WMed Unit of the International Network of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics

UNESCO Inauguration Ceremony
At the inauguration ceremony, Dr. Russell D’Souza, director of the Department of Education and head of the Asia-Pacific Division of the International Program of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics, presented WMed’s founding dean, Dr. Hal B. Jenson, with a writ of establishment.

In September 2019, the WMed Unit of the International Network of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics was established with an inauguration ceremony at the medical school's W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus. The International Network of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics was established in 2001 in Haifa, Israel, in order to disseminate, improve and monitor education in ethics in medical schools around the world. The Chair develops an updated and modern curriculum, reflecting the need for integration of ethics in daily practice, and develops novel and sophisticated educational tools and materials that facilitate attractive teaching. In all, there are more than 230 units of the International Network of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics across the globe and the unit at WMed is one of seven in the U.S.

At the inauguration, Dr. Russell D’Souza, director of the Department of Education and head of the Asia-Pacific Division of the International Program of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics, presented WMed’s founding dean, Dr. Hal B. Jenson, with a writ of establishment. Additionally, Dr. Michael Redinger, co-chair of the medical school’s Department of Medical Ethics, Humanities, and Law, received a writ of appointment as head of the new unit.

The event also honored the support and memory of Dr. Shirley Bach, WMU professor emerita of philosophy, internationally recognized authority on biomedical ethics, and a founding faculty member of the WMed Department of Medical Ethics, Humanities, and Law.

We are honored and excited to achieve this recognition from UNESCO. We believe it will open up a number of opportunities for international collaboration. We share with UNESCO a deep belief in the importance of education in bioethics in shaping a bright future for medicine and health care professionals. More information about the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics can be found at http://www.unesco-chair-bioethics.org/.

If you would like to stay up to date about upcoming events hosted by our department, please contact us at ethics@wmed.edu.