"The most rewarding parts of my job have been being a fellow human for students and really feeling their successes. It is beyond cool to see their growth. I'm glad to have been a (quite small!) contributor."
How many years have you worked at Midwestern University?:
I've been at Midwestern since August of 2013. I work primarily in the Biomedical Sciences program, but also in AZCOM, and I lecture here and there in the PA and Veterinary programs as well. I teach Medical Ethics, Humanity in Medicine, Philosophy of Research, and also some Genetics and Statistics.
What are your research interests?:
I am a bit of an odd duck at MWU, as my degree is really in Bioethics and Philosophy of Science, but it's formally a Biology Ph.D. So, I have a foot in each camp of the science and humanities divide. On the science side, I collaborate with fellow faculty here on cardiovascular dynamics of the genetic disease Marfan Syndrome, and also genomics and character traits of a flower genus called impatiens (aka "Touch-Me-Nots"). But, my heart lies in more philosophical topics – justice in medicine, philosophy of taxonomy and animal models, and something called "evolutionary metaethics," which questions how we think about morals and ethics across the evolution of humans and other species.
What is the most rewarding part of being a member of the Midwestern University faculty?
By far, it is the students. I went to medical school a long while ago, so I know exactly what a huge sacrifice and commitment a healthcare career is. I fundamentally admire what the students are taking on here. One thing that makes life a lot easier for us as faculty is that every student on campus is quite sharp and very motivated. The faculty and students are engaged in the same project, really. We're all trying to help patients down the line, and education is a big part of that. The education process itself is taxing for sure. It's important for faculty to be supportive colleagues for the students and try to attenuate students' difficulties as they fight through. The most rewarding parts of my job have been being a fellow human for students and really feeling their successes. It is beyond cool to see their growth. I'm glad to have been a (quite small!) contributor.
How do you engage students in the learning process?
My classes are discussion-based, even in the context of large class lectures. You really can't teach ethics "at" people; everyone has been learning about right and wrong since their days watching Sesame Street. They already have their own ideas and are not just receptacles for lessons from the lectern. Teaching ethics is really about getting people talking about their own views and then giving them some concepts and tools to analyze their own process and see how it relates to other people. I also try to highlight how the science relates to the human side in complex ways, and that can be a nice break from the typical hard science courses in the curriculum. If some students start reflecting on their views and other students are sending me "mindblown.gif," then I've done my job.
I also just try to show I care about the topic and about them. And joke and keep up with how they are doing. It's a lot easier to be engaged with a real person at the front of the classroom!
What do you hope students learn from your classes?
That there's a lot more to being a healthcare professional – or a human – than a laundry list of disconnected scientific facts. Everything we know has been learned by humans in cultures and in history, so you have to try to understand that as best you can when you practice medicine. And then realizing just how difficult that is when you are also a human shaped by cultures and history! No one said this would be easy.
What lessons would you like students to take with them in their professional careers?
I think a willingness to not take things for granted, to be open to really hearing other people, especially their patients, and a large amount of humility.
What about your profession should people know more about?
One thing would be just how isolating it can be. I spend a huge amount of time reading and writing, which are solitary activities. Students often stop by and ask if I have a minute, and the answer is almost always yes. Faculty are always busy, of course, and sometimes we'll need to schedule a meeting. But by and large, I enjoy it when students come by, even if just to shoot the breeze. So please come on in; it's much more fun to work with people I know!
What do you like to do in your free time?
Music! Everyone likes music, but I LOVE music, playing and listening. I'm a hack guitar player which is fun, but I used to DJ in college, so that's my main passion. I've got something like 10,000 albums at home and around 2500 vinyl records. All genres – the Beatles to Miles to Kendrick to GaGa. It's a great hobby if you don't mind losing all your money.
