About PMEHV and Our Roots
Overview
The Program in Medical Ethics and Human Values at Tulane University School of Medicine leads the integration of medical ethics, humanities, and humanism into clinical education, research, and professional development.
Our mission is to advance ethical, humane, and patient-centered care through interdisciplinary teaching, scholarship, and collaboration.
Rooted in a foundational vision established in 1974, the program recognizes that while students enter medicine with strong humanistic values, those values must be intentionally nurtured throughout training. Today, we continue that work by embedding ethical reflection and humanism directly into the fabric of medical education and clinical practice.
Mission & Vision
We support learners across the full medical education continuum—from preclinical training through residency and beyond—with a focus on developing clinicians who combine technical excellence with ethical clarity and compassion.
Through innovative curriculum design and original research in medical ethics and humanities pedagogy, we aim to be a national leader in ethics and humanism education.
Our vision is a healthcare environment where:
- Ethical reasoning is integral to clinical decision-making
- Human dignity and patient-centered care remain central
- Collaboration across disciplines strengthens both education and practice
Core Focus Areas
- Advancing ethical and humane clinical care through education grounded in human values
- Conducting original research in medical ethics and humanities pedagogy
- Building an integrated educational framework that connects ethics and humanities with multidisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration
Core Values
- Respect
We honor the diverse values and perspectives of patients, learners, faculty, and staff. - Integration
Bioethical and humanistic principles are embedded across all educational, clinical, and research efforts. - Collaboration
We foster interdisciplinary relationships that promote professionalism and shared understanding. - Scholarly Engagement
We contribute to advancing research in ethics, humanities, and medical education.
Our Approach to Education
We believe ethical understanding is not developed through theory alone—it must be practiced, examined, and lived within clinical environments.
Our educational model emphasizes:
- Clinical case-based learning grounded in real patient experiences
- Small-group seminars focused on reflection and dialogue
- Integration into ward rounds, grand rounds, and clinical training
- Exploration of ethical challenges as they arise in practice
This approach ensures that students are not simply learning about ethics—they are learning how to apply it in complex, real-world situations.
Areas of Study & Inquiry
The program engages learners and faculty in examining critical issues across healthcare, including:
- Clinical Ethical Decision-Making
Autonomy, consent, authority, and value-based care in patient interactions - Healthcare Ethics & Society
Professional responsibility, confidentiality, truth-telling, and systemic challenges in care delivery - Death and Dying
Ethical and emotional dimensions of end-of-life care for patients, families, and clinicians - Human Values in Medicine
The role of culture, religion, and personal belief systems in health and healing - Emerging Ethical Challenges
Ethical implications of advancing technologies and evolving medical practices
Why This Work Matters
Medical education is not only about acquiring knowledge—it is about shaping how clinicians think, act, and care for others.
Without intentional focus, the pressures of training can diminish empathy and ethical awareness. This program exists to counter that by reinforcing:
- Compassion and patient-centered thinking
- Ethical self-awareness and reflection
- The ability to navigate ambiguity and moral complexity
As emphasized in the program’s founding vision, students must develop the capacity to question assumptions, examine values, and respond thoughtfully to the evolving challenges of medicine.
Collaboration & Community Engagement
Our work is deeply collaborative. We partner across the School of Medicine, throughout Tulane University, and with institutions across New Orleans.
These partnerships span disciplines including:
- Ethics
- History of medicine
- Sociology and anthropology
- Law and policy
- Fine arts and social psychology
We also mentor faculty in ethics and humanities education, strengthening teaching practices and fostering interdisciplinary research integration.
Future Initiatives
Looking ahead, the program is expanding its academic and scholarly reach through the development of visiting and professorship initiatives designed to:
- Support junior and mid-career faculty in ethics and humanities
- Foster collaboration with scholars across disciplines
- Advance educational research and publication efforts
- Contribute to course development and academic programming
These initiatives will further strengthen Tulane’s role as a leader in ethics and humanism education.
