and responses by medicine practiced under the "biomedical model" in a multicultural society. Many essays look at aboriginal and folk understandings of health issues. The contributors, who include doctors, social scientists, a cultural geographer, a community planner, a religion scholars and native healer, focus on Canadian subjects and society, but at times go beyond Canada when exploring aboriginal experiences of biomedicine. Bracketed by an editorial introduction and conclusion, the book is divided into four sections with essays organized around cultural issues surrounding end of life care; cultural assimilation in medical training; cultural and linguistic competence in the delivery of care; and multicultural perspectives on the definition of health. In addition to tables of information, the work includes world-maps depicting distribution factors in the background of applicants for Alberta's International Medical Graduate Program. Distributed by Michigan State U. Press. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Earle H. Waugh is Professor Emeritus and Director of the Centre for the Cross-Cultural Study of Health and Healing in the Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta in Edmonton.Olga Szafran is Associate Director of Research in the Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta in Edmonton.Rodney A. Crutcher is Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, and founding Director of the Alberta International Medical Graduate Program (2000-2008).