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| Dr. Chelsea Carter |
To describe Dr. Chelsea Carter in one word is difficult, but if forced to do so that word would be: phenomenal. Carter, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, has established herself as one of the premiere medical anthropologists in the discipline. Her passions lie within breaking down barriers faced by Black individuals within the American healthcare system, but she has also been instrumental in overcoming obstacles placed upon her and other young anthropologists as they advance the concepts of what it means to be an anthropologist. Today’s blog post will discuss Dr. Chelsea Carter’s experiences and career further, including her on-going applied anthropological research projects.
Dr. Chelsea Carter was born and raised in St. Louis. She reported that she went to predominantly White schools, wherein she was exposed to primarily Eurocentric subject matter. She felt stifled in this environment, but she was able to explore her interests further upon enrolling in an introductory anthropology course at Emory University. She felt a connection with the material, particularly the questions concerning cultural differences and diversity. She was being exposed to ideas and ways of being that were different from what she had grown up learning, and she was excited to learn more. She ultimately majored in Anthropology and Spanish at Emory, eventually becoming a recipient of the Majorie Shostak Award for Excellence in Ethnographic Writing and the Heart of Emory award. She went on to graduate with high honors.
After graduating with her undergraduate degrees she eventually returned to St. Louis and enrolled in the anthropology graduate program at Washington University. It was here that she earned her master’s and Ph.D., while also simultaneously earning her Master’s in Public Health. Her research focused on Black patients’ experiences with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), popularly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain and of which there is no cure. Earning those degrees did not come easy. In an interview with the American Anthropological Association Carter got candid about the challenges she faced during her time as a graduate student. These challenges included “family health emergencies, advisor changes, an unsupportive academic community, and an abusive relationship.” With the support of friends, family, anthropology mentors, and her therapist she was able to overcome here hardships and graduate in six years, a monumental feat in and of itself without the added obstacles.
Currently, Carter is employed at Yale University as an Assistant Professor of Public Health in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences. She was previously employed as a Postdoc at Yale prior to landing her academic position. When she is not teaching she is working on turning her doctorate into a book, which focuses on Black American patients with ALS and their experiences within the medical system, particularly as they face issues related to race, gender, class, and bias. She is also involved in several other medical anthropology projects, including the Black Genome Project out of St. Louis, of which she is a Co-Principal Investigator.
The purpose of the Black Genome Project is to survey Black populations throughout St. Louis and the greater metro area to understand their views of their genetic information and the impacts of genetic studies on individuals and their communities. The project leaders seek to educate Black community members about genetic information and genomic data, specifically how it is used within healthcare and how they can utilize this information to better their own health and well-being. There are additional goals of the project, such as seeking to destroy myths concerning race as a biologically supportable concept and educating people about the role this idea plays in medical racism and bias. Ultimately, the Black Genome Project seeks to empower Black communities in having greater stewardship in their genetic data and research related to those data and their health. This is in line with Carter’s own personal and professional goal for herself as anthropologist: “Overall, our goal should be to support positive societal change and liberation for historically marginalized people worldwide, whether or not we are situated within the academy.”
Works Cited
Black Genome Project. Black Genome Project. 2021. Electronic. 26 November 2024.
Carter, Chelsea. "Career Spotlight: Chelsey R. Carter." 21 February 2023. Anthropology Careers and Employment (American Anthropology Association). Electronic. 26 November 2024.
—. Chelsea Carter. 2020. Electronic. 26 November 2024.
I believe Dr. Chelsea Carter’s story is incredible. It’s impressive to see how she has overcome personal and systemic challenges to become a leading voice in medical anthropology. She uses her dedication to inequality in the healthcare system shows how she empowers black communities especially through initiatives like the Genome Project. Her journey shows the importance of resilience and advocacy in positive change
ReplyDeleteDr. Chelsea Carter’s work in medical anthropology is both academically rigorous and socially impactful, particularly in addressing racial disparities in healthcare. Her persistence through personal and institutional challenges makes her achievements even more remarkable.
ReplyDeleteHer research, including the Black Genome Project, challenges misconceptions about race in genetics and empowers Black communities in healthcare. While her success is inspiring, it also highlights ongoing systemic issues in medicine and academia.
Dr. Chelsea Carter is very motivating! She is tearing down obstacles in anthropology and healthcare, which is exactly what the field probably needs. Her efforts on the Black Genome Project and Black ALS patients are important because they challenge old views on race while actually saving people's lives.
ReplyDelete-Mauriah Taylor
Dr. Chelsea Carter is an outstanding medical anthropologist from St. Louis, Missouri, dedicated to addressing racial disparities in healthcare. She discovered anthropology at Emory University, where she majored in Anthropology and Spanish. She later earned her Ph.D. and MPH at Washington University, focusing on the experiences of Black patients with ALS. Now an Assistant Professor at Yale University, Carter continues her impactful work through projects like the Black Genome Project, which empowers Black communities by educating them on genetic data and medical racism. Her mission is to promote societal change and liberation for historically marginalized people both in and beyond academia. I adore Dr Chelsea because she fights for equality in the healthcare system.
ReplyDeleteDr. Chelsea Carter is a medical anthropologist whose work challenges systemic inequities in healthcare and academics. A St. Louis native, she found her purpose at Emory University, where she pursued anthropology and Spanish. She later earned a Ph.D. and MPH from Washington University, researching Black ALS patient's experiences. Despite personal and institutional challenges, Carter persevered, now serving as an Assistant Professor at Yale. Her current projects, including the Black Genome Project, reflect her commitment to community empowerment, racial justice, and transformative scholarship. Carter exemplifies the power of resilience, passion, and purpose in advancing equity through applied anthropological research.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Dr. Chelsea Carter’s story is inspiring. She went out into a field that is systematically out against her and broke barriers. Despite all the hardship she faced, she was still an advocate for helping the Black community learn more about their genetic information. - Serenity Henderson
ReplyDeleteBeing from St. Louis, I was proud to read about someone as intelligent and passionate as Dr. Carter who is from the same city. I related to her going to a predominantly white high school and learning primarily Eurocentric subject matter. I think it is inspiring that instead of settling for that like most people, she wanted to learn more. Which she did and now she did the hard work and serves a greater purpose in helping black communities in St. Louis. As a student, it is always good hearing an academic success story especially after the person faced many adversities. Finding a greater purpose like Dr. Carter is always a good motivator.
ReplyDeleteVanessa Cardenas