Lauren Winslow Fisher, B.A. 2005

B.A, Cultural Anthropology and Biological Anthropology & Anatomy (2005)

How has being a Cultural Anthropology graduate from Duke helped shape you personally and/or professionally?

"Because of this background, I am more likely to meet patients where they are. I am better able to understand the breadth of different lived experiences and appreciate the nuances of why they may think what they think. This helps me formulate treatment plans that the patients are comfortable with. It also helped me learn to read quickly and write coherently, both of which are important in my job."

What advice would you give students in Duke's Cultural Anthropology programs? 

"Most students in Cultural Anthropology are not going to become professional anthropologists (though good for those who do!) Thinking about the human condition and learning about cultures worldwide gives you a better understanding of how the world works. Stay excited about learning. Pick some classes that will reveal things about yourself, and some that are about people who are completely alien. Have fun."