Mr. Tobin Stauffer is a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts candidate at St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD. Through St. John’s Great Books Program, Mr. Stauffer became interested in how the cultural perception of mental illnesses are shaped through literature and philosophy. As a former medic in the United States Army, Mr. Stauffer has noticed the different perceptions of mental illnesses between cultures. He is aware of the limitations of western mental healthcare treatments and seeks to better understand how to provide culturally-appropriate treatment to areas deficient in mental healthcare professionals.
Prior to graduate school, he received a Bachelor’s in Chemistry and Biology from Florida Atlantic University (FAU). At FAU, he worked as a tutor and teacher’s assistant with the chemistry, biology, and mathematics departments. Since then, he has served as a reviewer for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program on combat casualty care and regenerative medicine. Mr. Stauffer spent the last year as a K-2 literacy coach with Americorps in Baltimore, MD. When he is not working, he enjoys reading literary fiction, writing poetry, surfing, and spending time with family, friends, and his cat, Nuna.
During his Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship, Mr. Stauffer is investigating the mental healthcare system in Punjab, India and examining how local psychiatrists provide equitable care for the diverse patient population. This project consists of nine months of physician interviews and observations throughout rural and urban settings for a comprehensive understanding of Punjab’s culturally relativistic approach to mental healthcare. He aims to compile his results into a list of case studies intended to guide non-mental healthcare.