CAREER PATH OPTIONS: BIOETHICS bs.com



CAREER PATH OPTIONS: BIOETHICSCareer Design LabColumbia University School of Professional StudiesCareer Path AreasMedical ProfessionalCompliance Coordinator (IRB/IACUC)ConsultantLegal Non-Profit/Patient AdvocacyHealthcare IndustryPublishingResearch/Think-TankAdditional Items:Professional AssociationsJob BoardsSupplemental LinksBioethics is an emerging field, and career paths for bioethicists are similarly emerging. Although few jobs have the title of “bioethicist” many incorporate the knowledge and experience gained from earning a degree in bioethics. This document provides ideas of various career paths a Bioethics student can pursue after graduation, the types of employers you could work for, skills you’ll need, resources available, and other relevant information to help you on your career path.Medical ProfessionalOverviewA degree in bioethics will be put to use every day as you help treat patients and deal with the ethical issues that arise in doing so. Many students use the degree as a supplement to improve their medical school applications and/or to advance their careers when practicing medicine. Additional education/certification will be required, whether in the form of medical school and residency, nursing school, paramedic certification, or other training.Sample JobTitles?Physician?Surgeon?Pediatrician?Registered Nurse?Nurse Practitioner?Nursing Assistant?Licensed Practical Nurse?Physician Assistant?Anesthesiologist?Paramedic?Therapist?Speech-Language Pathologist?Psychiatrist?NutritionistSkills?Foundational knowledge of the hard sciences (biology, chemistry, mathematics/physics)?Stamina to complete long and physically demanding shifts?Ability to interact with patients and families in a professional and compassionate manner?Rapid problem-solving and decision-making skills ?Attention to detail, particularly regarding diagnosis and treatment of patientsTypes ofEmployers?Hospitals?Physician’s Offices?Clinics?Universities?Government?Non-ProfitsCoursesColumbia University MD Coursework: Online Healthcare Courses: Coordinator (IRB/IACUC) OverviewEvery organization that receives funding from the US federal government to conduct human or vertebrate-animal research must, by law, review all proposed research and approve it as ethically sound. Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) perform this task and are one of the most common jobs available for students with bioethics degrees.Sample JobTitlesIRB CoordinatorIACUC CoordinatorHuman Research Protection CoordinatorResearch Compliance SpecialistRegulatory Compliance SpecialistSkillsKnowledge of federal regulations including the Common Rule, HIPAA, HREA, AWA, PHS Policy, and more.Knowledge of clinical research and familiarity with medical terminology.Ability to work in a team.Strong organizational skills.Excellent written and oral communication skills.Individual Stories from Human Subjects Protections Professionals: ofEmployersHospitalsUniversitiesFederal agencies engaged in research (e.g. NASA, Veterans Administration)Independent (private) IRBsContract Research OrganizationsSome large tech companies (e.g. Facebook)CoursesBioethics IRB Internship: Educational Programs:(IRB)_Coordinator/Salary/e7cdca89/Entry-LevelConsultant OverviewConsulting firms advise businesses and other organizations develop and implement strategies to achieve their goals. You will work with numerous clients, learn about their particular circumstances/challenges, and, as part of a team, execute those solutions. Healthcare consulting is a significant industry, and many of the largest consulting firms are always hiring entry-level Associates with a Masters degree.Sample JobTitlesHealth compliance specialistClinical consultantHealthcare technology consultantPhysician consultantHealth economics consultantNurse consultantAssociateConsultantProject LeaderPrincipalPartnerManaging Director & PartnerSkillsExcellent critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, including the ability to think on your feet.Strong communication skills.Ability to multitask and work under pressure.Willingness to travel frequently and work long hours.Basic understanding of business finance and accounting principles.Strategies to get into consulting: ofEmployersTop 20 Healthcare Consulting Firms: and the Pharmaceutical Industry, Health Policy and Bioethics:()Consulting Foundations:(Columbia students have free access to )Salary and regulations around healthcare are constantly changing, and a degree in bioethics can be a major boost for legal professionals with an interest in health and medicine. For aspiring lawyers, law school and passing a state bar exam will be necessary to practice in the United States. Other roles, such as a paralegal, still require certification but are less demanding.Sample JobTitlesAssociateParalegalLegal AssistantLaw ClerkLitigation Support ProfessionalPartnerSkillsExcellent oral and written communication skillsHighly organizedStrong analytical and logical thinkingCapability to perform legal researchKnowledge of substantive law and legal procedureClient-service focusTime managementAbility to work as part of a team and take directionWhy become a healthcare lawyer?’s it like to be a healthcare lawyer? ofEmployersLaw firms