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Q. What career paths are available in the field of Bioethics?A2A:Charles Daschbach's answer to What careers are available in bioethics?Bioethics Career Options and Education RequirementsJohns Hopkins | Berman Institute of BioethicsFordham University Careers in BioethicsColumbia University School of Professional Studies (Great Video Series)Jobs | Bioethics.netBioethics Grows, But Will Jobs Follow?Bioethics Career Options and Education RequirementsBioethics is an interdisciplinary field that addresses ethical problems in biological research and medicine. Continue reading for an overview of the majors and educational requirements, as well as career and salary info related to some career options for graduates.Bioethicists explore the complex, controversial issues that are present in the medical field. With an educational background in the medical field, bioethicists examine new and emerging technologies and procedures to address the ethical issues that may result from their use.Essential InformationToday's bioethicists come from diverse disciplines and weigh concerns related to controversial issues such as stem-cell research and medical technology. Individuals who want to develop careers in bioethics could choose undergraduate degree programs with a bioethics emphasis or minor, along with graduate degree programs in bioethics. Some occupations in this field require additionally completing a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree program.Career OptionsProfessionals who would like to build careers in bioethics might pursue opportunities in the academic, clinical or research fields. For example, they might become bioethics post-secondary teachers, physicians or medical scientists.Post-Secondary TeachersThe field of bioethics is expanding rapidly, and universities and medical schools need professors who can educate the innovators of tomorrow. Many branches of medical and liberal arts are concerned with bioethics, but an educator typically specializes in one discipline, such as philosophy. An academic bioethicist also can perform research or educate the public through outreach. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that positions for college professors (post-secondary teachers) would increase by 13% between 2014 and 2024, about as fast as the national average.Physicians & SurgeonsCurrently, the staff of medical clinics handles ethical dilemmas. As the bioethics field grows, specialists are being called on to handle these tasks. To work in this capacity, students typically choose a discipline in the health care field and then focus on bioethics along with their regular studies.Existing medical professionals such as physicians can also undertake bioethics training. The BLS reported that the occupational group of all other physicians and surgeons earned mean salaries of $197,700 as of May 2015. Employment of these specialists was expected to expand by 14% between 2014 and 2024.Medical ScientistsNew developments in medical and biological sciences often have ethical ramifications. Research bioethicists work to make sense of these ramifications. Some researchers work for academic institutions, while others work for consulting companies.Medical scientists conduct research with the purpose of improving the health of human beings. In 2015, the BLS reported that medical scientists earned average annual salaries of $93,730. An employment increase of 8% was predicted for the decade spanning 2014 through 2024.Bioethics Education RequirementsUndergraduateAt the undergraduate level, bioethics typically is explored in addition to another discipline. For example, a student might choose an undergraduate program in medical sciences or liberal arts and then tailor his or her classes to include a bioethical focus. This can prepare the student to work in a bioethical capacity in his or her chosen career. Some institutions offer a minor in bioethics.GraduateAt the graduate level, students often can choose to focus solely on bioethics. Institutions offer master's study, as well as doctorate programs. The latter programs are intended for students who wish to move on to research or academic careers.Continuing EducationFor health care professionals who want to remain current in their fields, certificate programs are available that can prepare them to deal with ethical dilemmas. Students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs may also complete certificate programs, which could add a bioethical focus to their chosen career path.Physicians, medical scientists, and college professors are all involved in the field of bioethics. With the ongoing development of new technologies and techniques, bioethicists will become increasingly important as the ethical dilemmas of the medical field are explored and addressed.Johns Hopkins | Berman Institute of BioethicsCAREER TALES(See Also: Current Employment Opportunities at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics)BERMAN INSTITUTE FACULTY DISCUSS THEIR CAREERS IN BIOETHICSIn the hopes of providing valuable advice for students pursuing a career in bioethics, the Berman Institute of Bioethics interviewed faculty members and graduate students about their individual careers and studies. The faculty members and students interviewed come from a variety of disciplines, including medicine, law, public health, and philosophy, and each interview offers a unique story and perspective. In the following interviews, these faculty members discuss their initial interest and involvement in bioethics, and the paths