The Cleveland Fellowship in Advanced Bioethics (CFAB) is a two-year, full-time program designed to train the next generation of leaders in the field of bioethics. Applications will be considered from professionals with terminal post-graduate degrees in medicine, philosophy, nursing, social work, religious studies, law, and other fields related to the practice of clinical and academic bioethics. Completed applications must be submitted by December 15 and the starting date for the fellowship is July 1 of each year.
CFAB represents an educational partnership among five premier institutions in Cleveland: Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), MetroHealth Medical Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Hospital. The Fellowship is supported by a generous grant through the Cleveland Foundation. Through a solid history of collaboration in training students in the CWRU Master of Arts Program in Bioethics, and working together to provide educational opportunities for colleagues at area hospitals and universities, these institutions have cemented the relationships that ensure fellows access to broad resources in the field. Each partner organization offers the following:
- The Cleveland Clinic Department of Bioethics, one of the oldest and most well-established departments of its kind in the country, serves as the organizational home for the program.
- The CWRU Department of Bioethics has world-renowned faculty, rich graduate and undergraduate bioethics programs, and strong collaborative relationships with bioethics centers in other countries.
- University Hospitals' Case Medical Center, with one of the region's most active Ethics Consultation Services, offers a broad array of training experiences both on the Main Campus and through its relationships with community hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities.
- MetroHealth Medical Center, Center for Biomedical Ethics provides education, service and research regarding the ethical dimensions of the delivery and practice of health care in support of MetroHealth Medical Center, Cuyahoga County's primary hospital and de facto safety-net for the region's poor.
- Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Administration Medical Center - providing health services and education for Northeast Ohio veterans.
Curriculum Description
The CFAB curriculum is designed to train the next generation of highly skilled bioethicists whose expertise is well grounded in the clinical environment. The program ensures a strong foundation in the clinical, scholarly and institutional components of the bioethics profession while advancing fellows' individual interests and career goals. Requirements for graduation from the program include completion of the CFAB ethics consultation training requirements, an empirical or conceptual research contribution, and a community engagement initiative. In conjunction with an adviser, each fellow develops a two-year program plan encompassing core activities and concentration in either a clinical- or research-oriented track. Solid educational grounding in medical ethics is assured through coursework and participation in departmental activities at partnering institutions.
Core Activities of the CFAB Fellowship
Core Activities for all fellows include:
- Participating in departmental bioethics activities at affiliated institutions, including bioethics consultation, for a minimum of 16 weeks over the two years of the fellowship
- Completing a scholarly project
- Submitting at least one manuscript for publication
- Presenting research at works-in-progress meetings
- Participating in the monthly CFAB Journal Club
- Developing and presenting formal lectures
- Submitting abstracts for presentation at conferences
- Completing a community engagement initiative
Community Engagement:
CFAB faculty recognize that the public sector receives information about bioethical complexities from a number of sources, many of which lack a firm grounding in the realities of medical practice or ethical theory. For this reason, CFAB fellows help local community members learn about important issues in bioethics through engagement in educational offerings. In general, CFAB Community Engagement initiatives target and encourage dialogue with various constituencies such as community organizations, health care professionals practicing outside of the collaborating CFAB institutions, students, government officials, religious groups, or businesses.
CFAB Areas of Concentration
Fellows will choose either the Clinical Ethics or Bioethics Research track.
Clinical Ethics Track:
The Clinical Ethics Track is designed to prepare the fellow to achieve independence as a clinical bioethicist. The CFAB curriculum fosters multiple areas of expertise, including ethics consultation, teaching and scholarship, policy development and other institutional service activities. Through integration in the ethics program at the Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth Medical Center, the Louis B. Stokes VA Medical Center, and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, fellows will have the opportunity to develop ethics consultation skills, analyze ethical dilemmas, and become familiar with organizational, disciplinary, and policy influences on clinical ethics. Fellows begin gaining experience in ethics consultation during the first year through accompanying staff ethicists on consults at the Cleveland Clinic and at least one other site, and through participation in case review activities. Second year fellows take on increasing consultation responsibilities beyond the core activity requirements, with a goal of developing independence in ethics consultation by the end of the fellowship. Fellows also attend ethics committee meetings at participating institutions, provide clinical ethics education in multidisciplinary rounds and other clinical and classroom settings, and develop skills in presenting case analyses both for teaching and quality improvement purposes.
