How did you become interested in Bioethics?

My interest in bioethics took hold as I began my career in healthcare as a hospital chaplain. In my work with patients facing cancer, bone marrow transplants, psychological challenges, fetal demise and ICU level requirements, I found myself drawn to the bioethical conversations happening around our patients’ care and needs. How I support my patient’s spiritual and religious needs and uphold the ethical responsibilities of the medical teams I work with while also navigating the financial and systemic availability of healthcare in an urban environment raised many bioethical questions for me. This culminated while working in a level one trauma hospital during a pandemic. I’m excited to participate in an academic bioethical environment to further my career.

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What is your favorite destination and why?

I’ve been fortunate to travel to a number of places so far in my life. Any destination that includes good food, interesting history and beautiful scenery always tops the list for me. My top three favorites are Ireland, Istanbul, Turkey and Busan, South Korea. The connection point of all three locations is the incredible hospitality. I’m so grateful for any opportunity to meet and understand a different way of living and enjoying life in this world. The smell of peat burning in fireplaces in Dublin, the ways Istanbul has layered historical stories on top of each other through architecture, the Buddhist monasteries on the coast of Busan are just a few of the things I love most about those areas.

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What is your favorite kind of food?

It’s a toss up between street tacos, a homemade bowl of pasta and fresh sushi!