Robin Root

Professor Robin Root, affiliated with the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences at Baruch College, CUNY, is a leading scholar in Medical Anthropology and Global Health. Their work examines intersections of HIV/AIDS, Religion, and Socioeconomic Systems across Malaysia, eSwatini, and global health contexts.

• Education: PhD in Anthropology (UCLA), MPH in International Health (Harvard), MA and BA in Chinese Studies (University of Pennsylvania)
• Teaching: Courses in Cultural Anthropology, Sociology of Health & Illness, and Research Methods

Root's research investigates:

• HIV/AIDS stigma and treatment adherence in high-prevalence regions
• Religious institutions as healthcare providers in Southern Africa
• Occupational health risks in industrial settings
• Medical anthropology of breast cancer in Malaysia

Recent publications focus on cultural frameworks mediating healthcare outcomes, with methodological innovations combining etic biomedical surveys and emic anthropological interviews. Key trends include neoliberal critiques of global health agendas and resilience narratives in high-vulnerability contexts.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Mellon Mid-Career Fellowship
• Steven Polgar Prize (Society for Medical Anthropology)
• Fulbright Scholarship to Malaysia

Root has received 12+ PSC-CUNY grants (2007-2023) totaling over $70,000 for fieldwork in Malaysia and eSwatini. They serve on the Provost’s Fund for Faculty Research and Audience Swaziland AIDS Research Network, with ongoing projects on breast cancer in Malaysia and religious leadership in eSwatini.