Combined MD/MA-Philosophy of Ethics (Bioethics)

[IrishOarsman]

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Hello all-

First post here... decided to go for the gold, start a new thread.

Does anyone else have an interest in persuing a degree-yielding course in or related to medical ethics, concurrently with their MD?

I have collected a good deal of information on possibilities at different schools, but it has been hard going as there are not that many preorganized programs. I don't mind putting up all this info if anyone is interested... also, I would really appreciate anyone else who has looked into this posting similar info.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[filmdoc26]

Hi Chris...

I will be applying for the MD/M. Bioethics at Penn. It really sounds like a great program. I plan on finding out more about it at the Penn Preview weekend in a few weeks. What's nice about it is that you can finish med school AND the masters program within 4 years. You need to take 9 course units in bioethics, which can be spread out in whatever way you and an advisor agree upon. It also sounds like there's a lot of supervision and guidance in terms of finding research and clinical ethics. Hope this helps! This is an exciting field of medicine just starting up. I'm glad that you're interested in it!

 

[Wardens]

I was interested in this as well. I know pitt has a program, and it's in conjunction with a tremendous philosophy grad program, though I know penn is more renowned for ethics. I haven't done too much research though. Would you mind posting other programs you've found?

oh, and as an aside if you're interested, two great new books were just released on the debate of biotech.'s future and ethical implications: Francis Fukuyama's 'our posthuman future' and gregory stock's 'redesigning humans'. They're pretty easy to get through and fukuyama's political theory background gives way to some interesting/frightening scenarios.

 

[coffeespoon]

Originally posted by IrishOarsman
Hello all-

First post here... decided to go for the gold, start a new thread.

Does anyone else have an interest in persuing a degree-yielding course in or related to medical ethics, concurrently with their MD?

I have collected a good deal of information on possibilities at different schools, but it has been hard going as there are not that many preorganized programs. I don't mind putting up all this info if anyone is interested... also, I would really appreciate anyone else who has looked into this posting similar info.

Thanks,
Chris

Hi Chris,

I, too, was looking into degree programs in Bioethics. I believe that Case Western also has a program where you can get an MD/MS Bioethics concurrently, although I am not familiar with the specifics. Neither Case nor Penn wanted me, but I am interested in augmenting my medical school education with bioethics courses. If anyone going to Harvard or Columbia, I'd be interested in finding out how I can supplement my education at these two schools.

 

[filmdoc26]

another great book is "From Chance to Choice: Genetics and Justice" co-authored by Buchanan, Brock, Daniels, and Wikler. I recommend it to everyone and especially those interested in the ethical implications of genetic pharmacology and genetic intervention. It takes a hard lean on Rawlsian political philosophy, so it might seems a bit hard to grasp at times if you're not familiar with it. But it's a great great read.

 

[derisivewords]

Fukuyama is a hack.

NYU has an MD/MA in philosophy "program". Their philosophy department is tops generally, and specifically with stuff like philosophy of the mind, ethics, law...

 

[paramed2premed]

I interviewed at Albany Medical (WL), coincidentally with the doctor of philosophy at the medical school. They try to put a fair emphasis on the moral and ethical dimensions of medicine even at the interview. They also have an "area-of-concentration"-like program in ethics. Sure, they're no Harvard, but I liked the feel of the place. Check it out!

 

[Naphtali]

Fukuyama is a hack? On what grounds do you say that?

-Naphtali

 

[IrishOarsman]

Thanks for the replies guys (girls? I didn't check) ...

Here are the schools that I know have a MD/MA program and I've been looking into:

Georgetown
U.W.


Schools with concentrations of some kind available outside the regular curriculum:

Duke
U of C

I have more info but I'm on a terminal at school - don't have my laptop here. I'll post more later this week.

Chris

 

[atsai3]

Originally posted by coffeespoon
Hi Chris,

I, too, was looking into degree programs in Bioethics. I believe that Case Western also has a program where you can get an MD/MS Bioethics concurrently, although I am not familiar with the specifics. Neither Case nor Penn wanted me, but I am interested in augmenting my medical school education with bioethics courses. If anyone going to Harvard or Columbia, I'd be interested in finding out how I can supplement my education at these two schools.

The program at Case is a MD/MA in bioethics. You can read more about it online:

http://www.cwru.edu/pubs/cnews/2001/12-6/bioethics.htm

http://www.cwru.edu/pubs/cnews/2002/10-3/biomedethics.htm

Cheers
-AT.

 

[sunflower79]

I know Pitt has an MD/MA bioethics program too.

I was thinking about it myself, but I don't know what I would do with it. I am not so gung-ho about ethics that I want to be a medical ethicist or sit on a hospital ethics committee. How are you all planning to utilize this ethics background?

cheers,
sunflower79

 

[filmdoc26]

Sunflower 79,


Other than sitting on ethics committees and all, and, of course, other than having an interest in it, there seems to be a significant future for medical ethicists. Considering the emergence of genetic intervention and the present existence of modes of genetic pharmacology, stem cell research, doctor-assisted suicide, etc., lawmakers are going to be seeking help from physicians (probably preferably physician ethicists) to decide how ethics should be formulated into law (e.g.- testifying before Congress). For myself, it'd be nice to be involved in this lawmaking process, but if nothing else, I know I want to teach in the future. So I'm sure something like this will be helpful.

 

[IrishOarsman]

As far as use...

I'm a philosophy major and I've always kindof resisted any one-direction path (all arts, all science, etc) so this is kindof a way I could keep being dual-sided. I think being on call for ethics consults / working on ethics boards wouldn't be bad at all and it seems practical enough (in that they might actually pay me for my additional training.)

This summer I hope to sit in on some ethics boards to feel out the prof.

 

[coffeespoon]

IrishOarsman,
I'm intrigued that you might be sitting on some ethics boards this summer. What sort of responsibility does this entail? How are you planning on participating, and where do these boards exist (hospitals, I'm assuming)?

 

[IrishOarsman]

bump

I still haven't followed up with the ethics boards stuff. I don't really want to get into IRBs for research, more of a clinical policy type stuff. Still have to see if available at any of the hospitals nearby/where I have connections.

 

[mshheaddoc]

With UPenns MBE program ... other colleges in the philly area have seats available in the program. So check that out as well.

 

[CIO316]

Bioethics.net is a great resource for information on bioethics including graduate programs, jobs, articles, etc.