Project Cultural Norms and Personhood in US Organ Donation Program Clarence E. Dammon Dean Term Academic Year 2024 Status Accepted Research Area Anthropology, Public Health, Healthcare Description This project will focus on examining the connection between cultural conceptions of personhood and their influence on ethics and norms in the context of organ donation m the United States. The dominant ontological perspective on personhood significantly shapes U.S. decision-making in both domestic organ donations and transnational scenarios. The research methodology will involve literature reviews, surveys, and ethnographic interviews to explore organs as person-defining objects and how those definitions of organs and personhood have come to define the structure and function of the U.S. organ transplantation systems. Supervisor Kali Rubaii Mentor Type of work required Literature review, survey design, ethnographic interviews, academic writing.

This project will include conference participation at the 2024 ASA meeting and a senior capstone project, with potential for an international comparative project.

Websites Qualifications prepreq: ANTH 340 Credit Hours 3 Weekly Hours 10 (estimated)