Full-time Clinical Ethics Fellowship

The full-time Clinical Ethics Fellowship training is intended to provide the scholar with an immersive and rigorous experience. Full-time fellows will not only participate fully in the part-time fellowship described below, but they will also be fully immersed in the activities of the MacLean Center for an entire year. Full-time clinical ethics fellows will engage in ongoing mentored clinical ethics research with MacLean Center faculty. They will regularly round in hospital units to facilitate interactions between clinicians and ethics consultants. There is also the possibility of extending the fellowship to a second year.

Program Structure

The program begins with a four-to-five-week, full-time Summer Intensive Clinical Ethics Course beginning in July. During the Summer Intensive, fellows attend 3-4 seminars daily for small group sessions to obtain the foundational background in multiple areas of clinical medical ethics including:

• clinical ethics consultations
• pediatric ethics
• surgical ethics
• reproductive ethics
• how to reduce health disparities and advance health equity
• transplantation ethics
• multiple other topics.

Following the Summer Intensive, with faculty supervision, full-time fellows will engage in ethics consultations and rounding on designated inpatient hospital units. They will also participate with faculty in mentored clinical ethics research. Research could be quantitative empirical bioethics and/or analytic explorations of critical clinical ethics topics.

In addition to the activities noted above that will be throughout the year, from September to June, fellows will also formally meet one day a week on Wednesdays along with the part-time fellows for a structured ethics curriculum including

• Topics in Clinical Medical Ethics
• Introduction to Moral Philosophy
• Research-in-Progress seminars.

Eligibility

We welcome those interested in clinical medical ethics from any perspective, including medicine, philosophy, nursing, and the social sciences. This program is designed for those hoping to make clinical ethics a major focus of their professional lives. The fellows receive a salary and benefits commensurate with University of Chicago fellowship standards.

We strongly encourage candidates from groups that have been underrepresented in medicine and related fields due to discrimination and structural barriers, who have experienced socioeconomic disadvantage, or who have disabilities to apply.

Application Details

• First and Last Name
• Date of Birth
• Place of Birth
• Current Address
• Permanent Address, if different
• Telephone Number
• Email Address
• U. S. Citizen
• If not a U. S. citizen, please indicate your type of visa
• Academic Degrees - Please include institution, degree, and date of conferral
• Postgraduate training and other positions held, including current position
• State licenses
• Curriculum Vitae - Please attach a copy of your CV, including a list of publications
• Writing Sample - Please attach one writing sample
• Personal Statement - In your statement, please be sure to tell us about:
  • the research question(s) you hope to pursue as a postdoc
  • your ultimate academic or career goals and why/how this fellowship at the MacLean Center would help you advance these goals
  • which specific MacLean Center faculty might be ideal mentors for you and why
  • how you anticipate that the community at the MacLean Center will help shape your perspective as you advance in your work
  • how your experiences and perspective will help shape the university, department, and fellowship communities
• Please list your two references below (include name and position)

Deadline

• Deadline: January 15th, 2026

University of Chicago Summary

---

Overview:

The University of Chicago is a prestigious research university located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. It is known for its rigorous academic programs, emphasis on independent thinking, and commitment to intellectual freedom. The university boasts a diverse community of scholars and students who contribute to groundbreaking research and advancements in various fields.

---

Services Offered:

---

Student Life and Campus Experience:

The university offers a vibrant campus experience with a diverse community, access to arts and culture, and a strong connection to the surrounding South Side neighborhood. Students can expect a challenging academic environment that fosters independent thinking and critical analysis.

---

Key Reasons to Study There:

Rigorous academic programs:

The university is renowned for its challenging and intellectually stimulating curriculum.

Emphasis on independent thinking:

Students are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills and engage in original research.

Intellectual freedom:

The university provides a supportive environment for faculty and students to pursue their research interests without limitations.

Field-defining research:

The university has a long history of groundbreaking research and discoveries that have shaped various fields.

Global impact:

The university is actively involved in addressing global challenges through research, initiatives, and programs across the world.

---

Academic Programs:

---

Other:

The university is deeply connected to its surrounding community and invests in the South Side through initiatives in health, education, economic growth, and the arts. It also emphasizes its commitment to diversity and inclusion, fostering a welcoming environment for students from all backgrounds.