Research originating in Taiwan in 1968 launched Arthur Kleinman's multi-decade inquiry into the intersections of psychiatry and social anthropology. Born in New York City in 1941, he bridged the gap between clinical medicine and cultural analysis, holding senior professorships at Harvard University while focusing extensively on health outcomes and social suffering throughout mainland China.
Academic Foundation
Kleinman secured his A.B. and M.D. from Stanford University, followed by an M.A. in Social Anthropology from Harvard. His clinical training included an internship in internal medicine at the Yale School of Medicine and a psychiatric residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. These credentials provided the base for a career split between university teaching and international research initiatives.
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At Harvard, he has served as the Esther and Sidney Rabb Professor of Anthropology and professor of both medical anthropology and psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. His administrative record includes chairing the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Social Medicine, in addition to directing the Harvard Asia Center from 2008 to 2016. Internationally, he occupied the Cleveringa chair at Leiden University during 2007 and 2008.
Medical and Global Initiatives
In 1976, he established the journal Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry, serving as its Editor-in-Chief for a decade. His work frequently involved high-level advisory roles, such as directing the 1995 report on world mental health and the 2016 World Bank report on psychiatric care. He co-chaired task forces for the American Psychiatric Association and participated in various NIH conferences addressing ethics, stigma, and suicide prevention.
Literary Contributions
Kleinman has authored seven books and produced more than 350 articles, book chapters, and reviews. His 1980 publication, Patients and Healers in the Context of Culture, remains one of his most recognized works. Subsequent books include The Illness Narratives, Social Origins of Distress and Disease, and his 2019 memoir, The Soul of Care: The Moral Education of a Husband and a Doctor. He has also co-edited 29 volumes exploring medical subjects.
Fast facts
- Born: 1941, New York City
- Education: Harvard University, Stanford University School of Medicine
- Guggenheim Fellowship: 1992
- Cleveringa chair: 2007-2008
- Primary fields: Psychiatry, medical anthropology, social medicine
- Languages: English
Questions readers ask
What is the primary focus of Kleinman's research?
His work concentrates on medical anthropology, specifically the intersection of psychiatry and culture, with extensive focus on China.
Has he received recognition for his academic work?
Yes, he is a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship and the Franz Boas Award from the American Anthropological Association.
Achievements
- Held posts at Harvard University, Leiden University and Leiden University
- Fields: medical anthropology, social medicine and psychiatry