CEP Impact Statements

Since 1990, the primary mission of the Consortium Ethics Program has always been to provide a cost-effective way to assist health care professionals, their institutions, and local health care communities develop and sustain an awareness and expertise in clinical health care ethics.  And over the years, many of our CEP member representatives and teaching faculty have shared the impact that the CEP has had on both their professional and personal lives.  Below we share just some of that feedback.

As a member from UPMC St. Margaret for the past 5+ years the CEP has helped me to build confidence in my skills and grow the ethics committee in my hospital.  As a result of membership we have implemented Ethics Nursing Grand Rounds and Resident education.  The CEP has also provided education to our nursing and resident physicians with the hospital and participated in our MAGNET survey.  The connections made at the conferences and workshops with people in similar roles has increased my comfort with wellness. (Sarah Austin, MSN, UPMC St. Margaret)

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As a former member of the CEP and then part of the teaching faculty for more than 20 years, my position is that the CEP provides a safe place for learners from various disciplines to learn together and apply that knowledge to improve care in their institutions."  (Judy Black, MD)

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As part of the teaching faculty for the CEP, "I have learned much more than I have taught. The exposure to diverse thinkers and experiences has broadened and deepened my understanding of medical ethics and humankind in general and the civility, respect, and welcoming of diverse opinions create a nurturing environment conducive to not only academic excellence but also "evidence-based wisdom."  (David Korman, JD, retired)

 

Prior to my participation in the CEP I knew ethics played a major role in healthcare, however CEP has provided me with the resources, tools, and knowledge to approach ethical issues in a different light. Each workshop I have attended, has explored various aspects of ethics and how to apply fundamental processes to manage and navigate the issues at hand, while also allowing for freedom of expression and discussion to delve into real world problems.   I have been able to bring the concepts and ideas shared at the CEP workshops back to my team and educate them, thus impacting and empowering my team members to further their knowledge base and ignite a passion for ethics. (Tara Henry, UPMC Health Plan)
 

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"...how grateful I feel to have been a part of the October 2024 workshop with Amy Vandyke, she is an exceptional teacher and master of the content of “all things trauma”, she  made it possible for us to feel we were in good hands and in a safe space. Sharing some of her personal stories laid the groundwork and helped to set the tone so we could go deeper into what we face dealing with trauma-both professionally and personally. I came to the understanding that my 3 year life threatening illness (2019-2021) left me with some trauma induced challenges that still sometimes pop up today. We all just might be “wounded healers”...  what a special time Friday was to me! Keep using your exclamation points!!"  (Maryanne Fello)

 

Since partaking in the CEP, my knowledge and skill set has increased in content areas that are not always discussed within professional or school settings. The speakers, lectures, and presentations have been instrumental and have helped me incorporate tools and resources that I use both professionally and personally. Overall, the CEP is a wonderful program and every event I have attended thus far has been a phenomenal experience!   As a supervisor, this has given me a broader lens of addressing ethical issues within the workplace as well as helping me provide education to my team when ethical issues arise. Furthermore, CEP has helped me look at situations with multiple lenses as opposed to my own perception.  (Brian Canonico, UPMC Health Plan)

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“As an attorney who practiced in the healthcare field for over 30 years, I don’t think there’s a more important area for healthcare practitioners to learn about and practice within, than ethics.  And when I say ‘practice,’ I mean that healthcare practitioners of all kinds need to be knowledgeable of medical ethics, mindful of them, and actively engage them in their patient care practice.  The CEP has done this so well for so long.  It’s been a pure joy to be a part of the CEP teaching faculty.  For me, there’s an enormous feeling that I’m doing good work and, I hope, making a difference of some sort.”  (A. Steinberg, Horty, Springer & Mattern, PC)

 

“With knowledge gained from CEP classes and then applying that knowledge to real life ‘practice,’ I believe that I not only became a better ethics consultant but also a better leader in general.” (Jeanne Graff, ACMH Hospital)

 

“...CEP education was the foundation of my learning, and the hospital and hospice environment brought that learning to life in everyday clinical practice.  I have been able to offer the ethical principles by which many issues can be framed.  Mediation skills learned within the CEP curriculum have become vital not just to my clinical, but also to my management responsibilities” (Maryanne Fello, Forbes Hospice)

 

"...CEP training allowed me to become a co-chair of a system-wide ethics committee" (J. Finn, West Penn Hospital)

 

 "..my involvement with the CEP influenced my decision to obtain a higher education degree..." (L. Moore, Heritage Valley Health System)

 

“Participating in the CEP gave me confidence to lead our ethics team and provided resources to assist in policy development.  CEP seminars have enhanced my understanding of basic ethical principles through complex ethical principles; and I have been able to share information with others on my healthcare team.”  (Anne Pearson, Penn Highlands Health System)

 

“The on-site education provided by the CEP to our hospital staff has been fantastic and very well-received; the information gleaned from the seminar series can be used in many aspects of patient care. I always learn something practical to use in my daily practice.  The CEP seminars have provided me with a clear understanding of caveats of health care decision making, informed consent, and goals of care discussions; the ideas shared have allowed me to broaden my thought process, not only for how I treat patients, but also how I view humanity.” (L. Doverspike, Butler Health System)