Rafael Wainer
Medical Anthropologist
Vancouver
Summary
A highly experienced and versatile researcher and educator with a focus on medical anthropology, particularly in the areas of children and family, cancer therapy and survivorship, mental health, critical disability studies, end-of-life care, and qualitative health methods. Extensive experience in teaching, research, and public outreach, with a strong commitment to social justice and ethical dimensions of research.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
2016
2016
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Certifications
3
3
Languages
Work History
Sessional Lecturer with continuing status
University of British Columbia
05.2014 - Current
- Courses taught in Sociology: Sociology of the Family, Introduction to Social Interaction, Family Context of Human Development, Parent-Child Relationships, Canadian Society, Relationship Development, Diversity of Family, Human Sexuality, Sociology of Mental Illness, and Theories of Family and Kinship
- Courses taught in Anthropology: Introduction to Socio-Cultural Anthropology, Anthropology of Drugs, Introduction to Medical Anthropology, Contemporary Social Problems in Anthropology, Sex, Gender, and Culture, Applied Anthropology, and Anthropology of Mental Illness.
- Designed curricula, created syllabi,
- Developed and implemented innovative teaching strategies to engage students in lectures and coursework.
- Increased student interest by incorporating real-world examples into lessons and connecting material to relevant life experiences.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of British Columbia
05.2017 - 09.2017
- Project: “Mapping Out the Implementation of Bill C-14 Among Health Care Providers in Metro Vancouver”
- Authored professional scientific papers for publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
- Liaised with supervisor to review grants and manuscripts to develop potential publications.
- Drafted manuscripts and presented findings at major conference.
Principal Investigator
University of Buenos Aires
- Professional organization and end-of-life experience among healthcare providers in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Socio-anthropological approach to illness, suffering, and dying.
- Conducted interviews, analyzed qualitative data, wrote briefs and reports.
Research Assistant
University of British Columbia
- Projects at UBC and other institutions focusing on areas such as intercultural understanding, health literacy, eugenics, and violence
Affiliated Researcher
Fraser Health Authority
01.2017 - Current
Affiliated Researcher
Fundación IPA (Argentina)
01.2022 - Current
- Gathered and organized information for research purposes on "Grief in the School System" project.
- Conducted thorough literature reviews to identify gaps in knowledge and inform future research directions.
- Worked as member of integrated project team in highly collaborative work environment.
- Presented research findings at national and international conferences, raising the profile of the institution.
- Co-wrote and published three peer-reviewed journal articles.
Education
Ph.D. - Medical Anthropology
University of British Columbia
M.A. - Medical Anthropology
University of British Columbia
Lic. - Anthropology
Universidad de Buenos Aires
Skills
- 10Y Teaching experience
- Scientific presentations
- Scientific writing
- Qualitative research
- Project management methodologies
- Interdisciplinary research
Affiliations
Affiliated Researcher, Fraser Health Authority, British Columbia, 08/01/17, present
Professional Development
Instructional Skill Workshop, Foundations of Project Management, and Effective Team Management training.
Researchinterests
- Children and family
- Cancer therapy and survivorship
- Mental health
- Critical disability studies
- Emotions
- Death
- Dying
- End-of-life care
- Pain and suffering
- Palliative Care
- Institutional ethnography of medical institutions
- Qualitative health methods
- Health and family policies
Scholarshipsawardshonorablementions
- Sessional Lecturer Teaching Award, UBC – Department of Sociology, 2022
- Graduate Student Research Award, UBC, 2014
- Faculty of Arts Graduate Award, UBC, 2011, 2012, 2013
- Bottom Billion Fieldwork Fund, Liu Institute for Global Issues, UBC, 2011
- UBC Mobility Award, 2011
- Four-Year Fellowship, UBC, 2009–2012
- Faculty of Arts Graduate Award, Entrance Scholarship, UBC, 2008
- Graduate Fellowship, UBC, 2007–2008
Roundtablesinvitedtalksguestmembercourses
Numerous presentations and talks on topics such as death and grief in the school system, medical assistance in dying, and the role of humor in palliative care.
Interviews
Interviewed on topics including pediatric cancer, palliative care, end of life, and grief in the school system.
Conferenceactivityparticipation
Extensive participation in conferences, including organizing symposia and presenting papers on topics related to medical anthropology and end-of-life issues.
Servicetoprofession
Reviews: Textbook reviews for Nelson Education Ltd. and Routledge.
Phdthesisreviewer
Reviewed Ph.D. theses from multiple universities.
Phdcodirector
Co-directed a Ph.D. thesis at UNSAM, Argentina.
Skills
Reading, speaking, writing (native speaker), Reading, speaking, writing (fluent), Reading (minimum), speaking (adequate), writing (minimum), Reading (good), speaking (conversational), writing (adequate)
Publications
Strangeness in the Blood: Children, Cancer, and Care in Argentina, Rutgers University Press, New Jersey, 01/01/26, The Dignity of Children: How to Evaluate Bodies’ (Im)Permeability, Reframing Disability and Quality of Life, Springer Netherlands, 2013, Numerous articles in journals such as Bereavement, Revista de Educación, Revista Argentina de Investigación Educativa, Children & Society, PoLAR, BMJ Open, Medicine Anthropology Theory, Cuadernos del Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, AIBR, Revista de Antropología Iberoamericana, and Runa., Various publications, including blog posts and online articles, on topics such as COVID-19, mental health, and grief in schools.
Research
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of British Columbia, Mapping Out the Implementation of Bill C-14 Among Health Care Providers in Metro Vancouver
- Principal Investigator, Organización profesional y experiencia del final de la vida. Un abordaje socio-antropológico de la enfermedad, el sufrimiento y el morir.
- Research Assistant, Projects at UBC and other institutions focusing on areas such as intercultural understanding, health literacy, eugenics, and violence.
Certification
Instructional Skill Workshop, CTLT (UBC)
Awards
2022 Sessional Lecturer Teaching Award (UBC – Department of Sociology)
2014 Graduate Student Research Award, UBC
2011, 2012, 2013 Faculty of Arts Graduate Award, UBC
2011 “Bottom Billion” Fieldwork Fund, Liu Institute for Global Issues, UBC
2011 UBC Mobility Award
2009–2012 Four-Year Fellowship, UBC
2008 Faculty of Arts Graduate Award, Entrance Scholarship, UBC
2007–2008 Graduate Fellowship, UBC
Timeline
Affiliated Researcher
Fundación IPA (Argentina)
01.2022 - Current
Instructional Skill Workshop, CTLT (UBC)
06-2018
Foundations of Project Management II (MITACS)
05-2018
Foundations of Project Management I (MITACS)
04-2018
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of British Columbia
05.2017 - 09.2017
Affiliated Researcher
Fraser Health Authority
01.2017 - Current
Sessional Lecturer with continuing status
University of British Columbia
05.2014 - Current
Research Assistant
University of British Columbia
M.A. - Medical Anthropology
University of British Columbia
Lic. - Anthropology
Universidad de Buenos Aires
Principal Investigator
University of Buenos Aires
Ph.D. - Medical Anthropology
University of British Columbia
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