A future CMO on the centrality of urban bioethics
by Caitlyn Martin, MD/MA Urban Bioethics class of 2026
As a student, I have always wanted to learn the innerworkings of not only healthcare, but also every field that interconnects it. So, when I completed my bachelor’s degree in engineering science and pursued my master’s in management and organizational leadership, everyone was hesitant to believe that I saw my future in medicine all along. Nevertheless, my unique experiences have instilled in me a desire to achieve more than merely practicing medicine, leading me to aspire to become a Chief Medical Officer. However, when a former professor from my Ethics in Business class reached out to me, I started to become the one who was questioning my relevance. Why would a professor want a first-year medical student to talk to their class about ethics in a business setting? What wisdom could I impart to a class that is 99% filled with future accountants, financial advisors, and bankers? I had been a student in that other 1%, and I doubted that the majority would want to hear topics such as the pathophysiology of chronic obstruction pulmonary disease or the ethics behind organ donation. Reluctantly, I agreed, thinking that I could make something from my urban bioethics class partially relevant.
Well, I was wrong. I did not make something from my urban bioethics class partially relevant — it became the centered topic of the entire class. I was blown away by the interest, curiosity, and ambition by this class to explore the field of urban bioethics in depth. We discussed the innerworkings of the ethics committee at a hospital, the decision-making process for important ethical matters, current injustices, and much more. I specifically recall one student asking, “So, if a Black person comes into the ER, is their race already risking a worse health outcome? And, if yes, how can we fix that?” I felt a surge of pride as I addressed this question, drawing upon my knowledge of the social determinants of health. I found myself echoing key concepts straight from my MA in Urban Bioethics (MAUB) lectures, and their enthusiasm grew as they absorbed more information. The students were astounded by the ethical considerations prevalent in a healthcare setting, which made me wonder why these aspects hadn’t crossed their minds before. However, I soon realized something very important: these students were not ignorant or dismissive of bioethics, they simply hadn’t been exposed to healthcare in the same way I had. And that is when a bigger realization hit me: I needed to speak to them today. As future professionals in medicine, we are all charged with a very powerful responsibility. We cannot advocate for our patients alone; we need a whole team of support, including those with business acumen. I am so thankful that those students were interested in learning in bioethics and fostered such a meaningful discussion centered around healthcare. I was truly inspired, and it reignited my passion to collaborate with and learn from diverse viewpoints and professions. In my eyes, a physician who truly understands business is a better physician for it, and vice versa for business leaders in healthcare. May we never limit our horizons in pursuit of knowledge because, if the MAUB has taught me anything, it is that continuous learning and striving for improvement are the hallmarks of growth.