Lance D. Laird, ThD

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 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

  • Published 2/20/2025

    Roseen EJ, Bussières A, Reichman R, Bora C, Trieu J, Austad K, Williams C, Fischer RA, Parrilla D, Laird LD, LaValley M, Evans RL, Saper RB, Morone NE. A multi-level implementation strategy to increase adoption of chiropractic care for low back pain in primary care clinics: a randomized stepped-wedge pilot study protocol. Chiropr Man Therap. 2025 Feb 20; 33(1):9. PMID: 39979943.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/8/2025

    Bloom-Feshbach K, Vasiliou V, Laird LD, Civian JT, Pololi LH. Pandemic Impact on Research Faculty in Academic Medicine: A Mixed Method Study. Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle). 2025; 6(1):21-28. PMID: 39882141.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/1/2024

    Laird LD, Bloom-Feshbach K, McNamara T, Gibbs B, Pololi L. Psychological Safety: Creating a Transformative Culture in a Faculty Group Peer-Mentoring Intervention. Chron Mentor Coach. 2024 Jun; 8(1):127-140. PMID: 39210949.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 5/2/2024

    Roseen EJ, Joyce C, Winbush S, Pavco-Luttschwager N, Morone NE, Saper RB, Bartels S, Patel KV, Keysor JJ, Bean JF, Laird LD. Primary care barriers and facilitators to nonpharmacologic treatments for low back pain: A qualitative pilot study. PM R. 2024 May 02. PMID: 38695321.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 37 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad 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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