McNair Scholars

Tori Aprili Geter

Tori Aprili Geter

My name is Tori Aprili Geter and I am currently a senior at Southern Oregon University majoring in Anthropology with a Certificate in Applied Cultural Anthropology. I anticipate graduating in June 2012 summa cum laude. A lifelong interest in issues related to maternal and child health among marginalized populations led me to the study of midwifery. It was during an intense midwifery internship at a high volume birth center in El Paso, Texas that I discovered the field of public health. Through this experience and continued apprenticeship with a local homebirth midwife, I developed the desire to pursue a graduate degree in public health with a focus on global maternal and child health.

My areas of interest include the role that midwives play in improving maternal and child health outcomes both in the U.S. and internationally, breastfeeding as a logical tool for prevention of childhood illness and obesity, applied anthropology and the importance of cultural sensitivity in health care. My current research is titled “Creating a Culture that Supports Breastfeeding” and I am working with SOU to create a breastfeeding friendly campus in an effort to support student and employee parents and increase awareness of the value of breastfeeding.

Tori in Sapa, Northern Vietnam with a Blue Hmong girl

In my free time I enjoy cycling and hiking on our beautiful Ashland trails, reading, travelling and most of all spending time with my beloved family and community.

Mentor:
Dr. Jean Maxwell, Associate Professor of Anthropology

Supporting Mentors:
Dr. Anne Chambers, Professor of Anthropology
Dr. Jim Phillips, Adjunct Professor of Anthropology

Curriculum Vitae

SOU McNair Scholars Journal 2012 – Vol. 8

Article: The Importance of Cross-Cultural Understanding in U.S. Refugee Health Care (PDF)

Metamorphosis

2011 McNair Scholar Symposium

2011 Southern Oregon Arts & Research (SOAR)