Dr Gerard Vong1, Mrs. Joanna Young, Dr. Laura Bishop
1Emory University, Atlanta, United States
Biography:
Laura J. Bishop, Ph.D. (in Philosophy), is an Associate Teaching Professor and the Academic Program Director for the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University, a collaborator on "CUSP" (the Cross-Institutional Undergraduate Sponsorship Program in Bioethics), and a fan of undergraduate students.
Gerard Vong, DPhil. (in Philosophy), is an Associate Professor and Director of the MA in Bioethics Program at Emory University, and a co-founder of “CUSP”.
Joanna Young, MS. (in Higher Education Administration), is the Senior Program Coordinator of the MA in Bioethics Program at Emory University, and a co-founder of “CUSP”.
Abstract:
We present insights and interdisciplinary lessons from a multi-year, cross-institutional, funded, North American, undergraduate sponsorship and mentorship program in bioethics. This program is designed to promote next-generation diversity in bioethics by reducing unjust barriers to entry. It does so by providing financial support, one-to-one and group mentorship, and networking opportunities to students at a formative cusp of their career development, namely while they are undergraduates. Competitively-selected undergraduates (from any major and any North American university) who have submitted an application that demonstrates interest and aptitude for bioethics or ethical issues in related fields (e.g. biomedical sciences, health humanities, public health) are given opportunities to: 1) explore issues at the largest bioethics conference in North America; 2) receive mentoring appropriate to their goals including (but not limited to) coursework, advanced education, career path, research and writing projects, or a particular area of bioethics; 3) participate in networking with peers and professionals; and 4) learn about and participate in other relevant educational opportunities. A foundational goal of the program is to identify promising students, especially those from among groups who have historically been underrepresented in bioethics (e.g., BIPOC, disabled students, and first-generation students), and who might not otherwise have the chance to attend a professional bioethics conference during this formative period. We conclude by identifying potential opportunities for similar programs in other countries (e.g. Australia) and sharing lessons related to program fundraising, cross-institutional collaboration, and students’ professional development.