This post by Rimma Osipov reflects on the mentorship and support the Center for Bioethics can offer learners (students, residents and others).
In May I joined two residents, Rohit Jaswaney, a third-year pediatrics resident (UNC Pediatrics Chief Resident), and Catherine Traub, a pediatrics critical care fellow, at the International Conference on Clinical Ethics and Consultation (ICCEC) conference in Montreal.
Being able to give our residents the opportunity to present their ethics work at an international meeting has been an incredible opportunity for our center and for our residents as developing clinicians and academics.
We hope that this experience boosts their professional development and further inspires them to integrate clinical ethics work into their clinical careers.
Starting early, continuing strong – conference mentorship
We started the mentorship process for ICCEC early. In Fall 2023 we hosted an evening get-together and brainstorming sessions with residents and students doing the clinical ethics certificate pathway or otherwise exploring clinical ethics.
Several bioethics faculty members, including me, Arlene Davis and Jean Cadigan coached learners. We worked with them on submitting their abstracts, reviewing their drafts, and crafting their final posters.
At the conference, we didn’t just support each other during our poster presentations. We also attended and debriefed relevant sessions together. On the last day of the conference, we gathered for a celebratory dinner.
All the learners who wanted to attend this conference weren’t able to find time in their busy training schedules. But we found other ways to bring their work to ICCEC. I presented two additional posters. One was on an innovative UNC elective for ethics education in residency. The other was on a clinical case co-authored with internal medicine and pediatrics resident Anna Bystricky.
Meeting and engaging an international audience
Our learners’ posters generated rich discussions. And their poster sessions gave them the opportunity to network with an international audience.
Given their topics around what it means to offer interventions such as tracheotomies and feeding tubes to children with very complicated medical needs, the international context was particularly interesting.
It was fascinating for them (and me!) to hear how healthcare funding structures and resources affected how similar situations were addressed in other cultural contexts. Rohit shared, “The conference introduced me to the unique challenges other institutions across the country face in the provision of ethical and equitable care.”
It was clear to me that this was a positive experience for residents and fellows. It really built their confidence and skills in presenting complex ethics topics.
I think they were also particularly interested to meet so many other clinicians who had made clinical ethics a part of their careers. These new colleagues reinforced their dedication to championing clinical ethics work and education as a part of their own professional development.
“It was incredible to be able to discuss these challenges on the international stage and hear from leaders in the ethics field on how they navigate complex care for our children,” Rohit said.
Reflections from Rohit Jaswaney
My experiences working with the Center for Bioethics have been critical to my development as a physician.
During pediatric residency, I was fortunate to be a learner on the clinical ethics education pathway, which introduced me to wonderful mentors in the center who challenged me to think critically about the ways I incorporate ethics into my clinical practice.
My participation in the pathway culminated in presenting work at the International Conference on Clinical Ethics and Consultation in Montreal.
My presentations focused on the challenges medical teams and families face when making complex decisions regarding medical technology.
How can a gift support opportunities like this one?
As clinical medicine becomes more complex, it is more important than ever to have early career clinicians who are trained to bring clinical ethics to their work.
Whether it be directly related to their practice with complex and vulnerable patients, or their roles as future medical educators, it is critical that we train a group of clinicians that is dedicated to practicing, teaching and applying clinical ethics. They must be prepared to translate the academic world of bioethical theory to everyday patient care.
I think this kind of participatory experience can be inspirational and help our learners see clinical ethics as a part of their future careers.
A message to donors from Rohit
Participating in this space has helped provide a new lens for me to continue to grow as a pediatric provider passionate about clinical ethics
I am grateful for the support of those that donate to ensure developing physicians are able to continue to grow in their ability to provide excellent care to their community.
Support bioethics mentorship on Tar Heal Tuesday
Being able to attend a conference, with mentors, lets learners like Rohit and Catherine share their work. They can explore their options and meet clinical ethics colleagues from around the world.
Even modest grants can make it easier to attend a conference. ICCEC can cost up to $1500 per attendee. Gifts from our community will expand our capacity to fund student travel and opportunities like going to ICCEC.
With support from community members like you, we’re committed to continuing and expanding bioethics teaching, training and mentorship opportunities.
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