Medical student one of 14 fellows selected for medical ethics program in Europe
This summer, Joshua Rager will spend two weeks in Europe exploring medical ethics through the context of Nazi-occupied Europe. Rager is one of 14 medical students participating in the 2018 Medical Program of the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE). As a FASPE fellow, Rager will also meet a Holocaust survivor and study at some of Germany and Poland’s most prestigious universities.
FASPE is not Rager’s first foray into medical ethics. Rager completed an undergraduate degree in religion and a master’s degree in bioethics before becoming a medical student. Bioethics training has already helped Rager navigate difficult clinical situations as a third-year medical student. Now, he can’t wait to dig deeper with FASPE program.
“In light of the clinical and medical knowledge I’ve gained over the past few years, I look forward to the opportunity to investigate these issues with a group of medical students from around the country,” Rager said.
Exploring ethics through a unique perspective
FASPE provides a unique historical lens that engages fellows in an intensive course of study focused on contemporary ethical issues. Fellows in the Medical program learn from the diverse perspectives of other participants as well as through the power of place and context.
“By educating students about the causes of the Holocaust and the power of their chosen profession, FASPE seeks to instill a sense of professional responsibility for the ethical and moral choices that the fellows will make in their careers and in their professional relationships,” said David Goldman, FASPE’s founder and chairman.
Follow Rager across Europe this summer
Rager, a Crawfordsville, IN native, will soon travel alongside other FASPE Medical fellows. Their travels will take them to Berlin, Germany as well as Krakow and Oświęcim (the town in which Auschwitz is located), Poland. Follow Rager this summer at IU School of Medicine’s Student Life blogs hub while he writes about his experiences in the FAPSE program.
