The pictures below represent the history of medicine in various cultures and eras. The first represents ancient Greek medicine and the second picture represents early American medicine. The beliefs and practices of both of these cultures and eras have changed drastically over time.
The History of Medical Anthropology
1920's- Franc Boas, the founding father of American anthropology, studied immigrants
1940's- Anthropologists worked for the US government on military projects
1940's-50's- Anthropologists began suggesting implementation of research before projects were started, rather than after problems occurred
1963- Following WW II, medical anthropology was introduced by anthropologists into the "social processes and cultural representations of health, illness and the nursing/care practices associated with these" (Wikipedia website)
1960's- Decrease in anthropological involvement in government projects due to disagreement on factors contributing to failure of projects
1975- Creation of the "Social Soundness Guidelines" which required research to occur before planning of projects, thus creating work for anthropologists (Joralemon, 2010: 91)
1970's- Organizations began employing anthropologists, such as UNICEF, PAHO and FAO (Joralemon, 2010: 91)