Spartan Showcase: Sean Eli McCormick

As a student in the Master of Arts in Bioethics and Medical Humanities program at Case Western Reserve University, Sean Eli McCormick witnessed many of his classmates prepare medical school applications. He noted how they tried to sound human but not too human as they sought to convey empathy without coming across as weak.

That experience, coupled with reading An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madnessby Kay Redfield Jamison, sparked an idea for McCormick: “How do students navigate disclosure of mental health conditions in medical school?” Now a doctoral student in the Department of Bioethics at CWRU, McCormick decided to make the question the topic of his dissertation. 

Though he is still in the proposal stage of his dissertation, McCormick intends to complete a qualitative research project through semi-structured interviews with medical students about their experiences with mental health conditions. His review of related literature has demonstrated that “medical education is imbued with a culture of perfectionism.” 

While disability inclusion in medical education has been studied, McCormick is delving into a relatively unexplored area: the perception of professionalism when disclosing a mental health condition.

“While doctoral dissertations are understandably limited in scope, I’m hoping that the research sheds light on the experiences of medical students with mental health conditions and that this knowledge can help to make both the curriculum and culture of medical school more inclusive,” said McCormick, who is entering his fourth year in his PhD program.

McCormick’s other research interests include human enhancement technologies and transplant ethics, topics he was able to explore in clinical settings during a recent one-year internship with University Hospitals’ adult ethics committee.

Also of interest to him are health humanities education and pedagogy, which he explores as an instructor at CWRU, the University of Akron and Cleveland State University, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in philosophy.

Here at CWRU, McCormick’s connection to the university extends beyond teaching and coursework. After working as a bartender and commuting while earning two degrees at Cleveland State, he has embraced the opportunity to engage more with the university community.

McCormick has been a Civic Engagement Scholar for four years, beginning during his MA program. He’s also served on various committees with the Biomedical Graduate Student Organization and Graduate Student Council.

“It’s more than just coming to campus, giving a lecture or two, grading, and going home,” he said. “It’s working to make the place where you spend so much time a better place for everyone.”

Learn more about McCormick’s experiences in bioethics.

Answers have been lightly edited for clarity and length.

1. What initially drew you to CWRU?

As a lifelong resident of the Greater Cleveland area, CWRU has always held a fascination as an elite institution of higher education. It also has the first and one of the most prestigious programs in bioethics in the country. As someone with a love of Cleveland, deep ties to the community, and being a caregiver for older adult family members, I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to continue my studies at the doctoral level at CWRU.

2. What interested you in your area of study?

I come from a background in philosophy with a concentration in ethics. While I enjoy all branches of the discipline, I find myself most drawn to the practical applications of ethics. I had the pleasure of completing my undergraduate degree and first master’s degree in philosophy at Cleveland State University just down the road from CWRU under the guidance of a dear mentor of mine, Dr. Allyson Robichaud. 

During the end of my undergraduate studies, Dr. Robichaud was on University Hospitals’ adult ethics committee and, when she learned of my interest in the field, she invited me to observe. During that meeting I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Barbara Daly and Dr. Cynthia Griggins who were heading the ethics program. Dr. Robichaud introduced me to them and they invited me to join the committee as an undergraduate, which I have been on since 2014.

3. Can you tell us about your experience as a clinical ethics intern?

It was a wonderful and enlightening experience and one I would recommend for anyone interested in a career in clinical ethics or for those like me who teach clinical ethics. During the internship I had the opportunity to shadow the clinical ethics service at the UH Cleveland Medical Center as well as professionals in palliative care and spiritual care. In this capacity, I was able to observe rounds, committee meetings, institutional meetings, family meetings and ethics educational sessions. 

As someone who has taught ethics/bioethics/clinical ethics for almost 10 years as an adjunct instructor, this internship gave me invaluable hands-on experience that I am able to take into the classroom. 

I want to give a special thank you to Drs. Nathan Stout, Robert Guerin, Donald Hoepfer and Ann Kessler, who were the clinical ethicists I had the pleasure of getting to know, shadow, and work with over the past year. Also, my gratitude to Drs. Mark Aulisio, Sana Loue, and Leah Jeunnette, who are also members of the UH/CWRU Center for Clinical Ethics and who I have been able to learn and grow from over the last year in the internship and over the last four years in my MA and PhD programs.

4. What has been the most interesting takeaway from that experience and how does it compare to your experiences in the classroom discussing bioethical dilemmas?

Discussing bioethical dilemmas in a cold state in the classroom divorces you from the emotions of being in the clinical space talking with families, patients, and healthcare professionals who are grappling with grief, anger, and conflict. While we can discuss what people ought to do in those situations in the classroom with a focus on philosophical or ethical theory, I think you need strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and compassion when working with people.

7.  What are your career aspirations?

Ideally I would like to combine a career in academia with work in clinical ethics like so many of my wonderful mentors in the Department of Bioethics at CWRU. I went into ethics because putting theory into practice is important to me and being able to work in the clinical space over the past year is an experience I will never forget. It was both challenging and rewarding and something I would like to continue to pursue.

8. Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I would also like to thank Dr. Erin Lamb and Dr. Julia Knopes with whom I have had the pleasure of working on my dissertation. They are exceptionally intelligent, responsive and kind mentors who push me to better myself every day. I truly couldn’t imagine having better advisors which I know is a privilege not offered to all doctoral students. I consider them not only my mentors but my friends.