which led them to their current positions. Faculty members also give advice on the best bioethics resources, including academic and professional experiences to Internet resources, and critically look at the current bioethics world to determine what the future generation of bioethicist ought to bring to it. These interviews serve not as a strict model for students to follow to become a bioethicist, but rather reveal the many opportunities and possibilities for achieving a bioethics career.Opportunities for those interested in pursuing a career related to bioethics are expanding. These are examples of the sorts of opportunities available:1) Academic bioethics: A wide variety of career opportunities engaging in teaching and generating new scholarship on policy and ethics issues within the purview of bioethics are becoming available within academically based bioethics institutes/centers. Similar work is conducted and, career opportunities are becoming available within independent organizations such as The Hastings Center or The American Medical Association. In addition, there are both liberal/conservative bioethics think tanks such as The Center for American Progress; and The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity.2) Research ethics: IRB/ESCRO/IACUC staff or committee members. Career opportunities are created by the need for various committees to review research proposals and ensure the ethical conduct of scientific/biomedical research.3) Clinical Ethics: Hospital-based clinical ethicist/consultant/Hospital ethics committees. Hospital ethics committee members are typically not paid for their service. However, some few hospitals do employ consultants to serve as clinical ethicists, hearing cases with conflicts or ethically-challenging dimensions.4) Be Creative: The expansion of careers in bioethics is a relatively new phenomenon – don’t be afraid to be creative in encouraging the integration of bioethics into existing career paths. Some obvious examples: cell biologist-bioethicist, NICU nurse-bioethicist, historian-bioethicist, hospital administrator-bioethicist. Careers offer significant exposure to the sorts of challenging issues that define bioethics can also bring novel and useful tools and experiences that can be added to the problem-solving armamentarium.Careers in BioethicsBioethics is essential to understanding the implications and consequences of medical procedures, treatment decisions, biomedical and behavioral research and health-related policy. A background in ethics will provide you with the analytical skills that will assist you in your work and help you to best serve the needs of those with whom you work. Individuals with bioethics training are employed in a variety of settings, including health care (hospitals, clinics, nursing and assisted living homes, etc.), pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutions, institutional review boards and oversight/compliance boards, and policy organizations and think tanks.More Information About Ethics in Health CareView video from our 2014 Careers in Ethics panel, featuring pediatric E.R. physician Naomi Dreisinger, MD (Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital), bioethicist Elizabeth Yuko, PhD (Center for Ethics Education) and Institutional Review Board professional Stefanie Juell, MA.Bioethics Job ListingsBelow are several different lists of bioethics-related jobs. These positions are updated regularly so be sure to check often.Hastings Center Bioethics Job BankAmerican Journal of Bioethics Job BankAmerican Society for Bioethics and HumanitiesIndeed Job SearchInterested in Pursuing a Master's Program in Ethics?Select Fordham University juniors are eligible to apply for early admission to the Master of Arts in Ethics and Society program.Typically, the combined bachelor’s and master’s degree program is completed in a total of five years. Undergraduates accepted into the program take two courses toward the master’s degree in the senior year. These courses also count toward the credits required for the bachelor's degree. The three-day "Theories and Applications in Contemporary Ethics" course is taken during the month of May following the senior year. Finally, seven courses are taken during the two semesters following the senior year, fulfilling the requirements for the combined degree.There is no application fee and GRE scores are not required for early admission applicants. Students who are in the early admission program receive their undergraduate degree at the end of their senior year (and participate in commencement with their classmates) and are admitted to return in their fifth year to complete the Master's degree.Additional information about this program can be found under the Ethics and Society department.Columbia University School of Professional StudiesPresented by Columbia University’s master of science and certification programs in Bioethics, the Careers in Bioethics series brings noted bioethicists, academics, authors, and medical professionals to Columbia’s campus for lectures, book readings, and panel discussions focused on the intersection of their work and bioethics.View past Careers in Bioethics events below and visit the events page for upcoming Bioethics events at Columbia.Careers in Bioethics: Bioethicists in the Pharmaceutical Industry: Personal ReflectionsSheldon Sloan, an Immunology Global Medical Affairs Leader at Janssen Global Commercial Strategy Organization, will discuss his experiences working as a bioethicist in the pharmaceutical industry as a part of our Careers in Bioethics series.Careers