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Requirements

Medical Student Bioethics Education Requirements

All medical students are required to attend FOUR (4) Ethics Grand Rounds sponsored by the Neiswanger Institute by the end of their third year and submit a passing (P/F) Ethics Case Analysis Paper during the spring semester of the third year.

The Bioethics Institute also offers:

  • Elective Courses
    • Bioethics & Professionalism: Social Justice and Underserved Minorities (BP433)
    • Honors Program in Bioethics & Professionalism Capstone Elective (HON401)
  • MD/MA Joint Degree in Bioethics and Health Policy
  • Physician's Vocation Program - a four-year formation experience for medical students interested in exploring one's self-identity at the intersection of faith and medicine.
  • Professional Development Milestone - meets the needs of biomedical sciences graduate students who want to explore their social identity as scientists, develop skills in management, communications, and advocacy, and begin thinking about the social and ethical implications of their work.
  • Bioethics & Professionalism Honors Program

Bioethics and professionalism honors program

Purpose

Drawing on its Jesuit and Catholic heritage, the Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM) encourages the development of the character and intellect of its students and has a culture of excellence in professionalism. Many SSOM students are active in a self-directed curriculum related to bioethics, health policy, service, leadership, and professionalism. The honors program provides a context in which students develop this self-directed curriculum into a scholarly capstone project with the help of a faculty advisor.

Program aims

  1. To foster the character, intellect, and professionalism of the students.
  2. To provide exposure to foundational issues in bioethics and professionalism.
  3. To guide students as they integrate Jesuit values, such as social justice, with their bioethics and professionalism goals through development and completion of a capstone project.

Students who complete this program are recognized with departmental honors administered by the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics. The outstanding record of achievement of these students is recognized in the following manners:

  1. Dean's letter recommending the student for residency.
  2. A listing of the successful completion of the Honors program on the student's final transcript.
  3. Recognition at graduation.

Overview

In January of the first year of medical school (M1), students interested in entering the Bioethics and Professionalism Honors Program submit their application. Students are assigned an advisor from the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics who will help guide them as they set goals for their capstone project and reflect on them.  To be and remain eligible for the Honors Program, a student must be in good academic standing and uphold professional standards in keeping with those of the Stritch School of Medicine and Loyola University Chicago. Good academic standing is generally construed to mean that a student has not failed a course during the first or second year of medical school or needed remediation in more than one clerkship. To earn honors at graduation, the student must complete all the required activities and assignments by the end of their M3 year.

Required activities

  1. Bioethics Boot Camp: Students must attend 7 foundational bioethics seminars during the Spring of their M1 year. Topics are likely to include principles of bioethics, informed consent and capacity, pediatric ethics, research ethics, end-of-life issues, Catholic social bioethics, and ethics consultation and committees.
  2. Portfolio entries including goals and reflections each year. Goals should be formulated with an eye toward enhancing the student’s self-directed curriculum in bioethics and professionalism. The reflections help the student evaluate how they are progressing toward completing their capstone project and evolving as a future member of the medical profession. Reflections will be submitted at the end of the M2 and M3 years.
  3. Literature Review:  Students will complete an annotated literature review of their capstone topic in their M2 year. 
  4. Twenty-four (24) hours per year of activities related to bioethics and professionalism. (see list below). These service activities regularly provide ideas and a context for the development of a capstone project.
    • Participation in activities of the Bioethics Interest Group (B.I.G.) or other specialty specific interest groups
    • Participation in student mentoring programs
    • Participation in multi-profession activities
    • Participation in an International Service Immersion trip
    • Participation in other service activities, e.g., Quinn Center, free clinic, volunteer work at the Community Health Center, Street Medicine, Center for Community& Global Health, etc.
    • Students are encouraged to suggest activities to be included to Katherine Wasson, PhD, MPH, and their advisors.

5. Ethics Grand Rounds*: Student are required to attend four (4) Ethics Grand Rounds by the end of their third year. These are in addition to the SSOM requirement of four (4) Ethics Grand Rounds for all students. This means Bioethics and Professionalism Honors Program students must attend a total of eight (4+4) Ethics Grand Rounds sessions. (*New Requirements for the Class of 2027.)

6. Ethics Committee Meeting*: Students must attend one (1) Loyola University Medical Center Ethics Committee meeting. These meetings are typically held virtually on the third Thursday of each month from 1:00-2:00 PM. (Contact Robbin Hiller rhiller@luc.edu). (*New Requirements for the Class of 2027.)

7. Capstone Project: The goal of the capstone project is to develop a topic, issue, case or formative experience into a scholarly project.  There are four types of projects that fulfill the Capstone requirement: Empirical/Clinical, Service, Pedagogical/Educational and Conceptual.  The Capstone Projects must be completed and presented by the end of M3 for students to receive recognition in their Dean's letter for residency application.

To enroll and participate in the honors program

We are now accepting applications. Complete the Honors Application Form 2023. E-mail the completed form to Bill Schmilkewschmilke@luc.edu by Friday, January 13, 2023.

