Gregory Maskarinec

Dr. Gregory Maskarinec was a Professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, affiliated with the Center for South Asian Studies. His academic journey began as a Peace Corps math teacher in Nepal, leading him to collaborate with Dalit shamans to document oral texts, culminating in his PhD from UH Mānoa. He authored seminal works on Nepalese shamanism, including The Rulings of the Night (1995) and two volumes on shaman oral texts (1999, 2009). His research expanded to Pacific islands like Chuuk, Yap, and Palau, advocating for indigenous medicine and global health. He served as Director of Global Health and International Medicine at JABSOM until his passing in 2022.

Education: PhD from University of Hawaii at Mānoa. Earlier work involved Peace Corps service in Nepal.

Research Interests: Focused on anthropology of indigenous medical practices, oral traditions in Nepal, and global health. He documented shamanic rituals through ethnography, bridging traditional knowledge with modern medicine. His work highlighted cultural preservation and cross-cultural health dialogues.

Labs/Teams: Collaborated with Nepalese shamans, Martin Chautari (Nepal), and institutions in the Pacific Islands. His legacy includes audiovisual recordings of oral texts and international health advocacy.