Yael Friedman - Doctoral Research Fellow in Philosophy

Yael started as a research fellow at IFIKK in January 2020. She has her M.A. degree from The Cohn Institute for History and Philosophy of Science and Ideas at Tel-Aviv University (TAU), Israel.

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Can you tell us a bit about your research interests?

- Coming from fine arts and media art, I developed a curiosity about science and technology. My academic journey that started in the studio brought me to pursue a master's degree in history and philosophy of science and ideas, with emphasis on history and philosophy of technology and biology.  This cross-disciplinary junction kindled my interest in medical technologies and the philosophy of medicine.

What are you going to work with at IFIKK?

- My current research at IFIKK addresses issues related to P-medicine (Precision, Personalized, and P4 medicine), which is often considered as an alternative to evidence-based medicine and the practice of randomized controlled trials. P-medicine uses omics data to treat patients on an individual basis and is often described as having a holistic view of the patient. As it is based on big data, it is sometimes misused by the information industry to enter the health market, bypassing basic research.

In my project, I examine the holistic concept of P-medicine. The research bridges philosophical discussions in philosophy of biology and medicine and includes a historical perspective on medical holism. I explore questions such as: Who are the biological patients in P-medicine? What are the boundaries of a 'whole patient' concerning current research in microbiology and ecology?  How do biomedical, phenomenological, and social perspectives play a role in patients' pathology and recovery?

What do you like to do in your spare time?

- As a professional swimmer, my pre-pandemic workdays used to end up in the swimming pool; post-pandemic, I might become a proper skier. I enjoy traveling and meeting people and reading poetry and literature for the same reasons.  

Published Feb. 9, 2021 1:20 PM - Last modified Feb. 9, 2021 1:20 PM