WilliamsMemo17

Williams Memo 17 Study Components

//**Literature Review of Primary and Secondary Literature and Development of Interview Questions**// I will undertake a review of the literature relating to "appropriate technology" and "medical technology transfer" with two goals in mind: (1) Conducting background research: Determining where are the unique intersections where STS literature on the design of public and private spaces, material artifacts and large socio-technical systems (Bijker, Hughes, and Pinch, ed. 1987) can speak to and enriching discourse on appropriate technology-choice for medical technology transfer? (2) Developing questions for ethnographic interviews: I am not sure how to do this yet. Aalok's proposal uses grounded theory which I am only vaguely familiar with in the postmodern form of situational analysis (Clarke). That is not the only method of course (but I do not know any other methods). //**Ethnographic interviews**// Ethnographic interviews will be conducted with: I will conduct approximately 20 ethnographic interviews, each about two hours in length, with each group I have identified as being essential to this project, for a total of 60 interviews. Interviewing will be an iterative process, where for example, I might conduct a face to face interview, transcribe it, ask a second round of questions, transcribe the interview again and submit it to the interlocutor for approval. The three groups that I have identified are equally important because together they are creating a new/newer "medical technology transfer for sustainable development" discourse by their practice of social entrepreneurship for medical humanitarian aid. //**Participant observation**// Participant observation may be limited as I am not trained for the medical profession. However, as an advocate or activist, I can potentially write proposals, white papers, newspaper and magazine articles, etc. As a mechanical engineer I can contribute expertise on mechanical testing of the intraocular lens capsule to development of a "basic research" program in tissue mechanics for a university in Nepal, Ghana or Kenya. As an STS scholar, I am interested in looking at the design of eye camps in Ghana, Nepal, or Kenya as compared to medical surgery wards in those countries and the United States. However, it is most likely that the majority of my participant observation will consist of attending conference on Global Health such as the one offered by Unite for Sight this April 2009 at Yale University.
 * Group 1: ophthalmologists & other medical staff
 * Affiliated with United for Sight: Albany Medical College, Union University, Albany, New York, USA
 * Affiliated with site choice 1: University of Utah, USA
 * Affiliated with site choice 1: Tilganga Eye Center and Nepal Eye Program, Kathmandu, Nepal; OR Affiliated with site choice 3: David Yorston, UK & Kenya; OR Affiliated with site choice 4: Crystal Eye Clinic, Accra Ghana
 * Group 2: self-sustained entrepreneurial medical non-profit executives & other staff
 * Himalayan Cataract Project, Vermont, USA (Affiliated with site choice 1)
 * Unite for Sight, New Haven, Connecticut, USA (Affiliated with site choices 2 & 4)
 * Group 3: medical technology manufacturers & other staff
 * Fred Hollows Foundation, Australia (interview will most likely be conducted by phone)
 * Fred Hollows Laboratory, Kathmandu Nepal (Affiliated with site choice 1)

//**Comparative analysis of archival and policy documents**// This may not be separated out from my background literature review. It depends on what I find, and how important policy becomes to my research. The two topical areas where I would like to compare policy documents are: (1) medical technology transfer (2) preventable blindness diseases (e.g. bi-lateral, and, congenital cataracts; glaucoma; onchocherciasis vector and control)