Ethics
Section Newsletter
Winter 2011

Useful Resources

For the Good of Us All: Ethically Rationing Health Resources in Minnesota in a Severe Influenza Pandemic

The Minnesota Pandemic Ethics Project report, For the Good of Us All: Ethically Rationing Health Resources in Minnesota in a Severe Influenza Pandemic, is now available at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/ethics/. The report offers ethical frameworks for rationing antivirals, N95 respirators, surgical masks, vaccines and mechanical ventilators.

American College of Dentists Professional Ethics Initiative

The American College of Dentists is an honorary for practicing dentists, founded in 1920 and strongly committed to ethics in the profession.  For the past three years the ACD has served as convener of the Professional Ethics Initiative in dentistry, a collaboration of professional organizations dedicated to raising ethics standards in dentistry.  We have four initiatives: (a) training programs for dentists in ethics and scholarships for those interested in pursuing masters level training; (b) a 50-hour online program for dental practices; and (c) a prototype interactive e-book in dental ethics featuring short topics, self-scoring inventories and resources.  There is also a collection of cases in formats ranging from written to video, with feedback and discussion and norms for how patients responded to the cases.  We are also looking for a partner organization that wishes to develop a self-assessment of the ethical climate for its own organization (not the members of it). Interested individuals can contact Dr. David W. Chambers, dchambers@pacific.edu.  We also invite you to Google American College of Dentists and click the link at the top of the page that says “Ethics.”

EthicShare.org

EthicShare.org is a new bioethics community resource developed through a partnership with scholars at the University of Minnesota, Indiana University, Georgetown University, Stanford University, University of Virginia and Mississippi State University. EthicShare.org is a research and collaboration website designed to help you conduct research, share, collaborate, and participate in the field of ethics. It provides a comprehensive collection of ethics materials including research materials, group discussions, current news articles and upcoming events. EthicShare automatically adds new research materials regularly, but users are also invited to help improve EthicShare by sharing citations, conference announcements, calls for papers and other suggestions.

Public Health Ethics and Disasters

Designed to provide students, educators and public health officials with a starting place for understanding common public health ethics issues in disasters. Visit the site at http://www.sph.unc.edu/ethics/public_health_ethics_in_disasters

Public Health and Social Justice

Contains articles, slide shows, syllabi and other documents relevant to topics in public health and social justice. Visit the site at http://phsj.org

Resources for Research Ethics Education

This website provides a wide variety of resources and tools for teachers of research ethics, with the goal of promoting best practices and evidence-based research ethics education. Visit the site at http://research-ethics.net/

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

The online Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a new entry on public health ethics, co-authored by one of the founding members of the Ethics SPIG, Dr. Ruth Faden. You can access the article here: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/publichealth-ethics/.

UNESCO Global Ethics Observatory (GEObs): Database on Resources in Ethics

The sixth GEObs Database on Resources in Ethics is freely accessible online to all Member States and the general public in the six official languages of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish). This new database is designed to reinforce ethics teaching, especially in regions where such activities are absent or minimal, by making resources in ethics available online through the GEObs. Ethics teachers and experts are invited to contribute to the content of this database in order to ensure that a wide variety of regional and cultural perspectives are represented. To send contributions or to request further information, e-mail geobs@unesco.org. To access the GEObs Database on Resources in Ethics directly, visit http://www.unesco.org/shs/ethics/geo/user/?action=search&lng=en&db=GEO6

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Upcoming Events

Public Health Ethics: Scientific Methods, Foundational Concepts, and Case Analyses (Hanover, Germany, Feb. 14-18, 2011)

Fordham University Interdisciplinary Conference: Moral Outrage and Moral Repair: Reflections on 9/11 and Its Afterlife (New York, N.Y., April 12, 2011)

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, debate over methods of preventing future harms while preserving our moral integrity has raised complex questions that touch upon issues of rights, redress and our common humanity. Featuring a distinguished multidisciplinary group of policy makers, theologians, legal scholars, moral philosophers and social scientists, this conference seeks to advance public dialogue and moral understandings as the country continues to grapple with these tensions.  Free and open to the public. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.fordham.edu/MoralOutrage

2011 ELSI Congress: Exploring the ELSI Universe (Chapel Hill, N.C., April 12-14, 2011)

The Center for Genomics and Society at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with research funding from the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications Research Program of the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health, will host next year’s ELSI Congress. This meeting of researchers and ethicists will explore a number of important questions, including: How has ELSI research expanded since 2008? What questions and issues take ELSI research beyond its original and/or recent foci? Does ELSI apply to scientific areas outside genomics? How effectively is ELSI expanding from medical research to medical practice applications? How and when does ELSI research cross disciplines effectively? How and when does ELSI research connect scientists and non-scientists effectively? For more information about the conference, visit the conference website at http://genomics.unc.edu/genomicsandsociety/html/elsicongress.html.

9th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Medical Humanities Consortium (Philadelphia, April 15-16, 2011)

The Ninth Annual Pennsylvania Medical Humanities Consortium meeting will be held at Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 N. Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19130, on Friday evening, April 15 through Saturday afternoon, April 16, 2011. This year’s theme will be: The Story of Health and Illness in Urban America. Meeting organizers are currently seeking abstracts of papers as well as proposals for panels, workshops, readings and performances that examine topics relevant to medicine and health care, preferably in the context of an urban environment. The approach should represent the orientation of at least one of the medical humanities (e.g. history, literature, art, bioethics, philosophy, religious studies, disabilities studies, sociology, psychology, gender studies, and anthropology). Proposals should be of interest to a general audience (e.g. health care providers, humanities scholars, laypersons, students), and serve as a departure point for lively discussion. Abstracts and proposals (one page) should be submitted electronically as an attachment in Word, or as a PDF file by January 31, 2011 to the review committee at: cubh@temple.edu, with the subject line ‘PMHC 2011 Proposal’.

Summer Workshop: Theories and Applications in Contemporary Ethics (Bronx, N.Y., May 24-26, 2011)

This intensive three-day graduate level course is designed to provide cross-disciplinary perspectives on moral theory and applied ethics. Using a team-teaching approach, this course brings together faculty from at least six different disciplines to provide foundational knowledge about moral theory with contemporary applications. In addition to seminars on foundations in moral philosophy, moral theology, and other fields, the course features lectures and case discussions on issues of current social importance.  Visit http://www.fordham.edu/EthicsCourse for more information about the workshop.

Seattle Children’s Pediatrics Bioethics Conference (Seattle, July 22-23, 2011)

Registration is currently open for the upcoming Seattle Children’s Pediatrics Bioethics Conference, entitled “Who's Responsible for the Children? Exploring the Boundaries of Clinical Ethics and Public Policy.” A distinguished panel of experts will address a range of challenging medical and social issues:

• Under what circumstances should individual providers or health care institutions extend medical care to children whose families cannot pay?

• Does a health care provider's responsibility extend beyond the walls of the clinic? What about contributing factors that affect health, such as diet, housing and education?

• How will health care reform affect our efforts to care for children?

The conference will be held in the vibrant city of Seattle in the picturesque Pacific Northwest. For more information visit seattlechildrens.org/bioethics. Set aside the date now and participate in this important and enlightening series of discussions.

Workshop for Junior Bioethics Scholars (Wake Forest, N.C., Sept. 22-24, 2011)

The Center for Bioethics, Health and Society at Wake Forest University is hosting a workshop for junior (untenured) faculty working in bioethics. This workshop will give these scholars an opportunity to present works-in-progress to scholars in bioethics and related fields. Junior faculty working in bioethics in the United States are invited to submit abstracts/summaries of 500-750 words of the proposed paper along with a curriculum vitae.  Papers should be works-in-progress that have not already been accepted for publication and that will not be submitted for publication until after the workshop at Wake Forest University. A committee of scholars will select three papers for presentation at the Junior Scholars in Bioethics Workshop.  Authors will be required to submit a full draft of the paper in advance of the workshop to allow peer reviewers sufficient time to read the papers and prepare their comments. The Center for Bioethics, Health and Society will reimburse advanced purchase coach airfare or mileage and provide lodging and meals for scholars whose works-in-progress are selected for presentation.  It is expected the scholars will be present to participate in the discussion of all papers. Abstracts/Summaries (500-750 words) and CVs should be emailed to Ana Iltis, PhD, (bioethics@wfu.edu) no later than April 1, 2011 for consideration.

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Recent SPIG Member Publications

Garrett JE, Vawter DE, Gervais KG, Prehn AW, DeBruin DA, Livingston F, Morley AM, Liaschenko J, Lynfield R. The Minnesota Pandemic Ethics Project: Sequenced, Robust Public Engagement Processes. Journal of Participatory Medicine 2011 Jan 19 (3): e6.

Jennings B. Biopower and the Liberationist Romance. Hastings Center Report 40(4): 16-20.

Philpott S, West Slevin K, Shapiro K, Heise L. Impact of Donor-imposed Requirements and Restrictions on Standards of Prevention and Access to Care and Treatment in HIV Prevention Trials. Public Health Ethics 2010 3(3): 220-8.

Philpott S, Heise L, McGrory E, Paxton L, Hankins C; the participants in the 2009 GCM/CDC/UNAIDS Consultation on Standards of Prevention in HIV Prevention Trials. The Challenge of Defining Standards of Prevention in HIV Prevention Trials. Journal of Medical Ethics doi:10.1136/jme.2010.037176.

Purdy S, Aagaard AW, Philpott S. Review, Approval and Marketing of Biosimilars in the United States. Part 2: Ethical Issues. BioProcess International 2011 9(1): 14-19.

Venkataramani AS, Maughan-Brown B, Nattrass N, Ruger JP. Social Grants, Welfare, and the Incentive to Trade-off Health for Income Among Individuals on HAART in South Africa. AIDS and Behavior 2010 14(6):1393-400.

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Job Openings and Fellowships

Research Assistant at the Hastings Center, Garrison N.Y. (Deadline: March 4, 2011).

The Hastings Center seeks applicants for the two-year position of Research Assistant, beginning in late summer 2011. The Hastings Center’s two Research Assistants provide research support to our projects and professional staff. The successful candidate will be trained by and work alongside the other Research Assistant, who has been in the job for one year. His or her responsibilities will include journal screening, literature and web-based searches, document retrieval, bibliographic and citation services, and preparation of detailed summaries of research project meetings.

Qualifications and key competencies include: a bachelor’s degree; good oral and written communication skills; familiarity with word-processing applications and citation management software as well as online bibliographic and document retrieval tools; flexibility in managing multiple ongoing tasks; and a willingness to work creatively and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment. Some experience in bioethics is highly desirable, but not required. The position is usually filled by a recent undergraduate. Graduate, post-graduate, or advanced/professional degree holders will not be considered for this position.

To apply, please send: a letter of application describing your background and interest in bioethics; a resume or CV; a relevant writing sample, such as a research paper (preferably 2-8 pages in length); a transcript of all undergraduate work (an internal, electronic transcript is acceptable); and names and contact information for two references. Electronic applications in PDF or DOC formats are preferred. Send all materials to: jobs@thehastingscenter.org and/or Research Assistant Search, The Hastings Center, 21 Malcolm Gordon Road, Garrison, NY 10524.

 

APHA Public Health Fellowship in Government (Deadline: April 4, 2011).

Applications for the APHA Public Health Fellowship in Government for 2012 are now being accepted. APHA is looking for candidates with strong public health credentials who wish to spend one year in Washington, D.C., working in a Congressional office on legislative and policy issues such as health, the environment or other public health concerns. The fellow will have the opportunity to see first-hand how public policy impacts public health and to offer their public health expertise to policymakers.

The fellowship will begin in January 2012 and continue through December 2012. Applications and additional information are available on the APHA website at http://www.apha.org/advocacy/fellowship/. The application, including CV and three letters of recommendation, are due to APHA by April 4, 2011. A committee of APHA leaders, former Fellows, and policy experts will review the applications and select the finalists.  All candidates must be APHA members, have a Masters degree or a doctorate in public health or a related discipline. In addition, all candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, have five years or more of professional experience in a public health setting. Internships, graduate assistantships and residencies do not count toward the five year requirement.

Rothman Institute of Philosophy Visiting Fellows Program (Deadline: Rolling).

The Rotman Institute of Philosophy (http://www.rotman.uwo.ca) invites applications to its Visiting Fellows Program for 2011-2012. The program offers scholars the opportunity to spend one or two semesters as part of an active, diverse and welcoming intellectual community working at the intersection of philosophy and the sciences. Applications are welcome from scholars holding doctoral degrees who are pursuing research projects that engage contemporary science from the perspectives of ethics, epistemology, history or policy.

Visiting Fellows have no formal duties beyond an active participation in the intellectual life of the Rotman Institute. They are encouraged to participate in the many reading groups, seminars, talks, workshops and other ongoing projects at the Rotman Institute, and to give talks introducing their own research projects to the Institute.  They are invited as well to take advantage of the broader activities of the Department of Philosophy including colloquia, conferences, and graduate seminars (with instructor permission). The University of Western Ontario’s Department of Philosophy is one of the most distinguished in Canada.

Each Visiting Fellow is provided with an office in the Rotman Institute of Philosophy equipped with a desktop computer; modest office and IT support; and full access to the library facilities and services of The University of Western Ontario. Visiting Fellows receive a supplementary stipend of $1,300 per month to help defray the cost of relocation. For more information, see http://www.rotman.uwo.ca/files/who/rotman-visitingfellow.pdf

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Important News

Call for Abstracts for the 2011 Annual APHA Meeting

This is a friendly reminder that the Call for Abstracts for the 2011 Annual Meeting is now open. The 2011 Annual Meeting will be held Oct. 29 – Nov. 2 in Washington, D.C. The theme of the meeting is “Healthy Communities Promote Healthy Minds and Bodies.” If you are submitting an abstract for a scientific presentation please remember the deadlines are the week of February 7-11 depending on which section or SPIG you submit your abstract to. The deadline for submissions to the Ethics SPIG is Friday, Feb. 11. No extensions of this deadline will be possible, so please submit your abstract as soon as possible. You can access the abstract submission form through the APHA website at http://www.apha.org/meetings or http://apha.confex.com/apha/139am/oasys.epl.

APHA Public Health Film Festival

The APHA Public Health Film Festival is now opened for submissions of U.S. and international films. The deadline for submitting a film is April 1, 2011. For more detailed information on the Film Festival as well as how to submit a film you may log on to http://apha.confex.com/apha/139am/ff.htm or contact Gary Black for U.S. film submissions  at Gary.Black@mecklenburgcountync.gov and/or Amina Khan for international film submissions at aminak_khan@yahoo.com.

Call for Book Prospectus and Editors

The Society for Public Health Education, in collaboration with APHA, is seeking proposals for a new Health Communication Handbook for public health professionals.  The expected time frame for publication of the book is 2012. The deadline for applications is April 1, 2011. For more information, visit http://www.apha.org/NR/exeres/D83BE73F-2518-4977-93D0-9085D8105744,frameless.htm?NRMODE=Published

Public Health Ethics Still Available at a Special Discount for Ethics SPIG Members

Ethics SPIG members continue to receive a $32 discount on annual subscriptions to the journal Public Health Ethics. The top-ranked, peer-reviewed international journal has a focus on the systematic analysis of the moral problems that arise in public health and preventive medicine. The journal combines theoretical and practical work from many different fields, notably philosophy, law, and politics, but also epidemiology and the medical sciences. For more information about the journal, and to subscribe, visit http://www.oxfordjournals.org/our_journals/phe/access_purchase/price_list.html. The $32 savings on the usual print subscription more than covers the cost of joining the Ethics SPIG as an affiliate member, so encourage your friends and colleagues to join the Ethics SPIG.

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Exciting Opportunities

Call for Proposals: 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (Deadline: March 1, 2011).

Proposals for the 13th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities, ASBH, are currently being accepted. Details regarding the call can be found on the ASBH homepage (www.asbh.org). There you will find a link to the abstract submission site as well as a PDF containing the submission guidelines, including instructions for the Student Paper Competition and a invitation to submit a pre-conference workshop proposal.

The theme for the 2011 ASBH annual conference, "Generation(s) and Transformation(s)," invites participants to explore and analyze all aspects of the concepts of “generation” — from pediatrics to geriatrics, as well as generative and regenerative practices in medicine — and “transformation,” from a focus on the changing landscape of health care reform to the development of cutting-edge technologies.  The medical humanities and bioethics have themselves played a role in generating new ideas and transforming practices within health care. Further, both disciplines now have “generations” of practitioners, complete with such issues as generational change/conflict/collaboration and legacies.  We invite scholars in the medical humanities and bioethics to submit papers, panels, and workshops that examine not only health care practices involving patients young and old, but also explore generation(s) and transformation(s) in light of policy implications, education of learners at all levels, and critical analysis of the disciplines of medical humanities and bioethics.

Twenty-First Annual APHA Public Health Materials Contest (Deadline: March 25, 2011)

The APHA Public Health Education and Health Promotion section is soliciting the best health education, promotion and communication materials for the 21st annual competition. The contest provides a forum to showcase public health materials during the APHA Annual Meeting and recognizes professionals for their hard work.

All winners will be selected by panels of expert judges prior to the 139th APHA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. A session will be held at the Annual Meeting to recognize winners, during which one representative from the top materials selected in each category will give a presentation about the winning materials.

Entries will be accepted in three categories; printed materials, electronic materials and other materials. Entries for the contest are due by March 25, 2011. Please contact Stephanie Parsons at sparsons@jhsph.edu for additional contest entry information.

Call for Papers: Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics (Deadline: Rolling).

Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics: A Journal of Qualitative Research, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, provides a forum for exploring current issues in bioethics through the publication and analysis of personal stories, qualitative and mixed methods research articles, and case studies. Articles may address the experiences of patients and research participants, as well as health care workers and researchers. NIB seeks to publish articles that will appeal to a broad readership of health care providers and researchers, bioethicists, sociologists, policy makers, and others.

NIB invites three kinds of contributions: Personal Stories; Qualitative Research Studies; and Case Studies. For more information, visit the NIB website at http://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/narrative_inquiry_in_bioethics/

Call for Papers: Ethics and the Environment (Deadline: Rolling)

Ethics and the Environment, an international journal, provides an interdisciplinary forum for theoretical and practical articles, discussions, and book reviews in the broad area encompassed by environmental philosophy. Possible topics include conceptual approaches in ecological philosophy, such as ecological feminism and deep ecology, as they apply to issues such as cloning, genetically modified organisms, new reproductive technology, war and militarism, environmental education and management, ecological economics, and ecosystem health. Manuscripts may be submitted as word files at any time via e-mail to eande@uga.edu. To view recent issues, visit http://inscribe.iupress.org/loi/ete.

Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Science Studies (Deadline: Rolling).

As part of a multi-year collaborative project between New York University, UCSD, and The Woodrow Wilson School's Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Program at Princeton University, NYU’s Environmental Studies Program is seeking a post-doctoral fellow to examine the scientific assessments regarding acid precipitation, the epistemologies on which they have relied, and the controversies which they have engendered. The ideal fellow should have a PhD in history and philosophy of science or a closely related field, and sufficient scientific background and interest to understand the technical issues at stake in the scientific evaluations. The initial appointment will be for one year, with the expectation of renewal based on performance and available funding. The successful candidate will be based primarily at NYU. Research could begin anytime after Sept. 1, 2010, contingent on final approval of NSF funding. Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should send a CV and a cover letter describing their areas of expertise and interest via email to Zahra.Ali@NYU.edu.

Professors Beyond Borders (Deadline: Open).

A new not-for-profit organization, Professors Beyond Borders, was launched on April 26 with the goal of sending faculty members abroad to promote public health and sustainability, and to build infrastructure that will help developing and disadvantaged nations. Interested in participating? Visit their website at http://professorsbeyondborders.com.

The Bioethics Program of Union Graduate College and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Master of Science in Research Ethics (Deadline: Open).

The Bioethics Program now offers a Master of Science in Bioethics with a specialization in Research Ethics. The first program of its kind in the United States, this new Master’s degree gives research professionals the knowledge and skills necessary to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Graduates of the program are uniquely positioned to advance ethical research, educate their peers, and inform and influence the national debate on research design, review, and oversight.

Through a combination of online courses and on-site practica, students gain an in-depth understanding of the ethical issues behind the rules and regulations that govern research, as well as hands-on experience in applying that knowledge to real-world situations. As a result, students graduate with background and skills they can draw on throughout their careers, whether they design and conduct research studies, develop policies and standards, or administer or oversee large research programs.

The new graduate program in research ethics uses a proven distance-learning model, designed to meet the needs of working professionals who have few opportunities to enroll in on-site courses. Most courses are taught on-line by internationally recognized experts in bioethics. Students also complete an intensive on-site proseminar, competency-based online and on-site practica, an on-site capstone assessment, and individualized Master’s projects.

For more information, or to apply for the 2011 or 2012 class, please visit http://bioethics.union.edu.

Fordham University Master of Arts in Ethics and Society (Deadline: Open)

The Master of Arts in Ethics and Society offers a unique cross-disciplinary curriculum in moral theory and applied ethics from humanities and social and natural sciences that provides students with the knowledge and skills to study, inform and shape a just society. The field practicum offers opportunities to shadow professionals engaged in ethical decision-making.  For more information and to apply, please visit www.fordham.edu/EthicsandSociety .

AMA-MCW Online Fellowship in Physician Ethics and Professionalism (Deadline: Open).

The Ethics Resource Center at the American Medical Association, together with the Medical College of Wisconsin's Graduate Program in Bioethics, sponsors an Online Fellowship in Physician Ethics and Professionalism. This program is a unique opportunity for physicians on Institutional Review Boards, Privacy Boards, and ethics committees or for those who want to learn more about applied ethics. Our online program is current, comprehensive, and convenient, with courses taught by expert faculty from the American Medical Association, MCW, and around the world. Fellows participate in online masters-level courses on topics such as: The history of medical professionalism; common clinical ethics dilemmas; the ethics of scientific and medical research; and the relationships between ethics, philosophy, and law. You will also have the opportunity to meet leaders in bioethics and policy making during the annual meeting of the American Medical Association's House of Delegates in Chicago and learn how the American Medical Association establishes ethics policy and the code of ethics that sets the standard for physician professionalism. For further information, please e-mail ethicsfellowship@ama-assn.org or call (312) 464-4540.

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A Letter from the Ethics SPIG Chair

A Letter From the Ethics SPIG Chair:

I am very pleased to begin another year working with all of you in the APHA Ethics SPIG. I want to thank last year’s chair, Jennifer Ruger, for her leadership and service. As incoming chair, I look forward to a year of continued success and some exciting new developments for the SPIG.

2011 Annual Meeting. The Ethics SPIG Executive Committee (chiefly our program chair, Sean Philpott) has already begun work to put together the program for the upcoming 139 ^th APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition held in Washington, D.C., Oct. 29-Nov. 2, 2011. The theme for 2011 is “Healthy Communities Promote Healthy Minds and Bodies.” The abstract submission process has begun. All abstracts must be submitted online. An easy to use online form will walk you through the process step-by-step. The site is now open so you may link directly to the abstract submission form through the APHA website at http://www.apha.org/meetings or http://apha.confex.com/apha/139am/oasys.epl. I encourage you to plan to attend this meeting and to take an active part in the Ethics SPIG portion of the program by submitting an abstract for review, and by attending the Ethics SPIG sessions while you are at the meeting.

2010 Annual Meeting. Glancing back, it seems only a short time ago that many of us were gathered in Denver. I would like to thank everyone who submitted and reviewed abstracts for the 2010 Annual Meeting on Social Justice. This was a terrific opportunity to highlight the core subject matter of our SPIG, and our membership and others in the area of public health ethics responded magnificently. In my opinion, last year’s meeting was one of the best collections of presentations and most rigorous and high level panel sessions that we have ever sponsored. I have no doubt that we will keep this momentum going and will offer an excellent program for the 2011 Annual Meeting as well.

