Medical anthropology dates back to the 16th century when Spanish priests looked at the medical practices of the Aztec and in the 19th century when a Roman physician looked at medical systems (Birx 2010:925-938).
Immediately after World War II, medical anthropologists became known as a specialized field of research in the United States when the anthropologists assisted with researching healthcare in Asia and other countries (Birx 2010:925-938).
The Medical Anthropology Group was formed in the United States in 1967. In 1972, the Society for Medical Anthropology became a section of the American Anthropological Association. Medical anthropologists look at shamanic beliefs, practices, and techniques, which could work like alternative/complementary medicine. Medical anthropologists want collaboration between biomedical personnel and traditional healing (Birx 2010:925-938).
The applied focus of medical anthropology continues, but medical anthropologists look more at culture and symbolic healing. Worldwide access to health care is a top priority today for medical anthropologists (Birx 2010:925-938).