Education
The Disability Ethics Scholars Program
The Disability Ethics Scholars Program provides training in disability ethics for staff members throughout the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) System of Care, as well as health care practitioners and those associated with health care from the broader community. Each year, applications are accepted in February and March for this 11-month program that includes a weekly tutorial run by program staff with guest faculty from the Medical Humanities and Bioethics Program at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Scholars declare a focus project and receive guidance and mentoring from the program's associate director. Upon graduation, scholars are expected to bring a heightened sense of awareness concerning ethical issues to their respective health care settings.
The application period for the 2009 - 2010 Disability Ethics Scholars Program is now closed
Eligible Applicants: The Scholars Program is open to anyone working within the RIC System of Care (internal scholars) as well as those associated with health care who are not employed by RIC (external scholars ). There is a separate application form for external scholars. External applicants can send an email message to Carmen Cicchetti at ccicchetti@ric.org or call him at 312-238-1119 for an application.
Goals of the Scholars Program:
- To provide education and professional development for persons with an interest in clinical or institutional ethics.
- To provide opportunities for creative studies, research, and projects that will enhance the understanding of ethical issues that surround disability.
- To foster heightened awareness and critical thinking about the models of care used in rehabilitation and the meaning of disability in our society.
Expectations/Commitment of Scholars:
- The Scholar's Program will run from August 5, 2009 to June 30, 2010.
- Each scholar will be expected to participate in a weekly tutorial (1.5hrs/wk). The tutorials will expose scholars to clinical, bioethics, and disability studies theories and involve discussions of classical and contemporary issues in disability ethics. The tutorial faculty includes Kristi L. Kirschner, M.D., Debjani Mukherjee, Ph.D., and Rebecca Brashler, LCSW, from RIC and Teresa A. Savage, Ph.D., RN, a consultant to the program. Faculty from the Medical Humanities and Bioethics Program at Feinberg School of Medicine also participate.
- Scholars are asked to choose an area of focus related to ethics and disability. During the year, scholars will have the opportunity to meet with program staff to formulate a project related to their focus area. Projects may include, but are not limited to, formal research studies, literature reviews, academic articles and presentations. A minimum of a 5 page paper is expected at the end of the tutorial.
Application Process:
Complete the application (PDF) . Submit the application to Dr. Kristi L. Kirschner by Wednesday, April 1, 2009. You may submit the application materials either by email (kkirschner@ric.org) or bring them to our office on the South Mezzanine. If you are unable to access the online application, please contact our office at 312-238-1119 for a hard copy.
- Attach a letter of support from your immediate supervisor with the application. You should discuss any scheduling needs you may have if selected.
- Attach a resume with your application. On your resume, please include your current home address, telephone number, email address, and all relevant degree/professional crediential information.
- Disability Ethics Scholars will be announced by mid-May 2009 following applicant interviews.
- If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact any program staff member.
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