Communications. The Ethics SPIG is primarily a network for the sharing of scholarly and professional information and ideas. We are continuously trying to enhance our communications capabilities. We have taken part in APHA’s Leadership Communication strategy, which aims to create an more effective internal communication tool for APHA as a whole. If you use Facebook or LinkedIn, please join the Ethics SPIG pages on those sites, which are places to share ideas and information, to post and search for job opportunities, and to engage in discussion and debate with your colleagues on current events and trends in public health ethics.

Membership. Just a note on membership to let you know that our SPIG is growing! As of November 2010 we have 185 members. We are grateful to you for your efforts in reaching out to your respective colleagues and communities. We are delighted with the response we are receiving. Thank you to last year’s membership chair, Andrea Kalfoglou, and to our incoming Membership Co-Chairs Kathy Powderly and Erika Blacksher.

The Beginning of a New Chapter in the Ethics SPIG Story. Our steady membership growth is moving us toward “Section” status in APHA. We may well reach this goal in 2011 or 2012. This is important for several reasons. It will provide some funds to enhance our portion of the Annual Meeting program. It will give us a new role in the governance of APHA, which will require that we develop our organizational capacity to govern ourselves and to develop positions on policy matters that affect the APHA and the public health community.

In all this, the Ethics SPIG will evolve beyond the loose network of shared interests that it has been thus far. In addition to developing new organizational capacity and functions, we will have opportunities to collaborate in activities pertaining to public health ethics research and education. One such initiative that may be interesting and promising is for us to partner with the CDC,  ASTHO, ASPH, and others in a newly formed Public Health Ethics Consortium. One of the most distinctive and important aspects of the APHA Ethics SPIG is that we bridge the gap between the public health academic and practice communities in the area of ethics. I believe that it is important for the fields of ethics to remain interdisciplinary and practice/policy-oriented. Public health ethics must have a life beyond the disciplinary journals, the governmental commissions, and even beyond the classroom if it is to be a voice for justice and human rights in our society.

Annual Business Meeting. All Ethics SPIG members attending this year’s Annual Meeting are encouraged to attend the Ethics SPIG Business Meeting. This is your opportunity to help set the course for the future of the Ethics SPIG and to help select upcoming Ethics SPIG leaders and liaisons. We are particularly interested in developing closer and stronger ties with the other APHA Sections and SPIGs. If you are interested in volunteering as a liaison, please submit a paragraph about your background so we can create a candidate roster.

Questions? Here are some additional contacts:

For questions about membership contact: Kathleen Powderly (kathleen.powderly@downstate.edu) or Erika Blacksher (eb2010@uw.edu)

For questions about the 2011 Annual Meeting program contact Program Chair Sean Philpott (philpots@mail.uniongraduatecollege.edu).

If you have any news, announcements, job openings, or information you would like to share with other members of the Ethics SPIG, please contact Newsletter Editor Sean Philpott via e-mail at philpots@mail.uniongraduatecollege.edu. We are also soliciting nominations for a new newsletter editor, so that Sean can focus on planning the Ethics SPIG activities for the 2011 Annual Meeting.

If there is anything you would like to include on the Facebook page, please send an e-mail to Sean Philpott (philpots@mail.uniongraduatecollege.edu). For information about the Ethics SPIG on our website (see address below) contact Kirk Allison (alli0001@umn.edu).

We hope for your continued participation in the Ethics SPIG. I welcome and invite your thoughts concerning the work of the Ethics SPIG.

I wish you a pleasant and productive year and hope to see you in Washington, D.C., this November.

Sincerely,

Bruce Jennings

2011 Chair - APHA Ethics SPIG

brucejennings@humansandnature.org

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Submissions for the Spring 2011 Newsletter

Have something you’d like to include in the Spring 2011 newsletter? Contact the newsletter editor, Sean Philpott, at philpots@mail.uniongraduatecollege.edu.

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