Name: Caitlyn Placek
Email: caitlyn.placek@gmail.com
Bio: I am a Biocultural Medical Anthropologist and am currently an Associate Scientist at Henry Ford Health's Global Health Initiative, where my research focuses on mental and behavioral health. My research examines how social, cultural, and environmental factors shape substance use patterns, including initiation and recovery, in cross-cultural settings. My work has been supported by the NIH Fogarty International Center and the Fulbright Global Scholar Award, through which I used mixed methods to explore gender and substance use in India, Canada, England, and the Netherlands. My recent ethnographic book, Drug Use, Recovery, and Maternal Instinct Bias: A Biocultural and Social-Ecological Approach (Lexington Books, 2024), exemplifies my expertise with people who use drugs. In this work, I applied the Social-Ecological Framework to identify structural and cultural barriers to addiction recovery among mothers in the midwestern United States. In addition to research, I previously served as an Associate Professor of Biological Anthropology at Ball State University and as a Program Evaluator for Centerstone Research Institute.
Specialization: medical anthropology, biological anthropology, global health, program evaluation
Available In Person: Yes
Available Virtually: Yes
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlyn-placek-647406ab/
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