Meet some of the classes of 2021 and 2022! These students started their program at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read their stories and advice for future Bioethics and Medical Humanities students.
Harini Babu '21
Preferred Pronouns? she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from (City, State, Country)? Potomac, Maryland, USA
Where would you say Bachelor’s degree? Pennsylvania State University
What was your Bachelor’s degree major(s)? BS in Psychology (Concentration - Neuroscience) and Minors - Bioethics and Medical Humanities & Biology
What degree(s) have you completed thus far? Bachelor’s degree
How did you hear about CWRU's Masters in Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? After I knew that I wanted to pursue a degree in Bioethics, I heard about CWRU's MA in Bioethics program from my undergraduate Bioethics advisor. As one of the oldest Bioethics programs in the country, it was a very intriguing program.
Why did you choose the Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? I had the opportunity to talk to a past alumni of the program who raved about it. After I learned a bit more about it, I got really interested and excited about the different opportunities that the program would have for my future career. Ultimately, I thought I would be able to learn a lot from the program and that it would be a unique opportunity.
What are you looking forward to the most in the Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? I had limited exposure to the Research ethics side of Bioethics, so I was very interested in learning more about the Research ethics concentration. I was also really interested to learn from professors who had real life experience in the field.
What advice would you give future MA students as they begin to search for programs? It may seem early, but try to have a clear idea of what you may want to do after your program. Most Bioethics programs are either 1 or 2 years, which is a really short amount of time. Therefore it is important to have an idea of what you plan on doing with your degree so you can plan for your next steps while still in the Bioethics program.
Eric Blackstone '21
Preferred Pronouns? he/him/his
Where would you say you are from (City, State, Country)? Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Where would you say Bachelor’s degree? Ohio State University
What was your Bachelor’s degree major(s)? BS in Psychology
How did you hear about CWRU's Masters in Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? The website!
Why did you choose the Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? It combines my interests in psychology, medicine, and philosophy.
What are you looking forward to the most in the Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? Learning to conduct my own research in Bioethics.
What advice would you give future MA students as they begin to search for programs? Look up publications from program faculty to see if their research aligns with your interests.
Brandon Lee '21
Preferred Pronouns? he/his/him
Where would you say you are from (City, State, Country)? Pleasanton, CA, USA
Where would you say Bachelor’s degree? Case Western Reserve University
What was your Bachelor’s degree major(s)? BA Cognitive Science
How did you hear about CWRU's Masters in Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? Dr. Anderson-Fye's BETH210 course during my sophomore year! I learned quite a bit about MH&SM, and many of my classmates ended up applying and becoming part of my cohort in the MA program. I took other classes, and got to meet many of the faculty as an undergrad, so I could ask any of them questions I had.
Why did you choose the Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? I wanted a secondary degree to explore my interests as an aspiring physician, scientist, and advocate for my patients. It also helped that the philosophy being taught was healthcare oriented, so it was much easier to learn than in a normal ethics course. Also the practicum was fun.
What are you looking forward to the most in the Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? The practicum! Experiential learning is quite helpful in solidifying the knowledge in lecture and discussion with my peers, who are of all ages, backgrounds, and drives that brought us together to learn Bioethics & Medical Humanities.
What advice would you give future MA students as they begin to search for programs? Abstract is all you need. If you are confused, then ask a friend, or see if a faculty member can answer burning questions you had. Have your support network ready, we'll be discussing difficult topics that affect us all differently.
Lea Cazaudumec Lucas '22
Preferred Pronouns? she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from (City, State, Country)? Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA
Where would you say Bachelor’s degree? Case Western Reserve University
What was your Bachelor’s degree major(s)? BA Economics, BA in International Studies
What degree(s) have you completed thus far? Bachelor’s degree
How did you hear about CWRU's Masters in Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? As an undergraduate at CWRU I heard about the IGS Bioethics and Medical Humanities program, and immediately fell in love with the subject.
Why did you choose the Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? I had a great undergraduate experience at CWRU and was looking to further my studies in bioethics as this will help me in my future career as a health law lawyer.
What are you looking forward to the most in the Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? Meeting diverse people and learning from them!
What advice would you give future MA students as they begin to search for programs? Choose a subject that YOU love and immerse yourself into a diverse setting to gain new and relevant experiences!
Shreyaa Mukund '22
Preferred Pronouns? she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from (City, State, Country)? Seattle, Washington
Where would you say Bachelor’s degree? Case Western Reserve University
What was your Bachelor’s degree major(s)? Psychology and French
What degree(s) have you completed thus far? IGS student still working on getting both Bachelor's and Master’s
How did you hear about CWRU's Masters in Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? I heard about this program through one of my friends who happened to be in my sorority. She had a wonderful experience in the program and couldn't stop raving about it. I also received some emails with flyers about the program that intrigued me so I decided to apply.
Why did you choose the Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? I chose this program because I was interested in learning about bioethics. I had not taken a bioethics course in undergrad, so it was a little bit daunting to apply for a masters, but the program had so much to offer. The field of bioethics raises some tough questions and brings to light things like patient autonomy, and I wanted to be prepared to answer these questions in my future career in medicine. I was very intrigued by some of the study abroad programs and I was very interested in the clinical ethics rotations. As a pre-medical student all of these opportunities would help enhance my knowledge and help me be well informed for when I apply to medical school.
What are you looking forward to the most in the Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? I am looking forward to some of my upcoming clinical rotations. Reading and discussing some of these topics in lecture have sparked an interest in me towards clinical ethics and I want to explore my interest to see if I want to pursue this as a career. I am also hoping to do one of the study abroad programs, if the pandemic permits because it would be a wonderful opportunity to visit another country, observe their culture and see how they do things in the field of bioethics.
What advice would you give future MA students as they begin to search for programs? I would tell future MA students to consider this program as an option because there is so much to learn. In the three months I have been in this program I have learned a lot and I am so grateful. The faculty here is also extremely helpful and approachable. I have had opportunities to just discuss random bioethics related topics that I am passionate about with a professor.
Kathryn LeMoine '22
Preferred Pronouns? she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from (City, State, Country)? Portland, OR, USA
Where did you receive your Bachelor’s degree? Case Western Reserve University
What was your Bachelor’s degree major(s)? BA in Biochemistry
What degree(s) have you completed thus far? IGS/ will complete BA in May 2022
How did you hear about CWRU's Masters in Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? From emails from CWRU about IGS programs
Why did you choose the Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? It was an opportunity to take a wide range of classes that would benefit a future healthcare professional well!
What are you looking forward to the most in the Bioethics and Medical Humanities program? Clinical rotations!
What advice would you give future MA students as they begin to search for programs? Find something that complements what you want to do in the future, but don’t feel like you’re stuck in one discipline. My undergrad was in biochem, and I plan to go on to pharmacy school, but medicine is so much more than just science. The bioethics and medical humanities program gives me exposure to other areas I might not have otherwise known about, and will make me a better healthcare provider!