Bioethics Research Track:
The research track is designed to provide fellows with the experience and tools to launch a career in clinically grounded Bioethics research. Fellows are paired with a research adviser to assist in identifying appropriate goals with respect to research development and productivity, and to develop a timeline for achieving objectives appropriate for each fellow's career goals. The substantial and diverse resources within CFAB-affiliated institutions include coursework in empirical research methods; administrative, regulatory and biostatistical support for research projects conducted during the fellowship; and mentorship in grant-writing and preparation of scholarly manuscripts. While some clinical ethics consultation service continues during the second year of the fellowship for research track fellows, the balance of experiences facilitates participation in research rather than clinical activities. Research track fellows are expected to develop a strong publication and teaching portfolio, as well as to gain exposure in the national arena through conference attendance and participation.
Coursework
Fellows will be expected to complete CWRU Master of Arts in Bioethics Program (CMB) during the first year of fellowship, or to audit Bioethics 401 and 402 (see below) if the master's degree in bioethics is not desired.The full 27 credit-hour degree program has the following requirements for CFAB fellows who enroll:
- CMB's two foundational theory courses, Bioethics 401 & 402, which will provide a foundation in philosophical theory and modern bioethical dilemmas. (12 credit hours)
- CMB graduate level courses in research ethics and clinical ethics are required for CFAB fellows, unless the fellow has had equivalent courses prior to arriving. These seminars, taught by teams of bioethics faculty and local experts, will provide the necessary fundamentals in these core areas and provide opportunities for in-depth exploration. (6 credit hours)
- Two graduate level elective courses consistent with fellows' career goals or research interests. (6 credit hours)
- Completion of the clinical and observation component of the master's degree program. (3 credit hours)
For non-degree seeking fellows, coursework in clinical and research ethics may be required at the discretion of the CFAB faculty. Non-degree seeking fellows are required to complete one semester (1.5 credit hours) of the CMB clinical observation component, equivalent to 60 hours of observation in diverse medical settings. These hours can be completed during the first-year fellows' core ethics consultation rotations at participating CFAB institutions.
Stipends
Stipends of $40,000 per year plus benefits are available for candidates from the United States, competitive with local fellowship and residency salaries. Benefits include health insurance through the Cleveland Clinic Health System and yearly educational travel funds. Funds are not provided for relocation expenses.
Class of 2011-2013
Jalayne Arias, JD
CV and Biosketch
JD, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ
BA, International Studies (Political Sicence Emphasis), Pepperdine University, Seaver College, Malibu, CA
Danielle Wenner, PhD
PhD, Philosophy, Rice University, Houston, TX
MA, Philosophy, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
BA, Philosophy, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Class of 2010-2012
Joshua Crites, PhD
PhD, Philosophy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
MA, Philosophy, Kent State University, Kent, OH
BA, Philosophy, Kent State University, Kent, OH
Thomas Harter, PhD
CV and Biosketch
PhD, Philosophy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
MA, Philosophy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
BA, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Radford University, Radford, VA
Olubukunola Mary Tawose, JD
CV and Biosketch
JD, St. Louis University School of Law, St. Louis, MO
Health Care Ethics Certificate, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO
BA, History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science and Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
JD, St. Louis University School of Law, St. Louis, MOHealth Care Ethics Certificate, St. Louis University, St. Louis,
MOBA, History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science and Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Class of 2009-2011
Valarie Blake, JD
JD, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, PA
BS, Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Laura Buccini, PhD
DPH, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
Graduate Certificate of Bioethics, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH
MPH, Behavioral Health Science, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
BA, Psychology, Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN
E. Charlisse Caga-Anan, JD
JD, University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, MN
BA, English, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Class of 2008-2010
Courtenay Bruce, JD
MA, Bioethics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
JD, University of Houston Law Center, Houston, TX
BA, Political Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Barbara Chubak, MD
MA, Bioethics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
M.D., Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
MA, Johns Hopkins Institute for the History of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
BA, History, Columbia University, New York, NY
Monica Gerrek, PhD
PhD, Philosophy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
MA, Philosophy, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH
BS, Business Administration, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
(Back Row: Margot Eves, JD, Hafzah Mueenuddin, JD, Courtenay Bruce, JD, Kathryn Weise, MD, Monica Gerreck, PhD, Barbara Chubak, MD, Front Row: Jason Gatliff, PhD, Mary Adams)
