Medical anthropology deals with health, medicine, even healing… All within the concept of anthropology. Some Universities even strive to have this anthropology course only taken at MA or higher level and that only by those who are veering off a medical BA or equivalent into anthropology (or at least have done so in the past), or offer a comprehensive course in one or more medical anthropology topics from BA level onwards. This should enable better understanding of the medical side of things… in theory. Of course, many anthropologists elsewhere do not have medical training – or even relevant BA in the topic – as such, but make do with learning outside of the Uni context and by consulting medical professionals directly. My own understanding of psychology, so necessary if you are going to understand why we form cultures and societies the way we do, does not come from a conventional Uni course, but from distance learning via courses on, say, FutureLearn, studying academic sources, consulting with medical practitioners and a LOT of observation. Which is better? In my experience, there is no rule. No academic can possibly obtain a degree in everything he or she will touch, and obtaining a degree or getting special training does not necessarily prepare one for critical thinking. People with PhDs still posit preposterous, even dangerous theories, and that in a single subject, let alone when their subject(s) collide with other fields of study. On the other hand, I have seen many anthropologists bumbling into the field of medical anthropology and then, instead of at least studying the basics of the subject, go to what other medical anthropologists have written rather than consult the source directly… with disastrous consequences. At the end of the day, it’s all down to the academic (or, in my case, freelancer) in question, as well as what they have learnt at Uni level and what good or bad practices they have picked up or have not shaken from then – because stupid is not merely acquired, it can be taught.
Perhaps the most important part medical anthropology has to play is to observe potential conflicts between the medical profession and the society/culture/religion divide. Dangerous ideas such as the no vaccinations campaigns have their root in lack of understanding, medical malpractice (where a medical practitioner has posited a theory that works with their extremists belief rather than medical facts – such as the faked connection between the MMR vaccine and autism (http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4026.pdf)) and extremist leanings of a specific part of a culture, perhaps a group or a cult. The victims are always the ones who do not have a say – the children, too often considered a “property” of their parents of sorts, and too often protected too late; the ill, such as cancer patients, when those around them refuse to get vaccinated against flu and become carriers; and in the end, quite possibly the society itself, no matter how few agree with the imposed madness, because too often, the extreme groups are loud and violent and manage to force their madness through at a level that should be resisted at all costs, damaging the social, cultural and governmental body of medical care. This is where anthropology should stand – not to advocate stupid, but to understand what causes it and act as an interpreter and advocate for health.
On a more positive note, things like fitness, yoga and associated behaviours also fall roughly into that category. There, anthropology can act investigatively, studying how we behave and why, as well as the connection of particular actions and overall health of the practicing populace. Veganism and vegetarianism, while they also can be studied from the perspectives of social and religious anthropology (as well as cultural where they are an integral part of the culture, such as in the Hindu part of India), can fall under the medical anthropology, as they affect, often negatively more than positively, the health of the practicing populace and create myths about imagined positive effects, often overlooking both negative and the actual positive effects. (http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/89/5/1627S.short)
Like with all other points of study, medical anthropology is vast and literally endless in what you can do with it. But then again, that is probably the most compelling and attractive part of anthropology as a discipline anyhow.