Research Description

Christopher J. Fries is a sociologist of health, medicine, and the body whose primary research interests are in health lifestyles, critical public health, the social determinants of health, and complementary / alternative medicine and medical pluralism, or the existence of multiple systems of health care practice and belief. He has published sociological research investigating: people’s motivations for the use of complementary / alternative medicine; the relationship between ethnicity and the use of alternative healing practices; family physicians opinions of alternative medical therapies; the emergence of integrative medicine; and the social determinants of health.

Teaching Description

At the undergraduate level, I regularly teach “Introduction to Sociology” ( SOC 1200 ), “The Sociology of Health and Illness” ( SOC 2490 ), and “The Sociology of Health Care Systems” ( SOC 3540 ). At the graduate level, I teach a seminar in “Issues in Health Care” ( SOC 7370). If you are interested in my courses, please feel free to contact me for copies of course syllabi or a Statement of Philosophy Informing my Teaching Practices.

Public/Media (Non-Technical) Description

Christopher J. Fries is a sociologist of health, medicine, and the body whose primary research interests are in health lifestyles, critical public health, the social determinants of health, and complementary / alternative medicine and medical pluralism, or the existence of multiple systems of health care practice and belief. He has published sociological research investigating: people’s motivations for the use of complementary / alternative medicine; the relationship between ethnicity and the use of alternative healing practices; family physicians opinions of alternative medical therapies; the emergence of integrative medicine; and the social determinants of health.