Health Ethics Podcast

Bryan Pilkington
  • 5.0 (6)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The Health Ethics Podcast (formerly The COVID Ethics Series Podcast) relies on the idea that challenging ethical issues are best addressed by many folks, from diverse backgrounds, practically reasoning together. Each week Professor Bryan Pilkington is joined by leading experts from medicine, nursing, and the health sciences, as well as political theorists, economists, ethicists, philosophers and lawyers for a conversation about ethical issues.

  1. MAY 8

    Artificial Intelligence & the Social Role of Medicine Redefined

    In this episode, Dr. Bryan Pilkington speaks with Dr. John Lantos about how artificial intelligence is reshaping medicine, particularly the doctor–patient relationship. He situates current concerns within a broader historical pattern of technological disruption in medicine, emphasizing that the true value of physicians lies not just in knowledge, but in navigating uncertainty and building trust with patients. He argues that AI will not make doctors obsolete but will redefine their role toward being interpreters of technology and stewards of patient-centered care. Guest:  John D. Lantos, MD JDL Bioethics Consulting Article discussed: Lantos JD. The Lost Aura of the Physician in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. JAMA. 2026 Apr 7;335(13):1119-1121. doi: 10.1001/jama.2026.0946. PMID: 41770545.

    40 min

  2. APR 13

    Asking for Aid: ICE, Advocacy, and Bioethics

    In this episode, Dr. Bryan Pilkington speaks with Dr. Arthur Caplan on his effort to urge the American and International Red Cross to investigate alleged human rights and healthcare abuses in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. Caplan describes reports of unsafe, prison-like conditions, arguing that these conditions warrant independent inspection under international humanitarian norms. He emphasizes that bioethicists have a special responsibility to speak out because many of the violations directly involve health, basic care, and the rights of vulnerable populations, especially children. Read the open letter here: Caplan, Arthur L. “An Open Letter to the American Red Cross and the International Red Cross: Calling for Immediate Humanitarian Visits to ICE Internment Facilities in Texas,” published March 16, 2026 in Bioethics Today, the website for the American Journal of Bioethics. https://tinyurl.com/openletterRedCross Guest: Dr. Arthur Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor of Bioethics, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

    15 min

  3. FEB 24

    Vaccines now: Politicians, science, and a new public health reality

    A discussion on recent changes in U.S. vaccine policy, the impact on pediatric practice, and the ethical challenges created by shifting public health communication. Guests: Aviva Schein, MD, Pediatrician, Zufall Health J. Patrick Bardill, PhD, Assistant Professor & Microbiologist, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

    32 min

  4. JAN 5

    Why Accreditation Matters: Safeguarding Quality in Medical Education

    In this episode, Dr. Bryan Pilkington speaks with Dr. Veronica Catanese about accreditation in medical education and its role in ensuring quality standards for MD programs. They also discuss how recent legislative challenges have affected accreditation Element 3.3 (diversity programs and partnerships). Veronica Catanese, MD, is Senior Director of Accreditation Services at the Association of American Medical Colleges.

    46 min

  5. 10/20/2025

    Art & the opposing viewpoint: Towards logical reasoning and civil discourse

    In this episode, Dr. Bryan Pilkington speaks with Kaitlin Puccio, JD, MS about how discussion of current emotionally-charged social issues can benefit from logical reasoning and respectful dialogue with opposing viewpoints. The use of art as a way to make bioethical issues accessible to the public and foster civil discourse is also discussed. Kaitlin Puccio, JD, MS is Director, Art and Bioethics Initiative at the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights & Adjunct Professor of Law at Fordham Law. https://kaitlinpuccio.com/

    42 min

  6. 10/01/2025

    Academic Chutes and Ladders: Differential Attainment in Medical Education

    In this episode, Dr. Bryan Pilkington speaks with Dr. Gabrielle Finn on differential attainment, which refers to the variation in academic attainment between groups of students who share protected characteristics (such as religion, ethnicity and ability) and those who do not share the same characteristic. Report discussed: Gabrielle Finn, Jenny Twyford, Adam Danquah, Asieh Shomali. The Game of Academic Privilege: An Exploration of Differential Attainment at the University of Manchester. 2025. https://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=76069

    31 min

  7. 08/10/2025

    Healthcare Sustainability: Aligning Health and Environmental Ethics

    In this episode, Dr. Bryan Pilkington speaks with Kyle Tafuri, a healthcare sustainability expert, about the importance of aligning environmental sustainability with the mission of healthcare systems. Tafuri emphasizes that clean air, water, and healthy soil are fundamental to health and that healthcare institutions, as major employers and resource users, have both an ethical obligation and strategic opportunity to lead in sustainability. Kyle Tafuri is Vice President of Sustainability, Hackensack Meridian Health.

    36 min

  8. 07/13/2025

    Beyond the Exam Room: Physicians as Advocates

    In this episode, Dr. Bryan Pilkington speaks with Dr. Lawrence Rosen about how advocacy extends beyond individual patient care to include public health, policy reform, and environmental sustainability. Rosen argues that physicians have an ethical obligation to use their trusted position to defend and promote health at all levels. Lawrence Rosen, MD is an Integrative Pediatrician and Founder of The Whole Child Center & Associate Professor at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

    36 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

The Health Ethics Podcast (formerly The COVID Ethics Series Podcast) relies on the idea that challenging ethical issues are best addressed by many folks, from diverse backgrounds, practically reasoning together. Each week Professor Bryan Pilkington is joined by leading experts from medicine, nursing, and the health sciences, as well as political theorists, economists, ethicists, philosophers and lawyers for a conversation about ethical issues.

Information

  • Creator
    Bryan Pilkington
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Bryan Pilkington
  • Show Website
    Health Ethics Podcast

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