Dr. Linda Barnes

Biography

Linda Barnes is an Emeritus Professor at Boston University's Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, specializing in Family Medicine. She holds a PhD, MA, and MTS from Harvard University, as well as a BA from Smith College. Dr. Barnes is a medical anthropologist whose work focuses on the intersections of culture, religion, and spirituality with complementary and alternative therapies. Throughout her career, she has aimed to deepen understanding of healing practices within culturally complex patient populations and has trained clinicians to appreciate the role of religious worldviews in healthcare. She has been a member of the faculty since 1999 and founded the Boston Healing Landscape Project, studying the relationship between religions, medicines, and healing practices, which has been funded by the Ford Foundation. In addition, Dr. Barnes has taught at several prestigious institutions including Harvard University and Brown University and has received multiple teaching awards for her work with students. Her research has been published in leading medical anthropology journals and she has co-edited notable works, including 'Religion, Healing, and America' and 'Teaching Religion and Healing.' Currently, she is writing a book on the social history of Chinese medicine in the U.S., exploring its development from 1849 to the present.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards