Penn Bioethics at 30: A legacy of leadership, innovation, and impact recognized with ASBH Cornerstone Award

The University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy recently marked a milestone: 30 years of pioneering work in bioethics. In 2025, that legacy was nationally recognized with the prestigious Cornerstone Award from the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH).

In some ways, though, it is more than a department—it is a culture driver, a trendsetter, an archetype.

Each year, the department’s leaders select a word that captures the spirit and values of the program—what makes it special, what it prides itself on, and what sets it apart, for its annual “word of the year” mug.

Past words include: Trailblazing, Transformative, Timeless.

The mugs have become coveted items at the national ASBH annual conference, drawing attendees to the Penn Bioethics table to collect the latest emblem of excellence.

As Holly Fernandez Lynch, JD, MBE—an alumna, faculty member, and national leader in research ethics—shared, “Penn Bioethics kind of runs deep in the community. You look out for each other. Because we’re one of the oldest programs, the people doing bioethics—lots of them got trained here.”

Founded in 1994 by Arthur Caplan, PhD, the Penn Center for Bioethics began as a hub for interdisciplinary scholarship. Over three decades, it evolved into a powerhouse of education, research, and policy impact. Today, under the leadership of Chair Steven Joffe, MD, MPH, and Chief of the Division of Medical Ethics Emily Largent, JD, PhD, RN, Penn Bioethics is home to a vibrant community of scholars whose work spans clinical ethics, research ethics, neuroethics, health law and policy. “What distinguishes Penn Bioethics,” Largent notes, “is that it’s not just a group of talented individuals but it’s a place where they interact, collaborate, and, collectively, contribute to the field.”

Penn’s Master of Bioethics (MBE) program, launched in 1997, has trained more than 900 alumni to date. The Master of Science in Medical Ethics (MSME) program, unique in its integration of empirical methods and bioethics content, is the only program of its kind in the country. These programs have produced faculty members at leading institutions nationwide and trained professionals who have taken their expertise into diverse fields including medicine, dentistry, nursing, law, industry, and more.

Autumn Fiester, PhD, vice chair for education and the MBE faculty program director, described Penn Bioethics as “the premier training ground for the next generation of scholars.” She emphasized the department’s rigorous coursework, diverse student body, and hands-on mentorship model, where many students co-author publications with faculty.

“No one trains scholars like we do,” she said. “Our classrooms are magic—bringing together undergraduates, physicians, nurses, lawyers, and even emeritus faculty to learn from each other.”

Research that shapes policy and practice

Penn Bioethics faculty have authored more than 2,100 publications in the past decade, including work in JAMA, NEJM, Nature, and The American Journal of Bioethics. Their research has influenced decision-making in health care institutions, local and federal government, and it has driven global conversations on ethics in genomics, dementia care, and drug development. Working alongside Penn clinicians and researchers, they bring real-world insight to enduring and emerging challenges, ensuring ethics remains central to innovation and care.

As Penn Bioethics enters its fourth decade, its scholars are tackling emerging challenges—from AI in health care to equitable access to gene therapies. Anna Wexler, PhD, a Greenwall Foundation Faculty Scholar, is confronting the ethical issues arising from neurotechnology, the tools that interact with the brain like implants and devices that measure brain activity. Her research asks how ethical guidelines can truly influence practice and help develop technological breakthroughs without causing harm.  “For me, the most important question is about the role of bioethics—how we can ensure that the work we do in identifying and analyzing ethical concerns actually has a real-world impact on practice,” Wexler explained.

Justin Clapp, PhD, MPH, an anthropologist whose work examines clinical decision-making and dementia care, emphasized the importance of grounding bioethics in real-world conversations.

“It is one thing to come up with the right answer in a sterile, hypothetical environment. I want to know how these conversations are actually happening on the ground,” he said. “That’s my contribution to the bioethical debate—starting with how people talk, decide, and experience care.”

Throughout its 30 years the scholars who have passed through Penn Bioethics have seen ethical dilemmas like vaccine policy, end-of-life care, and trust in scientific research play out in real time. They don’t just have theoretical projects or debates—they impact ethical policy and practice through their scientific inquiry, interdisciplinary approach and commitment to public-facing scholarship.

“The field is going to become more interdisciplinary and more rooted in what’s happening on the ground,” Clapp predicted. “We need to understand complexity before we apply theory—and that’s where Penn Bioethics excels.”