I’m a biology major. I love science….I relished organic chemistry. In becoming a doctor, I hope to practice biomedical reductionism to cure a person. I know what biomedical reductionism means!
But this semester, I’ve discovered a study that encompasses my non-scientific passions: peace studies. Go ahead. Laugh. Picture me a hippy. But here’s why, in the form of a final journal entry for my Intro to Peace Studies class:
To be completely honest, I took Intro to Peace Studies as a second choice when “Clinical Ethics” closed. Sorry to admit that! But I had my first clue in how much I subconsciously needed the course when I answered the pre-class survey question, “Where do you see yourself in 20 years?” I answered: “doctor in Haiti.” An aspiration, granted, but still true.
I’m interested in the political social economy of pathology—so called “social medicine.” Like many, I’m passionate about social justice. I’ve recently become fascinated by history and political science as I read about Haiti, Cambodia, and other countries’ histories and current situations. But this second-choice peace studies class put it together for me, helping me frame a lot of issues I care about in the context of war and peace.
I didn’t want to study war for the first six weeks of the class! But I found myself fascinated by readings on the nature of new globalized wars and on just war theory. I started to develop a vocabulary for thinking about—confronting in a way—violence. I want to continue this critical analysis. In the type of medicine I hope to practice, I’ll have to deal with issues raised in this course and others in the department.
I hope to treat biological pathology as a physician, but I also want to understand the social pathology that results from physical and structural violence.
So, skeptics (I know you’re there), laugh if you want: “Biology major. Peace Studies minor.”
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