Erica Rangel
Ph.D., Helath Care Ethics

"I am a second year graduate student in the Health Care Ethics PhD program. While working towards my BA in Philosophy and Cognitive Science at Rice University, I discovered the field of bioethics and was able to work closely with several faculty members on the editing of two bioethics journals. The field stood out to me as one that would enrich my understanding and love of medicine, challenge me on a philosophical level, and also provide potential for effecting great change in our health care system.

I chose to continue my education at Saint Louis University not only because of its long tradition of academic excellence, but also for its strong Jesuit commitments that I feel will only enhance my ability to learn and grow as a bioethicist. SLU’s Center for Health Care Ethics also stands out to me as a unique program, able to integrate many of the facets of bioethics that other programs omit, including health law, medicine and theology. The program is also invested in providing its students individualized mentorship from faculty and hands-on clinical experience. The faculty members are not only incredibly intelligent and accomplished, but they are compassionate and they care about us not just as students, but as people."

Within the field of health care ethics, I am particularly interested in the newly emerging concentration of neuroethics. I believe the advancements currently being made in neuroscience in such areas as neuroimaging, the pharmacological enhancement of cognition, and the neural basis of behavior demand the attention of biomedical ethics. I am excited not only to be a part of such a burgeoning field, but to be a part of it here at Saint Louis University, where I know I will be supported and challenged.