Medical Education

The Scholarly Concentration in Clinical Ethics at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) provides medical students with an opportunity to explore the ethical dimensions of clinical practice. It integrates philosophical, legal and medical perspectives to help students navigate complex moral decisions in health care. Using a structured method for analyzing clinical dilemmas, students will engage in case studies and participate in real-world ethics consultations. This concentration aims to build critical thinking, ethical reasoning and communication skills, essential for handling challenging medical situations.

What will students learn about in this program?

• Clinical ethical decision-making processes
• The 4-box method of ethical analysis
• Case studies on real-world ethical dilemmas in health care
• Involvement with hospital ethics committees
• Ethical issues in palliative care, hospice and other medical fields
• Legal, philosophical and clinical perspectives on medical ethics
• Scholarly presentations and academic writing on ethics

Students will also have the opportunity to attend local hospital ethics committee meetings and participate in clinical ethics consultations. Additionally, they will complete a scholarly project, which can be presented as a poster or submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.

For more information, please contact course coordinator, Robert Fulbright, J.D., M.A.