Lance D. Laird, ThD

Emeritus Assistant Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Laird's research at Boston University has focused on multiple intersections of Muslim identity with healing professions and public health in the US. His early research on shared symbols of Muslims and Christians in Bethlehem set forth a research agenda on the “dialogue of life.” Dr. Laird employs a “lived religion” and ethnographic approach, and draws on theories of racialization, social suffering, and identity formation. While continuing to write on Christian-Muslim relations in theological circles, he has published articles on how Muslims are represented in medical literature, the emergence of Muslim free clinics, Muslim healthcare chaplaincy, American Muslim physician identities, the religious health assets of predominantly Black Christian and Muslim congregations, im/migrant women's experience of intimate partner violence. With colleagues in medicine, Dr. Laird has led qualitative studies on chronic pain, diabetes, HPV vaccination, chiropractic care, and telehealth disparities. He was a leader in the Greater Boston Muslim Health Initiative and is currently working on projects with the American Muslim Health Professionals; and with local im/migrant communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Laird teaches courses on theory in medical anthropology, refugee and im/migrant health, religion and public health, and the formation of health professionals.

Publications

  • Published 4/30/2026

    Taber P, Dryden EM, Hunleth JM, Kahn LS, Laird L, Winstead T, Murray GF. "Using theories" and "doing theory": tool and action orientations to theory at the interface of public health and anthropology. Front Public Health. 2026; 14:1707743. PMID: 42145494.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/13/2026

    Fuller TJ, Haq KL, Laird LD. Beyond Organizational Health Promotion: Opportunities for Black Interfaith Collaboration to Build a Healthy Neighborhood in Boston, MA, USA. J Relig Health. 2026 Mar 13. PMID: 41826781.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/5/2026

    Laird LD, Bloom-Feshbach K, Bokhour B, Pololi LH. Mechanisms of Change: Qualitative Analysis of a Group Peer Mentoring Intervention for Academic Medicine Research Faculty. J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2026 Spring 01; 46(2):112-119. PMID: 41641853.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/22/2026

    Wexler RS, Joyce CT, Reichman R, Pereira C, Fanuele E, Hurstak E, Laird LD, Lavretsky H, Wang C, Saper R, Alcorn KS, Mittman BS, Roseen EJ. Determinants of Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and Yoga Use for Health Conditions: A Systematic Review Protocol. Glob Adv Integr Med Health. 2026; 15:27536130261417682. PMID: 41589200.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/21/2025

    Wexler RS, Joyce C, Reichman R, Pereira C, Fanuele E, Hurstak E, Laird L, Lavretsky H, Wang C, Saper R, Alcorn KS, Mittman BS, Roseen EJ. Determinants of Qigong, Tai Chi, and Yoga Use for Health Conditions: A Systematic Review Protocol. medRxiv. 2025 Mar 21. PMID: 40166550.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 41 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Graduate Medical Sciences Educator and Mentor (Primary Mentor of Graduate Students)
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

Websites

Education

  • Harvard Divinity School, ThD
  • Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, MDiv
  • University of Virginia, BA

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