Bioethics in Action: 2024 Summer Internship
This summer, our Health Ethics & Policy Lab internship program brought together five students to tackle real-world bioethical challenges in healthcare.
This year our interns explored cutting-edge topics like the ethical implications of AI in Swiss medicine, the intersection of AI ethics in both medicine and climate research, and developing ethical guidelines for machine learning in health sciences. They also grappled with the complexities of advancements in biomedicine and bioengineering, and the ethical considerations of genomic sequencing.
Learning by doing
The program offered a unique blend of theoretical grounding and practical experience. Interns started by immersing themselves in foundational bioethics topics and received training in qualitative research methods, including interviewing techniques. They then transitioned to actively assisting researchers on various projects. Some, like the "Lighthouse Project," investigated parental reactions to genomic testing for children with rare diseases. Others contributed through conducting interviews, scoping reviews, and analyzing qualitative data.
Engaging Discussions
Weekly journal clubs fostered a vibrant learning environment. Here, students and lab members had critical discussions around key papers and trending topics, such as the ethical, societal, and legal implications of AI in healthcare.
“These discussions were intellectually stimulating and provided a platform for critical thinking and exchanging ideas.”Valentin Herrera
A Lasting Impact
The program also equipped interns with valuable research skills and a deeper understanding of the complexities of health ethics. The supportive and collaborative environment nurtured intellectual growth and a passion for the field.
“lch wurde das Praktikum weiterempfehlen, es erlaubt einen umfassenden Einblick in ethische Fragestellungen, welche im späteren klinischen Arbeitsalltag bei der Anwendung von neuen Technologien zur Therapie, Diagnostik oder Prävention von gesundheitlichen Beschwerden aufkommen konnten.”Lucrezia Rizzo
We are eager to welcome the next generation of inquisitive minds to our program! To learn more about the application process see our Internships page here.
