Directors
Dr. Stephanie Spivack (Clinical),
Stephanie.Spivack@tuhs.temple.edu
Nic Strand (Director of Master’s Program),
Nicolle.Strand@temple.edu
Dr. Brendan Hart (Co-Director of Education, Master’s Program), Brendan.Hart@tuhs.temple.edu
Description
Temple is located in one of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged zip codes in the city. The patients we care for face a number of challenges, including low health literacy, poverty, and limited access to resources including groceries, safe housing, and comprehensive medical care. These disparities stem from structural, political, and social forces. The Health Justice and Bioethics track was developed for residents who are looking to build a deeper understanding of social determinants of health, health disparities, community engagement, and the role of ethics in health, laws, and policy.
This track offers a rare opportunity to earn a Master’s Degree in Health Justice and Bioethics during residency. Temple is the only internal medicine residency program in the country to offer this type of degree. The coursework is offered through the Temple University Center for Health Justice and Bioethics, which approaches health equity as an ethical problem, with the mission of eliminating health disparities through education and community-focused research. Residents will build a foundation in ethical principles and learn how to apply them to the complex issues facing our patients.
The master's program offers a large degree of flexibility for completing courses around clinical rotations. Coursework begins in the second year of residency and consists of seminars which are held in the late afternoons. These are recorded so that residents can still participate even when schedules conflict with the lecture. Some courses are entirely online. There are also electives, independent study projects, and a master's thesis, which is guided and mentored by faculty in the Center as well as clinical faculty. It is also possible to obtain a Certificate in Health Justice and Bioethics by completing the core coursework without completing a thesis or electives. Temple’s resident benefits include tuition remission for this master's program.
In addition to the master’s coursework, track members will participate in two elective weeks each academic year dedicated to Health Justice and Bioethics. These weeks are structured to give participants time to complete academic assignments, reflect on their experiences, and dive deeper into areas of interest.
You can visit the Health Justice and Bioethics Program’s website for additional information.
How and When to Apply
Interested residents apply for this track during the winter of intern year. The application consists of the resident’s CV and a personal statement expressing their interest in the program. Previous work or volunteer experience with underserved populations (prior to Temple residency) will be considered, but it is not required. A background in ethics is not required. Because of the additional coursework required, applicants must be in good standing at the time of application.
