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Yeshiva University Student Medical Ethics Society (MES), is an undergraduate student-run organization of Yeshiva University which was founded by students in 2005 with the goal of promoting education and awareness of Jewish medical ethics in the university itself and the community at large. The Society hosts many events throughout the year, including a large, annual conference focused on a chosen medical ethics topic. The events are open to all those who have an interest in learning more about Jewish medical ethics. Students, teachers, rabbis, physicians, and laymen are welcome.
Founded in September of 2005 by then YC undergrad Yonah Bardos and Albert Einstein College of Medicine Professor Rabbi Edward Reichman, MD, the society was established in order to further the commitment of YU's philosophy of Torah Umadda (Jewish and secular knowledge), specifically in the realm of medical ethics. Rabbi Reichman has remained a committed mentor to the society every year since its inception and has advised the board on countless medical topics. The society was adopted by Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future and has worked closely with its Dean, Rabbi Kenneth Brander and other members of the CJF such as Yehezkel Jesin and Jonathan Cohen in order to promote its educational value to the student body and the Jewish community as a whole.
By enriching our education, raising our awareness, and deepening our sensitivities, the YU Student Medical Ethics Society hopes to promote continued discussion on Jewish medical ethics, thus enhancing the community’s ability to deal with these issues in an effective manner that holds true to the highest moral standard. While increasing sensitivity to ethical issues in medicine that are relevant to the global community, MES is especially focused on issues of medical ethics relating to Halakha (Jewish law), Jewish medical ethics, and Torah values. MES strives to make Yeshiva University a global center for Jewish medical ethics, which will serve as an educational resource for laymen, rabbis, patients, doctors, and other health professionals.[1]
As orthodox religious Jews and aspiring medical professionals, we find that the objectives of the Yeshiva University's Student Medical Ethics Society represent some of the quintessential goals that the human race strives for; to educate about the interface of medicine and ethics, as well as to instill within aspiring medical professionals a sense of responsibility to practicing medicine with this understanding. To attempt to practice medicine without the guiding light of morals and ethics is like steering a boat aimlessly at sea without a light tower in the distance; both, medicine and the boat, are doomed to be caught up in a storm. Therefore, as presidents of this society we hope to work on the first step of visible change; creating awareness by providing education. Like in years past, we intend to host multiple events a semester to educate the hundreds of Yeshiva University students in the complexities of medical ethics. Once students hear from many diverse speakers and actively engage in medical ethics, whether by activity or discourse, only then can we hope that we will live our lives having inculcated the values of medical ethics. As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world", and as presidents of MES, our goal is to make sure that the medical professionals and Jews that will bring change tomorrow are getting a halakhic, moral, and ethical compass today. Presidents Yosefa Schoor and Mordechai Smith.[2]
MES has an executive board composed of two presidents and two vice presidents. As Yeshiva divides its undergraduate students by sex into two separate colleges, one president and one vice president are male students from Yeshiva College (Yeshiva University) and one president and one vice president are female students from Stern College for Women. The treasurer and secretary as well as the other members of the board are chosen from the two colleges to make a board that averages from 12 to 18 members per year. Volunteers of the two undergraduate colleges help with setting up for conferences, guiding guests at events, and apprentice board members through their mentor program.[3]
MES chooses its board members through interviews of volunteers vying for the position. The year's outgoing presidents and incoming presidents together handpick which present members will continue to be on the board the next year and which new members will be incorporated. Members may remain on the board as for as many semesters as they are enrolled as undergraduates in Yeshiva University, however a president must become an executive director the following year and then take their place as a member of the board of directors, a position they will hold for life, along with all of the other past presidents and the founder of MES, Yonah Bardos. Board members are expected to run at least one MES event per year with another member of the board in addition to other responsibilities such as volunteer coordinating, facilities management, advertising, etc.[4]
The advisory board of the Yeshiva University Student Medical Ethics Society is composed of members of the Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future and leading Medical ethicists. The advisory board directs the MES board members toward the resources, guidance, creativity, and knowledge necessary for the creation and organization of quality events, advertising, public outreach, notable lecturers, etc.[5]
Rabbi Edward Reichman, M.D. - Rabbi Edward Reichman, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Associate Professor in the Division of Education and Bioethics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, where he teaches Jewish medical ethics. Rabbi Dr. Reichman has been a mentor for the Yeshiva University Student Medical Ethics Society since its inception in 2005.
