The State of Graduate Education: One Student's View

While an undergraduate my interest in medical ethics was piqued. A friend, a medical student, asked me to help research and edit a paper on euthanasia. This research illustrated the multi- and interdisciplinary nature of medical ethics. These aspects of medical ethics I found, and still find, intriguing and challenging. As an undergraduate I also recognized how much I love philosophy. Because I enjoy the subject as much as I do, I completed my master's in philosophy; my thesis focused on bioethics. Other characteristics of bioethics that I enjoy are the combination of clinical and academic components and the opportunity to assist patients, families, and caregivers. The opportunity to teach ethics to medical students and residents and to participate in ethics consults demonstrates that ethics and, by association, philosophy are relevant.

I chose to do a Ph.D. because a terminal degree opens more opportunities for employment and advancement. While doing research for my thesis, I noted that the authors were professionals who primarily published in their particular discipline's journals. I believed that to have a career in bioethics I needed a professional appointment, and academia was the logical choice.

The field of bioethics/medical humanities is, relatively, a new profession. I believe that "specialized" degrees in this field will help establish and perpetuate the profession. Every year more universities offer courses and develop graduate programs in bioethics/medical humanities. I think that these programs and their graduates will encourage healthcare organizations, governments, and healthcare providers to recognize that ethics must be considered when developing healthcare policies because the different players in the healthcare system subscribe to differing value systems. I think that the various levels of government recognize the valuable services medical ethicists provide, and I hope that the different ministries will begin to have bioethicists on staff.

There is an aspect of "specialized" education that I hope bioethics/medical humanities never develops. Most professions, when trying to establish themselves and gain recognition, usually undergo a process of monopolization and regulation of skills and knowledge. However, the multi- and interdisciplinary nature of bioethics/medical humanities is what makes the profession unique, interesting, and challenging. I hope that those of us trained specifically as bioethicists never come to believe that it is only "experts" who qualify to "do" bioethics. I hope that these "experts" encourage others to consider ethical components in their decision making and thus spark others' interest in philosophy.

Duquesne's graduate program in bioethics has a significant clinical component, and this was one reason I chose to apply to its graduate program. The practica allowed us to attend medical rounds, participate in ethics consults and committee meetings, lecture, and be the "ethicist in residence." For those like myself who do not have a background in healthcare, the practicum provided much needed exposure and experience. The required courses are diverse. A sampling includes: Healthcare Law, Healthcare Communication, Ethics, Justice, Genetics, and Jewish Bioethics.

At Duquesne, a Catholic University, one studies the Roman Catholic and the Jewish approaches to bioethics. I discovered, however, that a considerable number of my colleagues are members of other faiths; thus their traditions were also discussed. Being an atheist, I recognized that if I wanted to be an effective facilitator it might be necessary to have knowledge of the different faith traditions. In graduate school one is usually exposed to people from diverse cultures, and Duquesne was no exception. I have had the privilege of studying with individuals from African countries, including South Africa, European countries, and Japan. In bioethics/medical humanities programs one also has the privilege of studying with colleagues from different disciplines, and at Duquesne everyone's commentary was enlightening since we each approached the issues from within our own theoretical framework.

The comprehensive examination process one undergoes for the Doctor of Healthcare Ethics and the Ph.D. helps "connect the dots." At Duquesne there are three components to the comprehensive examinations: a review of the...