Class Years

CLASS OF 2025

Digication login link
Portfolio resource website (the sample ePortfolios and help guides are on this page).

Class of 2025-M1 Year Requirements

January 14, 2022 - Deadline to submit Application Form to enter Honors Program (Katherine Wasson, PhD, MPH).   

Bioethics Boot Camp Session March-April 2022: (Students are required to attend all sessions in their M1 Year).

March-April 2022 - Upload your Statement of Purpose.

April 2022 - Deadline to complete Bioethics Boot Camp (scroll down for the schedule).               

June 2022 - Deadline for entering end of Year 1 Reflection on previous year's activities.

Class of 2025-M2 Year Requirements

September 2022 - Deadline for entering Goals for Year 2.

March 2023 - Deadline to submit Literature Review.

June 2023 - Deadline for entering Year 2 Reflection.

Class of 2025-M3 Year Requirements

September 2023 - Deadline for entering Goals for Year 3.

November-December 2023 - Meet with your Advisor to Finalize Capstone Project.

January 2024 - Deadline to submit Capstone Project Proposals.

April 2024- Deadline to submit Conceptual Papers.

June 2024 - Capstone Presentations of Honors Projects.

June 2024 - Deadline for entering final Year 3 reflection.

CLASS OF 2026

Digication login link
Portfolio resource website (the sample ePortfolios and help guides are on this page).

Class of 2025-M1 Year Requirements

January 13, 2023 - Deadline to submit Application Form to enter Honors Program (Katherine Wasson, PhD, MPH).   

Bioethics Boot Camp Session: (Students are required to attend all sessions in their M1 Year).

Bootcamps Completed.

March-April 2023 - Upload your Statement of Purpose.

April 2023 - Deadline to complete Bioethics Boot Camp.               

June 2023 - Deadline for entering end of Year 1 Reflection on previous year's activities.

Class of 2026-M2 Year Requirements

September 2023 - Deadline for entering Goals for Year 2.

March 2024 - Deadline to submit Literature Review.

June 2024 - Deadline for entering Year 2 Reflection.

Class of 2026-M3 Year Requirements

September 2024 - Deadline for entering Goals for Year 3.

November-December 2024 - Meet with your Advisor to Finalize Capstone Project.

January 2025 - Deadline to submit Capstone Project Proposals.

April 2025- Deadline to submit Conceptual Papers.

June 2025 - Capstone Presentations of Honors Projects.

June 2025 - Deadline for entering final Year 3 reflection.

CLASS OF 2027

PROCESS: Students will upload required assignments into a portfolio and faculty will comment on them. Below is the outline for students in the class of 2027.

CLASS of 2027 M1 Year

January 12, 2024 - Deadline to submit Application Form to enter Honors Program.

February 2024 - Upload Statement of Purpose.

February - April 2024 - Attend 7 Bioethics Boot Camps. 

May - June 2024 - Meet with Faculty Advisor to discuss bioethics and professionalism activities, interests and goals for the program, primarily the capstone project.

24 Hours Professional Service Activities.

CLASS of 2027 M2 Year

August - September 2024 - Meet with faculty advisor to refine and develop capstone project and goals.

October 2024 -  Submit revised goals.

February 2025 - Literature Review on capstone topic.

April 2025 - End of Year Reflection on goals and capstone project.

July - August 2025 - Meet with your Advisor to Finalize Capstone Project.

24 Hours Professional Service Activities.

CLASS of 2027 M3 Year

September 2025 - Submit final goals.

September 2025 - Submit final capstone project description and plan.

April 2026- Deadline to submit Conceptual Papers.

May 2026 - Complete capstone presentation.

June 2026 - Submit final reflection (video option).

June 2026 - Submit 1 minute capstone video.

June - July 2026 - Dean’s letter description of capstone project.

24 Hours Professional Service Activities.

All medical students are required to attend FOUR (4) Ethics Grand Rounds sponsored by the Neiswanger Institute by the end of their third year and submit a passing (P/F) Ethics Case Analysis Paper during the spring semester of the third year.

The Bioethics Institute also offers:

  • Elective Courses
    • Bioethics & Professionalism: Social Justice and Underserved Minorities (BP433)
    • Honors Program in Bioethics & Professionalism Capstone Elective (HON401)
  • MD/MA Joint Degree in Bioethics and Health Policy
  • Physician's Vocation Program - a four-year formation experience for medical students interested in exploring one's self-identity at the intersection of faith and medicine.
  • Professional Development Milestone - meets the needs of biomedical sciences graduate students who want to explore their social identity as scientists, develop skills in management, communications, and advocacy, and begin thinking about the social and ethical implications of their work.
  • Bioethics & Professionalism Honors Program

Bioethics and professionalism honors program

To enroll and participate in the honors program

We are now accepting applications. Complete the Honors Application Form 2023. E-mail the completed form to Bill Schmilkewschmilke@luc.edu by Friday, January 13, 2023.

Class Years