Fred Rosner, M.D. - Assistant Dean and professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Professor of Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Director of the Department of Medicine at Queens Hospital Center. He is the Chairman of the Medical Ethics Committee of the state of New York.
Yehezkel Jesin, MSW - Wilf Campus Director of the Yeshiva University Office of Student Life
2012 Out of the Ashes: Jewish Approaches to Medical Dilemmas Born out of the Holocaust -The conference presented participants with the contemporary relevance of ethical challenges that arose during the Holocaust. Participants were presented with issues that rose during the actual regime as well as issues that are a product of the Holocaust. The conference wasopened by Michael Grodin, M.D., of Boston University who is a leading expert in bioethics as well as medicine and the Holocaust. This was followed by a plenary on human experimentation which consisted of a firsthand account by a survivor of Mengele’s twin experiments, Irene Hizme, and a discussion of the Halakhic and ethical viewpoints by Rabbi Moshe David Tendler, Ph.D. There were two sets of breakout session that covered topics such as trans-generational trauma of survivors and the Jewish attitude on life through the lens of the mentally disabled. Participants were also privileged to hear from leading experts in the fields of Halacha and medicine such as David Pelcovitz, Ph.D, Rabbi Edward Reichman, M.D., and Rabbi Michael Taubes. The conference presented the ethical and Halachic views towards complex and relevant issues that have come out of the Holocaust.[9]
2011 In the Public Eye: Jewish Perspectives on Public Health -The conference provided participants with the broad medical and legal foundation needed to understand public health issues. They were exposed to the social issues surrounding these challenges as they relate to society as a whole and to the Jewish community in particular. Topics covered included obesity, smoking, global responsibility, vaccinations, circumcision, and more. Participants heard from experts such as Professor John Banzhaf of George Washington University Law School who, over the past few decades, has made major contributions towards anti-smoking laws and who is now fighting the obesity epidemic, as well as Rabbi Moshe David Tendler, Ph.D. and Rabbi Edward Reichman, M.D., some of the leading experts in Jewish medical ethics today. Mati Goldstein, Chief Officer of the ZAKA International Rescue and Recovery Team, and Dr. Ofer Merin, Director of the Emergency Preparedness & Response Program at Shaare Zedek Medical CenterinJerusalem, described their experiences responding to tragedy around the world. The conference provided an overview of the fundamental ethical dilemmas surrounding public health, and discussed how the system of Halacha (Jewish law) approaches these complex issues.[10]
2010 A Beautiful Mind: Jewish Approaches to Mental Health - The conference provided participants with a broad foundation for the medical background needed to understand mental health, as well as the advanced medical research and practices used today to prevent and manage mental health challenges. Topics covered included suicide, depression, eating disorders, addictions, substance abuse, and more. Participants were also be introduced to an overview of the fundamental ethical dilemmas surrounding mental health, as well as how the system of Halacha (Jewish law) approaches these complex issues. In addition to gaining broad knowledge in medical, ethical, and Halachik issues of mental health, participants were able to choose from a series of specialized tracks, each geared towards in-depth analysis of the most pressing issues in the field. These tracks included Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Bullying and Harassing, Living with A Mentally Ill Family Member, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Sexual Abuse. The individual sessions were guided by leading rabbis, physicians, and mental health professionals all of whom are experts with ample experience in their fields of mental health, ethics, and Halacha. In addition, there was a special track geared to Rabbis, in order that they will be able to ask their individual questions to the leaders in Halacha. Furthermore, exclusively for students, Dr. Pelcovitz and Rav Willig led a discussion pertaining to mental health as it applies to students. In addition, there was a track that consisted of emotional stories told by students dealing with mental health challenges. Finally, the conference also hosted, for the first time, a high school track, where Mrs. Blumenthal and Dr. Nissel explained the importance of understanding mental health challenges as it pertains to teenagers. The conference was a wonderful opportunity to explore the complex and pressing issues, and to interact with leading rabbis, physicians, and lawyers in the area of medical ethics.[11]
2009 The Human Blueprint: Jewish Perspectives on Modern Genetics - The conference was able to provide participants with a broad foundation for the medical background needed to understand human genetics, as well as the technologically advanced medical research and practices used today to prevent and manage genetic diseases. Topics covered included reproductive genetics, cancer genetics, personalized medicine, aging and longevity and more. Participants were also introduced to an overview of the fundamental ethical dilemmas surrounding genetics, as well as how the system of Halacha (Jewish law) approaches these complex issues. In addition to gaining broad knowledge in medical, ethical, and Halachik issues of modern genetics, participants were able to choose from a series of specialized tracks, each geared towards an in-depth analysis of the most pressing issues in the field. These tracks included genetics and law, DNA and forensics, behavioral genetics, DNA Shoah, and Familial Dysautonomia (FD). The individual sessions were all guided by leading rabbis, physicians, and lawyers all of whom are experts with ample experience in their fields of genetics and Halacha.[12]
