Janelle Taylor

Janelle Taylor is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toronto, previously at the University of Washington. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (1999). Her research focuses on medical anthropology, with particular emphasis on dementia, caregiving, and biomedical ethics. Taylor is known for interdisciplinary collaborations, notably with nephrologist Ann M. O’Hare, exploring topics like end-of-life care, kidney disease management, and medical education. Her work integrates ethnography with mixed-methods approaches, analyzing medical records and healthcare systems. Taylor is currently writing a book on dementia and caregiving, emphasizing the social and cultural dimensions of aging. She has been a key contributor to debates on medical education’s 'culture of no culture' and the hidden curriculum in health professions. Taylor also advocates for inclusive research practices, particularly involving underrepresented groups like kinless older adults with dementia.

Her academic leadership includes roles in teaching coordination and mentoring graduate students, such as Gyuzel Kamalova. Taylor’s writing style blends ethnographic rigor with creative narrative techniques, exemplified in her piece for This American Life. She emphasizes collaborative research and systems-level analysis to address healthcare complexities, advocating for holistic approaches to medical training and patient care. Her recent work explores the ethical and practical challenges of resource scarcity in healthcare, informed by pandemic experiences.