Career Advancement and Personal Growth Shone Brightly
The University of Washington recently hosted its third annual Summer Bioethics Program, an initiative designed to foster a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive bioethics community. This year's program, funded by internal support including the Emily Murray Fund and the Harriet S. Rabb Fund for a More Inclusive Bioethics, was particularly successful in attracting undergraduate students from groups underrepresented in bioethics, such as communities of color, Indigenous communities, rural residents, and people with disabilities.
Nancy Berlinger, our website's senior research scholar and the driving force behind the Sadler Scholars initiative, moderated the session. Faith Fletcher and Stephen Latham, our website fellows, co-chaired the program. Danielle Pacia, along with project managers and research assistants Sana Baban and Briana Lopez-Patino, were also instrumental in its organisation.
The program offered an intensive introduction to clinical ethics, focusing on the four-box method of ethical case analysis developed by Jonsen, Siegler, and Winslade. The seminar covered major topics in clinical ethics, aiming to equip participants with the skills to competently address ethical problems in clinical settings and assist others in ethical decision-making. Multidisciplinary small group discussions were held to explore diverse perspectives on ethical issues.
Key topics explored typically include ethical problem analysis using the four-box method, clinical case studies focusing on dilemmas in patient care, elements of core competencies for healthcare ethics consultation, and practical ethical decision-making and consultation skills.
At the end of the program, the students completed an evaluation. While specific comments were not available, the program's repeated offering and evolving curriculum indicate sustained positive reception and relevance to clinical ethics practice. Participants of the 2024 program found the experience to be incredible, helpful, and worthwhile, particularly for those with fewer resources or opportunities.
One of the sessions, Community Building with Sadler Scholars, featured four of our website's Sadler Scholars.
The Summer Bioethics Program is part of The University of Washington's broader initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion in bioethics. Sharing options for the article, including Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, and email, are available.
[1] Source: University of Washington Bioethics website and related documents.
Participants of the 2024 Summer Bioethics Program expressed the experience as incredible, helpful, and worthwhile, especially for those with fewer resources or opportunities, highlighting the importance of education-and-self-development in diverse communities. The program, designed to promote diversity and inclusion in bioethics, also focuses on career-development by equipping participants with practical ethical decision-making and consultation skills.
