Are We “Real Friends”? Searching for Community in Medical Anthropology

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Published: May 14, 2026
Keywords:
Ethnography, Nephrology, Care, Research, Anthropology

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Olivia Alvarez Gaughran
Veterans Health Administration
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9799-5021

Article Details

How to Cite
Alvarez Gaughran, O. (2026). Are We “Real Friends”? Searching for Community in Medical Anthropology. The International Journal of Whole Person Care, 13(1). Retrieved from https://ijwpc.mcgill.ca/article/view/715
Issue
Vol. 13 No. 1 (2026): Community in Healthcare
Section
Narrative Perspectives
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Author Biography

Olivia Alvarez Gaughran, Veterans Health Administration

Olivia Alvarez Gaughran is a medical anthropologist and ethnographer at the Veterans Health Administration’s Seattle VA Puget Sound COIN (Center of Innovation), where she conducts qualitative research on a variety of subjects, including conservative kidney management, kidney transplantation, and palliative care. She holds a master’s degree in social anthropology from the University of Cambridge and specializes in exploring patient experiences and health systems through ethnographic research. Beyond her research, she is a writer and youth soccer coach, bringing mentorship, reflexivity, and human connection to both her professional and personal life.

References

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