About

Welcome to the Department of Bioethics & Humanities! 

The primary strength of the department is its rich, talented, interdisciplinary nature, which is a function of the faculty.  Capitalizing on this strength and expanding the visibility of the department has emerged as a key goal for us. We are committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and community service.  Integral to this commitment is promoting diversity and making our programs attractive to traditionally under-represented individuals.

The department provides academic education and professional training in bioethics and humanities through:

• The Master's of Arts in Bioethics 
• The undergraduate Minor in Bioethics and Humanities
• Curricula in clinical ethics and professionalism for medical students, residents, and fellows
• Sponsored continuing education activities for practicing health care professionals

Our faculty represent diverse scholarly disciplines, including medicine, genetics, philosophy, health services, religious studies, education, pathology, history, and other areas.  We partner with faculty from the UW Schools of Medicine, Law, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, Social Work, and the College of Arts and Sciences.  Our graduate students bring training and experience from a variety of fields, including medicine, law, nursing, social work, physician assistant studies, dentistry, and other areas.

Faculty publications explore a wide range of areas, including:

• Ethical, legal and social implications of genetics and genomic research
• Community-based participatory research
• Social justice and access to health care
• Social inequalities in health and health disparities
• Medical error
• Palliative and end of life care

Click here to view the department's 2021-2022 annual report.