Verena Keck

Verena Keck is a retired Associate Professor at Goethe University Frankfurt, with affiliations at Heidelberg University and Divine Word University (PNG). Her research focuses on medical anthropology, Pacific studies, and the ethnology of aging. She has held acting chairs, guest lectureships, and led academic partnership initiatives in Papua New Guinea. Key roles include teaching intercultural competencies in healthcare, co-developing the Medical Anthropology program at Heidelberg, and collaborating with institutions like the Institute of Global Health. Her work emphasizes cultural perspectives on health, migration, and indigenous knowledge systems.

Research Interests: Medical anthropology, Pacific ethnography (Oceania/PNG/Micronesia), concepts of personhood, oral traditions, religious practices, migration studies, and the anthropology of aging. Her fieldwork spans decades in Papua New Guinea and Bali, with a focus on ethnographic methodologies and knowledge exchange.

Pedagogical Contributions: Designed courses on medical anthropology, field research methods, and intercultural health competencies. Co-led short courses such as 'Public Health Anthropology' and 'Methods in Medical Anthropology' at Heidelberg University. Established academic partnerships between German and PNG universities through DAAD-funded projects.

Publications: Over 20 peer-reviewed articles and monographs on topics including neurological diseases in the Pacific, aging practices among Yupno communities, and the interplay between traditional and biomedical health systems. Her work bridges theoretical anthropology with applied health studies.

Professional Service: Member of the European Society for Oceanists (ESfO), guest lecturer at Divine Word University, and acting head of key anthropology departments in Germany. Her academic career demonstrates a commitment to collaborative, cross-cultural research and education.