Ph.D. in nursing and philosophy/bioethics, University of Minnesota
M.S. in nursing, University of Minnesota
M.A. in philosophy/bioethics, University of Minnesota
B.S. in nursing, University of Minnesota
Dr. Cameron did postdoctoral study, funded by NINR at NIH, in Nursing and Cross-Cultural Ethics at the University of Minnesota, Georgetown University, University of Illinois-Chicago, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Midwest Bioethics Center.
Summary
Miriam E. Cameron, PhD, MS, MA, RN, is a member of the Graduate Faculty, as well as Lead Faculty of the Yoga & Tibetan Medicine Focus Area, at the University of Minnesota’s Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing.
Expertise
Nursing, Tibetan Medicine, Yoga, cross-cultural ethics, self-care, integrative care.
In 2010, Dr. Cameron created the Tibetan Healing Initiative (THI), now called the Yoga and Tibetan Medicine Focus Area (YTM) at the Bakken Center. YTM faculty conduct and publish research, teach graduate courses and an undergraduate Hatha Yoga Teachers’ Education Program (RYS 200), hold conferences and workshops, give presentations, and do other scholarly work involving Yoga and Tibetan Medicine.
Before earning her Ph.D., Dr. Cameron developed clinical expertise by working as a staff nurse, head nurse, nursing instructor, and nursing supervisor. She has studied and practiced Yoga since she was a youth. For over 25 years, she has studied Tibetan medicine in the U.S., Tibet, India, China, and Nepal.
Awards & Recognition
Dr. Cameron has been awarded many honors for her work. She most cherishes His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s meetings with her and her students and this honor from her Alma Mater, the University of Minnesota School of Nursing: 100 Distinguished Alumni Award, Centennial Celebration, Nov. 4-5, 2009.
Research
Research Summary/Interests
Dr. Cameron has served as PI, Co-Investigator, or Consultant for 10 funded, published studies about topics involving Nursing, ethics, and Tibetan Medicine in the U.S., Tibet, India, South Korea, and China.
Four of these studies resulted in the “Caring and Justice Ethical Decision-Making Model” and the “Value, Be, Do Ethical Decision-Making Model.” Dr. Cameron and her colleagues published these models, which are used widely.
Dr. Cameron collaborated with Tenzin Namdul, Ph.D., Practitioner (Doctor) of Tibetan Medicine and Bakken Center Faculty, to create the “Constitutional Self-Assessment Tool” (CSAT) and “Lifestyle Guidelines Tool” (LGT) based on Tibetan Medicine.” Their research team tested, refined, and published these tools, now being used in the U.S., Tibet, India, and other countries.
Publications
Dr. Cameron has published extensively about Nursing, ethics, Tibetan Medicine, and Yoga. She published these peer-reviewed books:
- Cameron, M.E., & Namdul, T. (2020). Tibetan Medicine and You: A Path to Wellbeing, Better Health, and Joy (With a blessing by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama). New York: Rowman & Littlefield.
- Cameron, M. (2003). Una Odisea Tibetan. (Prologo de Su Santidad el Dalai Lama). Barcelona, Spain: Viena Helios. (Spanish edition of Karma & Happiness).
- Cameron, M.E. (2002). Karma & Happiness: A Tibetan Odyssey in Ethics, Spirituality, and Healing. Foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. New York: Roman & Littlefield (based on her postdoctoral research).
- Cameron, M.E. (1993). Living with AIDS: Experiencing Ethical Problems. Foreword, E.D. Pellegrino. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publishing (based on her PhD dissertation research).
- Cameron, M. (1980, 1982). Hello, I'm God and I'm Here to Help You. NY: Warner Books (post-baccalaureate study).
She has been a guest on numerous radio and television shows to discuss these books. Reviews of her books have been published widely, including in Publishers Weekly.
Dr. Cameron is the sole or first author of over 65 invited or peer-reviewed journal articles, nine book chapters, three monographs, and three internet publications:
- Tibetan Medicine.
- Constitutional Self-Assessment Tool (CSAT) and Lifestyle Guidelines Tool (LGT) based on Tibetan Medicine.
- Yoga.
Teaching
Teaching Areas
Starting in 2003, Dr. Cameron created four CSPH graduate courses which she has taught with Dr. Tenzin Namdul and Dr. Katie Schuver, Bakken Center Faculty:
- CSPH 5315 – “Traditional Tibetan Medicine: Ethics, Spirituality, & Healing” (2 credits; in-person and online sections).
- CSPH 5317 – “Yoga: Ethics, Spirituality, & Healing” (2 credits; in-person and online sections).
- CSPH 5318 – “Tibetan Medicine, Ayurveda, & Yoga in India” (4 credits).
- CSPH 5319 – “Yoga and Ayurveda in India” (4 credits).
In addition, Dr. Cameron has created and taught over 100 offshoots of these courses, including students’ independent studies.
Dr. Cameron has collaborated with colleagues in the U.S., Tibet, India, South Korea, and China to teach, conduct and publish research, and engage in other scholarly projects. She has given hundreds of presentations at educational, health care, and community institutions in these countries, and she has served as an advisor for numerous graduate students.