Three-minute Interview - Lisa Eckenwiler
By: David Sherfinski
Examiner Staff Writer
March 16, 2009
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Lisa Eckenwiler is associate professor of philosophy and associate professor of health administration and policy, as well as the director of health care ethics at the Center for Health Policy Research and Ethics at George Mason University. She teaches courses in bioethics, ethics in health policy, ethics and public health, and research ethics. She has also written on access to AIDS care, policy for pregnant addicts, and the ethical implications of work in biodefense and emergency preparedness.
How did you get into the field of bioethics?
To make a really long story short, I took a class in college on ethical and social issues in AIDS. I was really riveted by it — there were a lot of people contributing to the class from a range of fields.
Had you thought at all about pursuing an M.D.?
I didn’t, because I was really much more interested in higher-level questions, and medical science has more to do with individuals.
How much of your research involves “crossing over” with other fields?
It’s varied. Earlier, I was doing more medical ethics involving doctors and nurses. It was always really helpful to find out what a doctor’s perspective would be. Recently, the stuff I’m doing has more to do with public policy and public health ethics. It really is work that requires drawing on other fields.
What kind of research are you conducting now? What do you hope to tackle in the near future?
I’m interested in ethical issues in long-term care, and issues that come up for family caregivers: balancing jobs, families, caring for aging populations. A major issue in the near future is the heavy demographic shift in the country, and there is a growing need for long-term care. Also, there’s the migration of health personnel from developing countries and the relationship between that and global health inequalities.
From a bioethics point of view, what did you think about President Barack Obama’s executive order on stem cell research?
I think the scientific community is really jubilant about it. ... Hopefully, we can move forward with some caution — but at a steady pace.
