Episode 15: A Conversation with Dr. Lucia Guerra-Reyes

In this podcast episode of Coloring Outside the Memos, Dr. Tiffany Monique Quash and Dr. Lizzy Bartelt interview Dr. Lucía Guerra Reyes, a medical anthropologist and interdisciplinary researcher. The discussion explores Dr. Reyes' journey into qualitative research, particularly ethnography, and her motivation for studying sexual and reproductive health in marginalized communities.

 

Dr. Reyes shares how her upbringing in Peru and exposure to cultural discrimination shaped her curiosity, leading her to pursue anthropology. She emphasizes the importance of qualitative methods, such as interviews, to create deep connections with research subjects. The conversation also delves into the challenges of maintaining positionality and building trust in research.

 

The trio discusses how qualitative research can push public health forward by incorporating people's lived experiences into policy-making, rather than relying solely on top-down decisions. They stress the need for public health to understand context and engage with communities directly.