Health Humanities
The American Society of Bioethics and Humanities values the intertwining of disciplines through critical and scholarly dialogue that serves to advance the delivery of just and compassionate healing practices. To that end, we hold collaborative, interdisciplinary, and interprofessional activity at the intersection of health humanities and bioethics to be the driving force behind all products and projects of ASBH.
The work of the health humanities is to examine, interpret, and illuminate the representations of human suffering and health in clinical care, public health, and scientific research, and the ethics related to all these endeavors. The health humanities can create spaces where we may interrogate assumptions, hold difficult conversations, and broaden our understandings of the human condition. Practitioners in the health humanities call us to examine the interrelationships among diverse sources of knowledge. They can help us make sense of human experience and the findings of science through creative expression and intellectual analysis.
Graphic Design Contest
The 2025 Program Committee invites ASBH members and nonmembers to submit original art to be featured in the graphic representation of the 2025 ASBH Annual Conference, with an artistic interpretation of the Society and the conference description. Submissions will be accepted from January 21, 2025 through 11:59 PM CT on February 28, 2025. You can view this year's winner and previous winning designs here. Learn more about the contest's rules and terms here.
Health Humanities-Related Affinity Groups
ASBH's affinity groups plan presentations and educational programs; develop position papers, guidelines, and practice standards; monitor and recommend responses to regulatory legislation and ethical issues; and review and recommend research priorities. A number of the affinity groups engage with the humanities. These are listed below, along with the names of the current leaders.
Bioethics and Christian Theology
Travis Pickell, MDiv PhD; Jaime Konerman-Sease, PhD HEC-C
The Bioethics and Christian Theology Affinity Group provides opportunities for deeper engagement on bioethics issues from within the Christian tradition through lectures, discussion, and networking.
Health Humanities
Erin Lamb, PhD; Katherine Burke
History of Medical Ethics
Robert Baker, PhD
The History of Medical Ethics Affinity Group organizes and presents topics on the history of biomedical ethics. It also serves as a meeting point for ASBH members interested in or doing research on the history of biomedical ethics.
Holocaust Genocide Contemporary Bioethics
Matthew K. Wynia, MD MPH FACP
Exploring the legacy of health professional involvement in Nazism and the Holocaust for contemporary bioethics.
Literature & Medicine
Constantine "Kosti" Psimopoulos; Angela Scott, MD, PhD
Philosophy
Nir Ben-Moshe
The Philosophy Affinity Group serves as a forum for those interested in philosophically informed biomedical ethics. We host a session at the annual ASBH conference, as well as additional online sessions, and welcome work from any philosophical perspective, tradition, or methodology.
Philosophy of Medicine
Bryan Cwik; Bryan Pilkington, PhD
The Philosophy of Medicine Affinity Group aims to foster discussion at the intersection of multiple areas of philosophy (especially philosophy of science and bioethics) on medicine.
Religion, Spirituality and Bioethics
Jeff S. Matsler
Annual Conference Proposals and the Health Humanities
The 2025 Call for Proposals is open through 5 PM CT, Monday, March 10, 2025. Learn more or submit a proposal here.
Enrichment Hubs
These sessions or asynchronous activities are thought-provoking, engaging opportunities that do not fit into a traditional session format, to be offered outside the traditional breakout session schedule. Possible ideas include, but are not limited to, problem-solving sessions, storytelling events, collaborative artistic pieces or exhibitions, collaborative events with a local organization or institution, service projects, and organized networking opportunities. Submitters will be asked to indicate the length of time needed for their session, any required resources, and a point of contact for any collaborating organizations. These submissions do not need to be anonymized for the peer review process.
Performances or Exhibitions
These sessions feature work created to be performed or exhibited and invite the audience to reflect critically and in a scholarly manner on relevant issues/topics. Possible formats include, but are not limited to, staged dramatic performances, readers’ theater, movement-based compositions, exhibitions, 2D work, 3D work, projection, sound art, and readings of original work. Performances or Exhibitions may be proposed by one or more presenters and may include more than one performance/exhibition, in which case identifying a critical theme that connects the pieces is strongly recommended. Sessions are 60 minutes and must incorporate at least 15 minutes for audience interaction, questions, and/or other opportunities for response. Proposals should include space requirements and other relevant specifications. These sessions are limited to 4 presenters. We regret that no additional funding is available for producing performance sessions.