Undergraduate Health Care Ethics Internship: An Ignatian Innovation in Bioethics Education

Authors

Margaret R. McLean, Director, Bioethics, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics and Senior Lecturer, Religious Studies Department, Santa Clara UniversityFollow
Ryan F. Holmes, Assistant Director, Health Care Ethics, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara UniversityFollow

Document Type

Praxis

Abstract

This article describes an innovative and unique undergraduate bioethics course for students planning careers in health care. The Health Care Ethics Internship reflects the Ignatian values of (1) cura personalis signifying care for the whole person, both of the interns themselves and the patients and professionals they encounter and (2) being a person for others concerned not only with success but also with those poor in health and opportunity. Developed by Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, the Health Care Ethics Internship is interdisciplinary, integrating experiential learning in various health care contexts with ethical theory and reflection with particular attention to justice. Surveys collected from participants indicate that the Internship: (1) influenced career decisions; (2) provided knowledge that was subsequently used in personal and professional ethical decision making; (3) enabled participants to more easily recognize ethical concerns and to think more critically about them; and, (4) prepared them to address ethical challenges encountered in post-graduate health care education.

Recommended Citation

McLean, Margaret R. and Holmes, Ryan F. (2016) "Undergraduate Health Care Ethics Internship: An Ignatian Innovation in Bioethics Education," Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal: Vol. 4: No. 2, Article 35.
Available at: https://epublications.regis.edu/jhe/vol4/iss2/35