Evolutionary Approaches to Medicine (EvoMed) is a journal club for medical students who want to explore the “why” behind the “what”
of medicine. We dive into how human evolution shapes modern health, disease, and clinical
practice.
Each meeting features a guided discussion of recent scientific literature, led by
student members, faculty, and special guests. Whether you're interested in public
health, internal medicine, psychiatry, or surgery — evolutionary thinking can expand
your understanding of patient care.
What are topics in Evolutionary Medicine?
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The evolutionary basis of addiction and reward circuitry
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The evolutionary roots of autoimmune diseases and allergies
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The mismatch hypothesis (e.g. why our Paleolithic bodies struggle in modern lifestyles)
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Evolution of pathogens and antibiotic resistance
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The tradeoffs behind fever, pain, and inflammation
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Evolutionary perspectives on obstetrics and childbirth
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Co-evolution of humans and viruses
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Cancer as an evolutionary process
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Genetics, ancestry, and evolutionary explanations for racial health disparities
| Advisor | Dr. Hamilton Farris | hfarri@lsuhsc.edu |
| Advisor | Dr. Jason Mussell | jmusse@lsuhsc.edu |
| Advisor |
Dr. Michelle Blyth |
mblyth@lsuhsc.edu |
| Co-Presidents |
Katherine Taylor Elizabeth Carey |