in Bioethics: How to Teach Ethics – Views From Across Columbia (Session 2)A panel of faculty members will discuss what they each do when they are teaching ethics – exactly what and how they teach – to explore common and divergent strategies, challenges and solutions.Careers in Bioethics: How to Teach Ethics – Views From Across Columbia (Session 1)A panel of faculty members will discuss what they each do when they are teaching ethics – exactly what and how they teach – to explore common and divergent strategies, challenges and solutions.Careers in Bioethics: From Bedlam To Bioethics – Growing Up In a Mental Hospital and Working In Medical EthicsOne of the nation’s leading bioethicists, Jonathan Moreno, David and Lyn Silfen University Professor, Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania, reflects on how his background as the son of a prominent, pioneering psychiatrist has affected him and his seminal work. Moreno is author of Mind Wars: Brain Science and the Military in the 21st Century. Refreshments will be served. This session is presented by Columbia University’s master of science and certification programs in Bioethics.Careers in Bioethics: Sanctity vs. Care – The Moral Foundations Of Bioethical ControversiesJonathan Haidt, Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at NYU Stern School of Business and author of The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religionand The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, is one of the world’s leading researchers and writers on the psychology of morality. Refreshments will be served. This session is presented by Columbia University’s master of science and certification programs in Bioethics.Careers in Bioethics: Finding The Frontiers Of Bioethics – Your "Accidental" CareerJoseph C. D’Oronzio, Founding Director of The ProBE (Professional Problem-Based Ethics) Program, will discuss his 30-year involvement in the intersections of bioethics with human rights initiatives, with the ethical rehabilitation of physicians sanctioned by their licensing boards, and with ethical dimensions of healthcare policy.Careers in Bioethics: Dr. David Blumenthal, President, The Commonwealth FundDavid Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P., president of The Commonwealth Fund, a national philanthropy engaged in independent research on health and social policy issues, will speak during this session presented by Columbia University’s Bioethics M.S. and Certification programs.Careers in Bioethics: Bioethics and/or Law School?Hal Edgar, Julius Silver Professor in Law, Science, and Technology at Columbia University, will discuss the intersection of the study of bioethics and law during this session of the ongoing Careers in Bioethics series, presented by Columbia University’s Bioethics M.S. and Certification programs.Careers in Bioethics: A Bioethical Journey: From Clinical and Research Ethics to Policy and Public HealthDr. Alan R. Fleischman is a senior vice president and medical director of the March of Dimes Foundation as well as clinical professor of pediatrics and clinical professor of epidemiology and population health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He spoke on his professional journey from clinical and research ethics to his active role in current public health policy.Careers in Bioethics: An Unconventional Career in Bioethics: Letting the Issues Choose YouCarol Levine, director of Families and Health Care Project with the United Hospital Fund and Macarthur "Genius Award" recipient, spoke on her career trajectory and how she came to the bioethics field from a non-traditional path. Before joining the United Health Fund in 1996, Levine directed the Citizens Commission on AIDS in New York City, and founded The Orphan Project. As a senior staff associate of The Hastings Center, she edited the Hastings Center Report.Careers in Bioethics: More and Better Medical Technology: More and Harder Ethical DilemmasDr. Kenneth Prager is the director of the ethics committee at New York Presbyterian Hospital. In his presentation, he discussed the ways that the medical profession has changed over the course of his career, how ethical boundaries have been affected by technology advances, and gave advice on how students could be effective for both their fellow doctors and their patients.Careers in Bioethics: Reflections on Bioethics: Past, Present and FutureThomas Murray is President of the Hastings Center, a bioethics "think tank" in the United States which has produced influential work in the field for decades. The topic of his presentation, bioethics in the past, present and future, involves an examination of the idea of stewardship, health care reform, cost-effective design and technology.Careers in Bioethics: The Roles of Bioethics in Industry: Perspectives from an InsiderLlew Keltner, M.D., Ph.D. is the President and CEO of Light Sciences Oncology, Inc., a leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology company. He will speak about the critical roles that bioethics can play in industry, the tensions that might arise, and ways that these can be addressed.Jobs | Bioethics.netBioethics Grows, But Will Jobs Follow?May 12, 2016 | Carolyn ColwellWant to be a bioethicist? Don’t count on getting paid.There simply are not enough salaried bioethics jobs to go around, says Tia Powell, MD, the director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Bioethics and of the Einstein-Cardozo Master of Science in Bioethics program in New York City. In the 30 years she has been in bioethics, Powell has seen the