Cultural Influences on Bioethics and Health
Bringing together religious studies, bioethics and health humanities.
The program on Cultural Influences on Bioethics and Health explores how culture – and especially religion – affects bioethics, health care and public health.
It continues to highlight Jewish contributions while expanding the focus to include diverse religious and cultural traditions. Through public events, teaching and scholarship, the program seeks to counter misinformation and reduce prejudice and promote understanding by engaging students, trainees, practicing physicians and community members of all backgrounds.
The program is led by the University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities, located at CU Anschutz, in close collaboration with the Jewish Studies Program at CU Boulder.
Fostering inclusive, interdisciplinary ethical dialogue about religion and other cultural factors that influence health outcomes, clinical care, public health, research, and training in the health professions.
Why This Program?
Medicine has always been shaped by culture, religion and values. From life-and-death decisions to daily clinical encounters, spiritual and cultural traditions influence how people seek care, how clinicians provide it and how ethical choices are made.
This program expands the dialogue on these issues, ensuring that medicine remains ethically grounded and culturally informed.
Why study with the Center for Bioethics and Humanities?
With a history of integrating ethics, humanities and clinical training, the Center builds on Dr. Helen Morris’s gift and legacy to foster an inclusive, interdisciplinary space where scholarship meets lived experience.
Why is understanding cultural influences important now?
We live in a time of profound challenges: ethical dilemmas in healthcare, cultural divides and questions of trust in science and institutions. Medicine needs spaces where diverse traditions can come together to strengthen compassion, cultural humility and trust.
Get Involved
We create space for connection, reflection and inspiration at the intersections of medicine, religion and ethics. If you have an idea for a gathering, lecture or project, reach out. We would love to hear from you.
Your gift makes a difference. We appreciate any contribution, great or small! For information about donations to support the Cultural Influences on Bioethics and Health program, please email Carly Werbos or call her at 609-760-1599 in the Office of Advancement.