Ethics Interns at O'Connor Hospital
Apply for the Internship
 The
Health Care Ethics Internship for Undergraduates is a yearlong
program that brings SCU students into hospital and hospice settings
where they learn firsthand about ethical dilemmas in the medical
field. Students rotate through various units at O'Connor Hospital
in San Jose and at Hospice of the Valley, shadowing health care
professionals as they encounter ethical issues.
As former intern Chris Hong described it, "Since beginning
my internship with the O'Connor Health Care Ethics program,
I have had the opportunity to work with doctors, nurses, social
workers, and chaplains in various departments, with the intention
to observe ethically questionable situations. The health care
workers always candidly explained the cases they were working
on, painting a clear and honest picture of ethical issues when
they arose."
A major component of the program is participation in biweekly reflection
sessions at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. In these sessions, students
utilize an ethical framework to consider case studies and theoretical
approaches to medical ethics.
For students considering a career in medicine, the program,
established in 2001 has been an eye-opener. As one found, "It's
hard to come to terms with the fact that medicine cannot stop
the diseases once someone has become sick. That was such a hard
thing to realize because for me, the appeal of medicine is the
perception that you can 'fix' people. On that day [in the Oncology
Unit], I had to admit to myself that there are some things that
medicine cannot accomplish."
The students report a tremendous increase in respect for nurses
and doctors. "The doctors showed me that there are many
doctors who care and want to help," said one participant.
"They treated me like I had credibility and could also
one day be a doctor." During their rotations the students'
interactions with staff foster a two-way exchange about ethical
issues, benefiting both parties.
For more information about the internship, contact Anna Kozas.
An Article on the Internship from the Santa Clara Magazine
Video Presentations
Program Overview
An Intern Talks About His Experience
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