2008 The Sanctity of Life: A Jewish Approach to End of Life Challenges - With expert speakers representing the medical and rabbinical professions, the conference addressed the wide range of medical, ethical, psycho-social and halachic (Jewish legal) issues that arise at the end of life. The opening plenary session of the day began with a general introduction to the medical background and ethical issues that are pertinent to adult terminal illness. Presented by leading physicians, ethicists, and rabbinic authorities with extensive experience, this session explored how medicine and halacha interact in the modern hospital setting, and highlighted some of the most pressing issues that have come up in recent cases. This session helped the participant pinpoint which area of focus he or she would like to explore in more depth. Participants then were be able to choose from a variety of specialized tracks, each providing an in-depth analysis of one of the many pressing issues in the field. Examples of various tracks to be offered included: hospice care and pain management, proxy decision-making, do-not-resuscitate orders, and the sanctity of life. At these sessions, the session leader addressed specific questions that members of the audience had. The final plenary session addressed the issue of pediatric end-of-life care. This session focused on decision-making for the pediatric patient, as well as issues relevant to family and friends of children facing serious illness. The conference provided a unique opportunity to interact with rabbis and physicians who are leaders in this area of medical ethics.[13]
2007 Partners in Creation: Fertility, Modern Medicine, and Jewish Law - Sponsored by the Fuld Family, the conference provided participants with a broad foundation for the medical background needed to understand fertility problems, as well as the technologically advanced medical practices in use today that help families struggling with infertility. Topics covered included in-vitro fertilization, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, sperm injection, and more. Participants also were introduced to an overview of the fundamental ethical dilemmas surrounding fertility, as well as how the system of Halacha (Jewish law) is concerned with these complex issues. In addition to gaining broad knowledge in medical, ethical, and Halachik issues of fertility, participants were able to choose from a series of specialized tracks, each geared towards in-depth analysis of the most pressing issues in the field. Examples of various tracks offered included: surrogate motherhood, artificial insemination, Halachik infertility, paternal identity, and the emotional and psychological impact of infertility on families. The individual sessions were guided by leading rabbis and physicians, all of whom are leading experts with ample experience in the fields of reproductive medicine and Halacha. The conference was a wonderful opportunity to explore these complex and pressing issues in some depth, and to interact with leading rabbis and physicians in this area of medical ethics.[14]
2006 Organ Donation: A Matter of Life and Death - The Student Medical Ethics Society (MES) Organ Donation Conference had as its goal to educate our moral sense and deepen our understanding of the complex issues relating to organ donation in Jewish law. The conference hosted a range of leading expert rabbis and physicians, who addressed fundamental issues of ethical dilemmas relating to organ donation. The issues explored included: Living organ donation; end of life issues and advanced directives; organ trafficking; and psycho-social issues.[15]
A subsidiary of MES, the Bioethics Journal Club is a chance for students to gather to discuss important issues in contemporary bioethics while gaining vital experience in presenting academic scientific works. On a bimonthly basis, a student presenter will prepare a scholarly article on a topic in bioethics and prepare a presentation for his/her peers. Occasionally, experts in bioethics prepare their own published works and present an insider’s view of the bioethics field. Through a series of presentations, the club aims to; explore broader themes in bioethics and their various practical implications; increase the awareness of students seeking to enter the medical and biological fields about potential ethical issues they will face in the course of their future careers; increase student awareness of medical ethics issues that may potentially arise throughout their lives.[16]
Bone marrow Awareness Month (BAM)
MES has dubbed every February in Yeshiva University “Bone-marrow Awareness Month,” or BAM for short. During BAM, MES holds events on campus dedicated to promoting awareness and discussions about the ethics of whole bone marrow and bone marrow stem cell donations. MES volunteers facilitate drives for the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation, registering potential donors into the international bone marrow database via buccal swabs. MES has been responsible for helping thousands of people register as potential donors.
