Talent needed: Join the Ethics Consultation Service

The Department of Humanities is looking for talented people with advanced training in medical ethics to join the Ethics Consultation Service for Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Eligibility requires advanced training in clinical or medical ethics – which may take the form of a master’s degree or PhD, or in some cases completion of a certificate program.

The Ethics Consultation Service (ECS) is a clinical service that responds to questions (typically from clinicians) regarding ethical concerns about the care of specific patients. The purpose of an ethics consultation is to help clinicians systematically examine the ethical dimensions of the case at hand, brainstorm creative options and alternatives, facilitate discussion, and (when indicated) offer guidance about ethically appropriate treatment options. Issues that are often the subject of clinical ethics consultations include withholding or withdrawing treatment, surrogate decision-making, advance care planning, decision-making capacity and futility.

The current members of the ECS are Drs. Michael Freeman, Michelle Freeman, Michael Green, Benjamin Levi and LJ Van Scoy, and the director, Rebecca Volpe, PhD. The team takes call Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.; 3% FTE is provided for each day of call.

Serving on the ECS helps meet an important institutional need while also offering team members an opportunity for professional growth.

The successful applicants will have a strong educational background in bioethics, excellent written and oral communication skills, and experience effectively managing conflict.

Those interested should apply to Rebecca Volpe at rvolpe@pennstatehealth.psu.edu with their CV and a cover letter explaining their interest and qualifications.

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