Jane Desmond, Ph.D.
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Access to Care, the Social Determinants of Health, and the new Multi-Species Family
Abstract: A majority of U.S. households now include at least one pet, and a majority of those households describe the pet as “part of the family” according to a recent survey by the American Pet Products Association. What if we took this designation seriously, expanding our notion of the family unit into a multi-species one, and considering how that might impact the health humanities, public policy, and our discussions of the social determinants of health? In this talk, I sketch the latest research that shows how pet-keeping appears to have a positive impact on human health, ranging from lower blood pressure to lessened depression. Pet-keeping is thus potentially a key component in human health and should be part of our investigation of health equity and the social determinants of health. Issues of access to care, and policies designed to improve it, should therefore address all members of the contemporary multi-species family. I will explore programs that attempt to do so and suggest alternatives moving forward.
Bio: Dr. Jane Desmond is Professor of Anthropology and Affiliate Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.