Genetics Screening
The Program for Jewish Genetic HealthofYeshiva University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine has sponsored Jewish Genetic Disease carrier screenings on YU campuses exclusively to YU studentsat a fee. The Program for Jewish Genetic Health provides young Ashkenazi Jewish singles and couples with accessible and affordable options for “open” genetic testing that will identify “carriers”—individuals who themselves are not affected with the specific disorders but whose offspring are at risk if these carriers marry individuals who also are carriers for the same disorders. Approximately 1 in 4 Ashkenazi Jews are carriers for at least one disorder, which include Tay-Sachs disease, familial dysautonomia and Gaucher disease. The campus screenings follow informational sessions held in conjunction with YU’s Student Medical Ethics Society.[17]
MES has worked with the Gift of Life bone marrow registry for several years. They hold bone marrow oral swabbing events, a bone marrow awareness month (BAM) and their board members volunteer for Gift of Life programs outside of Yeshiva.[18]
Although not directly affiliated with Yeshiva University's Albert Einstein College of Medicine, MES has worked with the institution on a number of events concerning bioethics, genetic screening, and utilizes the deans, professors, and medical professionals for advisement and lectures on medical ethics topics. AECOM also hosts an annual weekend symposium for Yeshiva undergrads, run by MES. MES and Einstein are also involved in Yeshiva University's Program for Jewish Genetic Health
Project YUMED (Yeshiva University Medical Ethics Database)[edit]
After several years of the YU Medical Ethics Society's existence, met dozens of medical, halachik, and lay persons including the present leading experts on Jewish medical ethics have expressed an urgent need for a centralized, easy to access and search, database on Jewish medical ethics and halachik topics. A doctor in an emergency room can have several serious halachik dilemmas every day and will not always have someone available to call, or the time to research the answer (these dilemmas can be serious life and death situations). It has been the dream of the YU Student Medical Ethics Society to create such a database in conglomeration with the Center for the Jewish Future. The issue is that this undertaking requires much time, effort, and expertise in several fields such as web site and database development. The information is available to us, but putting it together into a database is more difficult. This project is expected to take several years to fully complete. We would like now to get the ball rolling and involve those who would like to offer their services and/or advisement. Project founder: Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman
Project YUNMED (Yeshiva University National Medical Ethics Delegation)[edit]
The objective of this project is to provide a forum for bright young students in American Jewish high schools to cultivate their interests and refine their knowledge of the ever expanding field of medical ethics. This will be an amazing opportunity for students of Jewish high schools across the country to explore the confluence of ethics, halakha, and medicine as well as to witness firsthand the wonderful programming offered by Yeshiva University. Project founder: Samual Weprin
Project JMESS (Jewish Medical Ethics Societies Syndicate)[edit]
The objective of this project is to facilitate the creation and growth of Jewish medical ethics societies at colleges outside of Yeshiva University. Project Founder: Ari Rosenberg
Five-minute audio sessions discussing a medical ethics topic by either a rabbinic/medical professional or a YU student. These sessions are distributed by YUtorah.org and weekly emails from the Center for the Jewish Future.
ובחרת בחיים - Undergraduate Medical Ethics Journal[edit]
ū·ḇā·ḥar·tā ba·ḥay·yîm ("Choose Life!"): A student written journal on medical ethics and halakha, published and edited by MES.