discipline grow.There are now at least 38 graduate programs in the field, one that was unknown a few decades ago, and they have produced thousands of specialists.According to the Hastings Center, a bioethics research institute in Garrison, NY there were 2,314 bioethics and applied ethics degrees granted from 2000 through 2013, Most (1,723 ) were master’s degrees, 173 were bachelor’s degrees, and 156 were doctoral degrees—and there were 262 program certificates awarded.But having a bioethics degrees or certificate does not mean finding a position as a bioethicist, Powell (photo, right) said in a recent interview.Some bioethics experts working at academic medical centers volunteer to take on bioethics consultations in addition to their other duties; others have bioethics as part of their overall job description, but only some are paid for this extra service and expertise, Powell said.Bioethics centers also don't generate billable hours, so that they often are supported by philanthropy, grants, tuition or their parent institution, she added.It’s not that there aren’t enough issues to decide.Being an ethical practitioner of medicine has gotten far more complex than simply following the ancient dictum of “First, do no harm.”Physicians wrestle with end-of-life issues, genetic-engineering debates, questions related to the expense of care vs. benefits conferred, whether and when patients deserve compensation for the use of their cells or tissues, and other topics engendered by ever-developing technology and burgeoning costs.Bioethical issues are so important, and often politically sensitive, that since 1974, US presidents have had the option of appointing a Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues. Seven have done so, including Barack Obama.But the formal training programs are costly. Hastings found tuitions ranging from $8,000 for a certificate program run by a hospital to $66,000 for one university’s master’s program—all for a degree that does guarantee employment.To that end, bioethics training works better as an add-on, not a standalone."For me personally, the person most likely to be hired is a person with a broad range of skills including comfort in clinical areas as well as some formal training in bioethics," she added.Someone with just a bachelor's degree in bioethics or even a master's is not going to have a career path in clinical bioethics, although they might get an entry level job doing research, she explained.For instance, she said, in her center what she looks for in a job candidate is not someone with just a PhD in bioethics or an MD, but someone with a "depth of experience of sitting with families in distress."In the US institutions offering bioethics training more than half of those 38 programs appear to recognize the wisdom of getting dual training.These are the institutions offering joint degrees in bioethics along with an MD, or law degree or in some cases, divinity degrees, or advanced degrees in social work, nursing, dentistry, physical therapy of philosophy, according to a 2014 Hastings list.The courses themselves speak to the need to address the growing complexity of medicine.Though some offerings have a philosophical focus, they can also be highly technical.For instance, at Montefiore (photo at left) the curriculum includes classes in "The Beginning and End of Life" and "Personhood.”At the technically focused end of the spectrum, highly specialized training is available at places like the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. Its program on Ethics and Brain Sciences has an interdisciplinary working group that, for example, focuses on "Human Trials of Cell-Based Intervention for Neurological Conditions."Coursework in such programs can be demanding but visions of recouping the investment of time and money through a higher salary might not necessarily be realized.So why does someone study bioethics?Some might enroll with a goal of getting comfortable with the technological and scientific breakthroughs that are changing medicine.Powell sees that as a "red herring," she said. In her experience, a bioethicist will usually be called in not for issues related to new technology but to tackle questions that are as old as Hippocrates: what is a good death, what is confidentiality."One common problem is when a patient declines recommended treatment and it's unclear whether she truly grasps the consequences," she explained.Another is "how shall we support grieving family members as they try to settle old grievances with each other and make responsible decisions together.”"For the bioethics student there also is the grounding in how to help people articulate their values and goals in the context of what is medically feasible,” Powell said.That work puts many bioethicists back in touch with the reasons they became physicians or other helping professionals in the first place, Powell added.The questions they deal with can be challenging, and they are not going away, other bioethicists agree.For Daniel Sulmasy, MD, PhD, director of the University of Chicago's program in medical ethics and religion and a member of the Obama administration’s Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, bioethics is not just a field best left to the experts."I almost think we probably ought to start teaching bioethics in high school because some of the questions I deal with at least in clinical ethics are going to affect everybody," he says in a video posted on the site. "Everybody is going to decide at some point whether or not to continue life sustaining treatments for someone they love.”