Course Description
The nine-month program teaches bioethics through the lens of medicine, law, and narrative. Alongside academic coursework, the course incorporates a clinical skills component that allows course participants to learn -- and be assessed in -- clinical competencies in preparation for real-life consultations in medical settings. Upon completion of the program, participants will have the critical tools needed to analyze and assess ethics cases, participate in ethics consultations, and serve on hospital ethics committees. Students who successfully complete the program will receive a Certificate in Clinical Bioethics.
Testimonials
Lyn Weiss, M.D.
Chair and Program Director
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Chair Ethics Committee
Nassau University Medical Center
Tuition
Tuition for the nine-month Bioethics Certificate course is $7,250.
Payment Plans Available!
Please contact Student Financial Services at 516-463-8000 or visit our Payment Plans page.
Continuing Education Credits
The cost of the program includes both Continuing Legal Education and Continuing Medical Education credits.
I'm a Pulmonary/Critical Care physician in private practice for the past 25 years. I spend half my clinical practice time in my Baldwin office and approximately the other half at South Nassau Communities Hospital. Currently I'm the co-director of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and am an administrative and supervising clinical attending in Pulmonary and Critical Care at South Nassau. Over the past 5 years I had become interested in the hospitals Palliative Care program.
Approximately 2 years ago I was named the co-chair of our hospital's Ethics committee. This became relevant to me that many patients in our critical care units had challenging ethical issues. While I had some exposure to Ethics during my exposure to Palliative Care, I realized I needed more education in my role on the Ethics committee and in dealing with ethical issues of critical care patients. Fortunately, Hofstra has started its Bioethics Certificate Course.
The course has enabled me to better understand Ethics and how best to deal with challenging issues. It provides relevant reading material with corresponding clinical cases. I have become better in understanding all sides to ethical dilemmas and how they can be attempted to be resolved. I feel more comfortable in evaluating and resolving ethical dilemmas.
The relaxed setting with 3 renowned professors who are always willing to listen has been empowering to me. I now listen more to my patients and staff and hope I am less judgmental. The class offers viewpoints from medical and law students, as well as lawyers, nurses, chaplains, researchers, and others. I'm hopeful I'll have long lasting friendships from this wonderful class. It is my goal to continue my Ethics education. It has humbled me. I have been blessed to have taken this course.
Unless you have graduated from medical school within the past few years, you probably haven't had any formal training in bioethics. Yet as physicians and as humans, we face ethical issues every day.
The Hofstra University Bioethics course has been the most useful (and fun!) course I have taken. The program included attorneys, physicians, ethicists, clergy, students and administrators, giving me different perspectives that I would have never received otherwise. I learned from my colleagues (a very bright, diverse and engaging group of professionals), my teachers and the weekly readings.
I realize we are all pressed for time, but I could not think of a more worthwhile endeavor either professionally or personally. This class has helped make me a better advocate for my patients' interests and thus a better clinician.
I feel I am better prepared to understand patients from their perspective, address conflicts and hopefully improve the way I practice medicine.
Application
Who Should Apply?
Our students include physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, clergy, hospital administrators, lawyers, judges, law and medical students, and other professionals who would benefit from a foundation in clinical bioethics.
Application Process
To apply, please submit a current resume or CV and a completed application form.
Download PDF Application Employer Sponsorship Form
Course Directors
Professor Janet L. Dolgin
Jack and Freda Dicker Distinguished
Professor of Health Care Law
Director, Institute for Health Law and Policy
Professor, Department of Science Education, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine
Co-Director, Hofstra University Bioethics Center
Phone: 516-463-5873 | Fax: 516-463-0480 | Email
Michelle Wallace
Assistant Director of the Gitenstein Institute for Health law and Policy/Coordinator Bioethics Center
Phone: 516-463-6103 | Fax: 516-463-9554 | Email
Renee McLeod-Sordjan
DNP, PhDc, APRN-BC, HEC-C, FNYAM, FAME, FAAN
Vice Dean and Professor, Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies
Associate Professor, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine @Hofstra/Northwell
Phone: 516-463-7479 | Email