Undergraduate Research
The purpose of this program is to promote serious undergraduate
research in cross-cultural health and healing. This program would
be a great opportunity for interested students to experience the
conduction of a small and formal research project in the field. Students
will gain a deeper and critical understanding of their subjects and
contribute to our limited knowledge of alternative medicine and
cross-cultural health issues.
Faculty Projects on Cross-Cultural Health
and Alternative Medicine
Under this program, small investigator-initiated research projects,
dealing mainly with local United States issues, will be supported and
encouraged. The Web Based Catalog of Tongva Medicinal Plants is a
good example. It is a small project conducted in collaboration with the
Tongva people (Native Americans of California) with the potential of
becoming a full-size research project. At the end of the projects,
investigators would be able to prepare proposals for full or
comprehensive studies in the field and submit them to major funding
agencies.
Culture, Brain and Healing Lecture Series
The annual lecture series will focus on the interrelationships
between healing, brain and culture. Renowned guest speakers
specializing in the biological, psychological, clinical, and
anthropological study of the healing phenomena and alternative medicine
will be invited. It is hoped that the lecture series will promote
a better understanding of this complex subject among students and
faculty members.
Cross-Cultural Healing Demonstration Series
Our previous experience with these public demonstrations at Pitzer
College proved to be extremely popular among students, faculty and
community members.
Demonstrations of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hoopa
phytotherapy (Native Americans), Curanderismo and Santeria (Latin
Americans), and African (Dagara) Shamanism were a true success.
The aim of this series was to give the Claremont Colleges community the
opportunity to look closely at the work of practitioners of alternative
and traditional medicines. Discussions about their therapeutic
efficacy and plausible mechanism of action will provide the audience a
critical and balanced method of interpretation.
Cross-Cultural Health and Healing Web Site
This web site is already on the Internet. However, developing
it further and extending services would be desirable. Our
Cross-cultural Health and Healing Initiative at the Claremont Colleges
web site is also very appreciated by students, faculty and community
members. This site helped many students to realize the existence
of courses offered by the five Colleges, as well as to make course
choices in a timely manner. It seems that this site is helpful for
students in planning their concentrations and future professional or
academic career in the health sciences, including: medicine, psychology,
neurosciences, social work, counseling, clinical and basic health
research.
