Introduction

The introduction frames the book, opening with the story of editors Sriram Shamasunder and Phuoc V. Le's experiences as volunteer physicians in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, their frustration with the lack of preparation many global health volunteer clinicians had for such work, and their inspiration to start the HEAL Initiative. The introduction then traces the importance of social theory for global health, and the way that case studies and social science concepts are used to illuminate one another—and global health—in this volume. Summaries of each chapter and an overview of the methods used to create the book are also provided, to orient the reader.