Class of 2007-2009
Hafzah Mueenuddin, JD
MA, Master of Arts in Bioethics
JD, Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, OH
BS, Biology, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
Margot Eves, JD
MA, Master of Arts in Bioethics
JD, Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, NJ
MA, Health Advocacy - Sarah Lawrence College
BA, Health and Exercise Science - Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Jason Gatliff, PhD
PhD, Applied Philosophy, Bowling Green State University
MA, Philosophy, Texas A&M University
MA, History, Boise State University
BA, Philosophy, Boise State University
Eric Kodish, MD
- CFAB Executive Director
- Director, Center for Ethics, Humanities and Spiritual Care
- F.J. O'Neill Professor and Chairman, Department of Bioethics, Cleveland Clinic
- Professor, Case Western Reserve University
- Staff, Cleveland Clinic Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
- Staff, Cleveland Clinic Genomic Medicine Institute
- Interests: Pediatric Ethics; Clinical Research; Informed Consent; Oncology and Transplantation
Kathryn Weise, MD, MA
- Program Director, Cleveland Fellowship in Advanced Bioethics
- Staff, Cleveland Clinic Pediatric Institute
- Adjunct Faculty, Case Western Reserve University Department of Bioethics
- Adjunct Faculty, Cleveland State University Bioethics Center
- Interests: Pediatric Critical Care; Pediatric Ethics; Professional Ethics; Pediatric Palliative Medicine
Stuart Youngner, MD
- Chairman of Bioethics, Case Western Reserve University
- Professor of Bioethics, Case Western Reserve University
- Professor of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
- Interests: End-of-Life Decision Making; Organ Transplantation; Clinical Ethics Consultation; Definition of Death; Malpractice
Mark Aulisio, PhD
- Director, Center for Biomedical Ethics, MetroHealth Medical Center
- Director, MA Program in Bioethics, Case Western Reserve University
- Associate Professor of Bioethics, Case Western Reserve University
- Interests: Intersection of Political Philosophy and Bioethics; Ethics Consultation; Principle of Double Effect; Organ Donation
Barbara Daly, RN, PhD, FAAN
- Director of Clinical Ethics, University Hospitals Case Medical Center
- Professor of Bioethics, Case Western Reserve University
- Professor of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University
- Professor of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University
- Interests: Clinical Ethics Consultation; End of life Decision Making and Treatment Limitation; Healthcare Allocation Issues
Anne Lederman Flamm, JD
- Associate Program Director, CFAB
- Staff, Dept. of Bioethics, Cleveland Clinic
- Interests: ethical, legal, and societal issues arising in the clinical care of patients
Richard Sharp, PhD
- Director of Bioethics Research, Cleveland Clinic
- Associate Director, Research and Education, Center for Ethics, Humanities and Spiritual Care, Cleveland Clinic
- Staff, Genomic Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic
- Staff, Department of Bioethics, Cleveland Clinic
- Co-Director, Center for Genetics Research and Law, CWRU
- Interests: Genetics; Research Ethics; Professionalism in Bioethics
Murray Altose, MD
- Chief of Staff, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- Professor of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University
- Interests: Health care quality improvement and systems redesign
Jessica Wilen Berg, JD
- Professor of Law; Professor of Bioethics; Professor of Public Health, Case Western Reserve University
- Interests: Bioethics and Law; Informed Consent and Advance Directives; Research Regulation; Assisted Reproductive Technologies, E-Medicine, Public Health
External Advisory Board
Christine Grady, RN, PhD, FAAN
Head, Section on Human Subjects Research, Department of Clinical Bioethics, National Institutes of Health
Mark Siegler, MD
Director, MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, The University of Chicago Medical Center
Jonathan Moreno, PhD
David and Lyn Silfen University Professor and Professor of Medical Ethics and the History and Sociology of Science, University of Pennsylvania
Arthur Kohrman, MD, FAAP
Professor Emeritus, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Bernard Lo, MD
Director, Program in Medical Ethics, University of California San Francisco
To apply, candidates must submit the following by December 15:
- A cover letter explaining your qualifications for this fellowship with a statement of your objectives.
- A current curriculum vitae including education and/or activities pertaining to bioethics.
- Three letters of recommendation, at least one commenting on your abilities as an adult learner (submitted directly)
- One to three examples of scholarly written work
Candidates must be citizens of the U.S. or permanent residents. Applications will not be considered until all materials are received. If you are accepted into the program, further documentation will be required including transcripts. Please send materials electronically (electronic applications are preferred) or in hard copy to:
Mary Adams
Fellowship Coordinator
Department of Bioethics
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
9500 Euclid Ave., JJ-60
Cleveland, OH 44195
adamsm@ccf.org
216.445.2739
Non-smoking hiring policy
To take further steps in preserving and improving the health of all its employees and patients, Cleveland Clinic has implemented a nonsmoking hiring policy requiring all job applicants and individuals receiving appointments to take a cotinine test during their pre-placement physical exam. This is a pre-employment test only. The cotinine test will detect the presence of nicotine in all forms of tobacco. Anyone testing positive will have their employment offer rescinded and receive a referral to a tobacco cessation program paid for by Cleveland Clinic.
