2003 Major: Philosophy and Biology
"My entire career trajectory has been shaped by my experience in Duke's philosophy department. Beginning with the skills I acquired in introduction to logic and extending to my discovery of bioethics, I cannot overstate the effect the department had on my professional development. As a result of my coursework and the mentorship of Duke's faculty, I met world-renowned bioethicists, gained the foundation necessary to pursue graduate training in philosophy, and was selected for competitive residency and fellowship positions. As a pulmonary and critical care physician and director of clinical ethics, I use my philosophy degree every single day, taking care of patients in an intensive care unit and helping colleagues resolve challenging ethical questions at the bedside."
"I'll pass along insight I received while meeting with an NIH bioethicist during an undergraduate philosophy course at Duke: Philosophy is a discipline that teaches thought processes and problem-solving skills. Take the time to understand the basics of philosophy rather than jumping to its application. Your career is a long road; you'll have plenty of time to apply philosophy. This is the time to master its foundation."
Department of Philosophy