Jamie L. Shirley, PhD, RN

Research interests: health care ethics and policy. 

In particular, her work addresses concepts of autonomy and dependency in contemporary society.  Using a relational and feminist lens, Dr. Shirley explores the tensions of affording patients the greatest breadth of autonomy, while also affirming and normalizing the varying states of dependency in which we all find ourselves.  Some of the most vexing questions in health care practice and policy are related to decisions about when to decide for or with others—and when to allow them to decide for themselves.  

After completing her doctoral program in nursing at the University of Washington, Dr. Jamie Shirley has taught on all three of the UW campuses.  In addition to her primary appointment as a senior lecturer at UWB, she has an adjunct appointment in the Department of Bioethics and Humanities in the UW School of Medicine.  Dr. Shirley co-designed and continues to teach the Certificate in Guardianship program offered by UW Professional and Continuing Education that is required by all professional court-appointed guardians in the State of Washington.  In addition to her academic work, she is Chief of the Ethics Consultation Service at Northwest Hospital and a clinical ethics consultant at the University of Washington Medical Center. 

Jamie L. Shirley, PhD, RN

Department Roles: 
UW1-242