Randall Burson

Randall Burson is an MD-PhD candidate in the Department of Anthropology and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He serves as a Visiting Researcher at the Institute for Indigenous and Intercultural Studies at Universidad de la Frontera (Chile), focusing on ethnographic and participatory approaches to healthcare systems in socio-political contexts.

His research examines how large-scale political forces shape healthcare experiences in intercultural clinics in Southern Chile and Argentina. He collaborates with Mapuche Indigenous and biomedical practitioners to analyze dispossessive processes in health outcomes and resource negotiation.

Scientific awards include:

• Penn-Mellon Just Futures Initiative Graduate Fellowship (2023-2024)

His publications span structural competency in medical education, critical care communication, vaccination strategies, and team dynamics in healthcare. Collaborative work with Mapuche communities highlights intersections of Indigenous self-determination and health equity.