Michael Tan
Encyclopedia
Michael L. Tan, PhD is a medical anthropologist
and writer best known for his work among Non-governmental organization
s in the Philippines
, and for his column Pinoy Kasi, which appears twice a week in the Philippine Daily Inquirer
.
Tan is currently the Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City
. He has authored numerous books and articles, often focusing on: indigenous medical beliefs
, sex and sexuality
, reproductive and sexual health
(particularly HIV/AIDS
), pharmaceuticals, and health policy issues.
, earning his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of the Philippines
. He has maintained ties with veterinarians, but has since "moved on to human public health and pharmacology...and eventually, medical anthropology."
He earned a Master of Arts in Anthropology
from the Texas A&M University
, and then obtained his PhD in social and political science from the Medical Anthropology Unit of the University of Amsterdam.
He continues to use his skills as a veterinarian, however, working with such groups as the Philippine Animal Welfare Society and the Dog Scouts of the Philippines to promote animal welfare, and giving occasional advice as he goes about during his NGO work. Tan also works with the Ateneo de Manila University
, "teaching doctors to be more sensitive to the social and cultural aspects of healthcare."
His latest book is "Revisiting Usog, Pasma, Kulam"
In the maiden article of his Inquirer column, he proposed "A middle way of looking at Filipino culture, avoiding one extreme of protracted Lenten self-flagellation that could see nothing good in the Filipino, but also being mature enough to talk about our faults."
Regarding the choice of name, he explained further:
Profiling him as an awardee Dr. Jose P. Rizal Awards of Excellence in 2005, the Manila Times
and the Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran Foundation noted that:
Medical anthropology
Medical anthropology is an interdisciplinary field which studies "human health and disease, health care systems, and biocultural adaptation". It views humans from multidimensional and ecological perspectives...
and writer best known for his work among Non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, and for his column Pinoy Kasi, which appears twice a week in the Philippine Daily Inquirer
Philippine Daily Inquirer
The Philippine Daily Inquirer, popularly known as the Inquirer, is the most widely read broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines, with a daily circulation of 260,000 copies. It is one of the Philippines' newspapers of record...
.
Tan is currently the Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
. He has authored numerous books and articles, often focusing on: indigenous medical beliefs
Traditional medicine
Traditional medicine comprises unscientific knowledge systems that developed over generations within various societies before the era of modern medicine...
, sex and sexuality
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
, reproductive and sexual health
Reproductive health
Within the framework of the World Health Organization's definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, reproductive health, or sexual health/hygiene, addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system...
(particularly HIV/AIDS
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
), pharmaceuticals, and health policy issues.
Education
Michael Tan actually began his career as a veterinarianVeterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
, earning his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of the Philippines
UPLB College of Veterinary Medicine
The College of Veterinary Medicine is one of the 11 degree-granting units of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. It is the country's first veterinary school....
. He has maintained ties with veterinarians, but has since "moved on to human public health and pharmacology...and eventually, medical anthropology."
He earned a Master of Arts in Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
from the Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, and then obtained his PhD in social and political science from the Medical Anthropology Unit of the University of Amsterdam.
He continues to use his skills as a veterinarian, however, working with such groups as the Philippine Animal Welfare Society and the Dog Scouts of the Philippines to promote animal welfare, and giving occasional advice as he goes about during his NGO work. Tan also works with the Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
, "teaching doctors to be more sensitive to the social and cultural aspects of healthcare."
As a Writer
Although he is now best known for his work as a columnist, Tan was already a well recognized writer among academics and NGO workers when he began his Pinoy Kasi columns for the Philippine Daily Inquirer in May 1997.His latest book is "Revisiting Usog, Pasma, Kulam"
In the maiden article of his Inquirer column, he proposed "A middle way of looking at Filipino culture, avoiding one extreme of protracted Lenten self-flagellation that could see nothing good in the Filipino, but also being mature enough to talk about our faults."
Regarding the choice of name, he explained further:
- At that time, I thought that "Pinoy Kasi" would reflect the middle way, sometimes uttered in despair, exasperation, even shame but also... I hoped it would be more often said in awe, wonder, and pride.
Profiling him as an awardee Dr. Jose P. Rizal Awards of Excellence in 2005, the Manila Times
Manila Times
The Manila Times is the oldest existing English language newspaper in the Philippines. It is published daily by The Manila Times Publishing Corp. with editorial and administrative offices at 371 A...
and the Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran Foundation noted that:
- Through his writings, Tan encourages readers to think out of the box and critically on social issues. Topics on family relationships, gender and generation issues, care for the environment and even for family pets trigger readers’ responses and often become topics in many dinner discussions... His writings (both academic and popular ones) disseminate crucial information that affects lives.