Deirdre Guthrie

Deirdre Guthrie is a Teaching Professor and cultural and medical anthropologist with extensive experience in gender studies, global health, and wellbeing science. She is affiliated with the Department of Anthropology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and has collaborated with major institutions such as Rush University Medical Center, Partners In Health, and Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

Her educational background includes a PhD and MA in Anthropology from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and a BA in Community Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She also serves as Visiting Faculty for the SIT Study Abroad program on IHP HEALTH AND COMMUNITY: Globalization, Culture, and Care.

Dr. Guthrie's research focuses on ethnographic approaches to healthcare, wellbeing at work for caregiving professionals, health disparities, and the intersection of faith and medicine. Her work emphasizes organizational change leadership and the human dimensions of medical practice, particularly in underserved communities.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in applying ethnographic methods to understand patient care, dignity, and cultural practices in both U.S. and global contexts, with a focus on marginalized populations and frontline healthcare workers. Her scholarship bridges anthropology, public health, and social justice.

• Director for Wellbeing and Joy in Practice, Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital
• Published in major academic presses including Routledge and University of Notre Dame Press
• Expertise in burnout prevention and wellbeing science for healthcare professionals
• Active in teaching and mentoring through university and study abroad programs

Dr. Guthrie leads initiatives that integrate ritual, community, and emotional resilience into professional healthcare environments. She is deeply committed to fostering joy and sustainability in caregiving careers through research, leadership, and pedagogy.