About

Each summer, a diverse cohort of doctors, nurses, dentists, policy-makers, hospital chaplains, lawyers, IRB panelists, and others come together on Georgetown’s historic campus to grapple with some of the most profound moral issues they confront in their work, guided by internationally-renowned bioethics scholars from the KIE and the PCCB and by eminent guest faculty.

Expertly facilitated, interprofessional discussion groups have always been a popular feature of the Intensive Bioethics Course (IBC). For the first time this year, plenary topical presentations will be connected to specific discussion cases that illuminate and illustrate ethical issues in realistic and complex ways.

The topics and cases elaborate on components of ethical deciding and how to integrate these elements to reach wise decisions in health care, particularly in new, complicated, uncertain, and critical situations. Our focus will consistently highlight the fundamental role of care relationships in making decisions and the reciprocal link between clinical decisions and public health policies.

Plenary assemblies following each case small group will consider group insights and questions and continue collegial discussion with faculty panels deeply involved in the case and topic.

Also new this year are a keynote on public policy by Dr. Christine Grady, a panel discussion on AI & Health Care, and the opportunity to participate in several Special Topics sessions developed around registrant interests.

Participants also enjoy a “Bioethics at the Movies” session, and throughout the course, they can access the Kennedy Institute’s renowned Bioethics Research Library . the largest collection of bioethical materials in the U.S., and receive research assistance from expert information specialists.

Find out for yourself why repeat participants and new attendees alike laud the IBC as “a life-changing experience,” “the best conference I have ever attended,” and “the ‘Academy Awards’ of bioethics.” We look forward to welcoming you!