systemsCoursesLaw L6355, Health Law: GU4161, Ethics in Biopharma Patent/Regulatory Law: Law School Course Catalog: AdvocacyOverviewNon-profit organizations in healthcare help fill a variety of unmet needs. Some are focused on specific diseases or disease categories, others improve accessibility for people in need, and a handful seek to reform the system itself. Websites such as can help you discover non-profit organizations relevant to your interests. In many cases a degree in bioethics will earn you serious consideration, but a connection to the organization’s particular area of focus (whether through personal experience, work/volunteer background, or academic research) is also important.Sample JobTitlesProgram AssociateProject ManagerCommunity Outreach AssociateMembership CoordinatorCase ManagerCounselorSocial WorkerSkillsThe specific skills required will vary widely based upon the type of job performed. The following source offers useful general skills for a career in the non-profit world: ofEmployersNon-profits vary widely in the services they perform. Some of the most common healthcare nonprofit tasks include:Education (public, patients, providers)Patient Advocacy/organizingImprove access to treatmentDevelop new treatmentsProvide treatment in particular casesLobbyingLargest Health Non-profits: Nonprofit Management Courses: Industry (Insurance, Hospital, Pharmaceutical) OverviewHelp address ethical issues from the inside. Industry is highly motivated to regulate itself by rectifying ethical lapses or, better yet, preventing them in the first place. Jobs in this area typically involve compliance work, patient interaction and advocacy, and/or corporate social responsibility.Sample JobTitlesJob titles: skills you need will depend on the particular aspect of the industry you are looking to join. We recommend meeting with the Career Design Lab to discuss your specific area of interest and the skills needed.Types ofEmployersHealth systems Companies and Life Insurance CompaniesMedical Device/Equipment CompaniesCoursesEthics and the Pharmaceutical Industry: Business School Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Management Program: and the Medical Humanities are increasingly common topics of publication. Many publishing houses, university presses, and in some cases academic journals are hiring in Bioethics and related fields.Sample JobTitlesBook EditorCopy EditorPublicistProduction EditorMarketerCopy WriterMedical WriterScientific WriterTechnical WriterProofreaderSkillsExceptional writing/editing skillsProofreading for spelling and grammarStructureStyleRange of vocabulary and knowledge of relevant terminologyAbility to collaborate well with others and perform as a teamStrong research skills and capacity to learn about new topicsFamiliarity with advanced features of word processing toolsYou will also benefit greatly from having a portfolio of completed projects/your own writing samples available.Medical Writing Skills: ofEmployersLargest publishers: Presses: Voices in Bioethics: Journalism Courses: Tank OverviewThink Tanks are organizations that evaluate existing policies and develop proposals for new ones. Working for one requires both breadth and depth of knowledge in a particular field, and bioethicists are well-suited to this work in healthcare think tanks. If you consider yourself a policy wonk this could be the career path for you.Sample JobTitlesResearch Associate/Assistant/AnalystPolicy FellowGraduate FellowPolitical Affairs OfficerRegulatory Policy Project ManagerProgram ManagerSkillsHighly effective and efficient researcher with solid foundational knowledge of healthcare as an industryStrong written and oral communication skillsOrganized and self-reliantAbility to collaborate with a teamDesire to network with new contactsComfortable with public-speaking/presentationsKnowledge of a foreign languageThink-tanks are frequently partisan organizations with explicit political leanings. You will want to confirm that the organization’s philosophy does not conflict with yours. Types ofEmployersMajor Health Policy Think Tanks: Policy and Bioethics: Mailman – Health Policy and Management Courses: ItemsJob BoardsThese links list dozens to hundreds of specific job opportunities that broadly fall under bioethicsPublic Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) Career Center Bioethics Jobs Hastings Center Jobs & Fellowships Bioethics Jobs Journal of Bioethics/ Jobs Board Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH) Career Center Associations & Networking OpportunitiesPublic Responsibility in Medicine and ResearchThe American College of Healthcare ExecutivesAmerican Society for Bioethics and HumanitiesGreater New York Hospital AssociationHealthcare Information and Management Systems SocietyAmerican Society for Healthcare Risk ManagementAmerican Society for Law, Medicine, and EthicsAssociation for Politics and the Life SciencesNational Committee for Quality AssuranceNetwork of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and AdministrationAmerica's Health Insurance PlansSupplementalLinksWe recommend you watch the following Careers in Bioethics presentations: Bioethics Alumni Panel: resources: ................
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