Director of Clinical Ethics

Position Summary / Career Interest:

The Director of Ethics is a multi-faceted leadership position requiring operational expertise, a strong understanding of foundational and emerging bioethical principles impacting the delivery of healthcare across multiple and diverse healthcare settings, and strong consultative skills to support the translation of theoretical concepts into practical recommendations to physicians and staff at the frontlines of care. Success in this position supports the health system's focus on exceptional patient care and service, the advancement of competency and understanding of key ethical concepts for those at and supporting direct patient care, and the commitment to national leadership in caring, healing, teaching, and discovering. Specific responsibilities include operational oversight of the Ethics Department, education of staff, learners and the community involved to support ethical care of patients, understanding and developing key positions around existing and emerging bioethical concepts in the healthcare setting, creating of awareness among health system leaders and influencers of existing or impending ethical issues, hands on consultation and maintenance of key policies and guidelines, and effective leadership of the Health System Ethics Committee.


Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions

• Lead the hospital ethics consult service and ethics committee by providing expert ethics consultation and advisement on inquiries regarding clinical ethics cases brought to the health system using standard processes of ethics consultation.
• Develop effective partnerships and collaborative relationships with key health system departments and leaders.
• Develop and deploy effective and scaled approaches for ethical consultation, education, operations and measurement of success across a very diverse set of campuses and hospitals. These include urban, rural and community settings, acute care and behavioral healthcare campuses, a wide array of ambulatory care practices, and facilities focused on rehabilitation, hospice, and long-term care.
• Identify resources across the health system capable of supporting bioethical consultation, education, and support. This could include but not be limited to chaplains, faculty, and physicians and others with enhanced education around bioethical issues.
• Establish effective relationships and credibility with key external organization supportive of the health system’s success.
• Participate in scholarly activities in ethics and contribute bioethical education among students, residents, faculty and staff.
• Develop short- and long-range plans for development of ethic services that are aligned with organization goals (1, 3, and 5-year strategic plans/vision)
• Develop a network within the community served by the health system that provides collaboration and partnership with key stakeholders to be a beacon for ethical and just clinical practice.
• Perform other duties that may be assigned to advance the mission of the School of Medicine and the University of Kansas Health System.
• Must be able to perform the professional, clinical and or technical competencies of the assigned unit or department.
• These statements are intended to describe the essential functions of the job and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Skills and duties may vary dependent upon your department or unit. Other duties may be assigned as required.

Required Education and Experience

• Terminal degree in bioethics or closely related fields and/or terminal degree in a clinical discipline with at least the master’s degree in bioethics or closely related fields
• 3 or more years of experience in clinical ethics consultation

Preferred Education and Experience

• Experience in an academic medical center
• Involvement in ethics education and scholarship

Required Licensure and Certification

• Attainment or ready ability to attain Healthcare Ethics Consultant Certification

We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.