Department of Health Humanities and Bioethics
The Department of Health Humanities and Bioethics offers courses, electives, activities and programs that use methodologies and materials from the humanities disciplines to address key issues in healthcare. These disciplines include literature, history, visual arts, philosophy, and music, as well as studies in gender, religion, culture and disabilities. As a branch of philosophy, ethics has its own programs, courses, electives and activities in philosophy, law and clinical ethics integrated with the humanities.
Through these humanities/bioethics-focused programs, the Department reinforces the biopsychosocial approach to patient care, and develops students’ and faculty’s skills, knowledge and attitudes consistent with the LCME/ACGME Core Competencies. Among these skills are ethical and humanistic patient care, mindfulness, interpersonal and communications skills, and professionalism.
People
Over 30 faculty (primary and secondary) support the mission of the department.
About Us
We strive to integrate perspectives from humanities, arts, and ethics to understand person-centered relationships and social, cultural, moral contexts in healthcare
Educational Programs
Our educational work is focused on teaching and scholarship in classroom and in clinical settings
Ask Jane / Ask Alice
Both Ask Jane and Ask Alice provide the URMC community an interface for non-urgent clinical ethical questions.
Conferences
Information regarding our monthly noon conferences series found here
Clinical Ethics
Choices about patient care always involve values, and a discussion of the patient's and doctor's values may help both to make their decisions. The Department is closely affiliated with the Program in Clinical Ethics which is a service entity of Strong Memorial Hospital and Golisano Children's Hospital. This service helps patients, families, and caregivers to explore the issues and choices surrounding difficult decisions.
Contact Us
Department of Health Humanities and Bioethics
University of Rochester Medical Center
601 Elmwood Ave., Box 676, Room G-8011
Rochester, NY 14642
Phone: (585) 275-5800
Fax: (585) 276-0152
Email: Erin_Lee@URMC.Rochester.edu