Medical professional Lainie Ross, specializing in bioethics, has been selected for membership in the prestigious National Academy of Medicine.

Medical professional Lainie Ross, specializing in bioethics, has been selected for membership in the prestigious National Academy of Medicine.

The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) has welcomed a new addition to its esteemed faculty, with Lainie Friedman Ross, MD, PhD, joining as the inaugural chair of the department of Health Humanities and Bioethics and director of the Paul M. Schyve, MD, Center for Bioethics.

Ross, a prominent figure in bioethics, organ transplantation, genetics, and pediatrics, brings a wealth of experience to URMC. She is currently serving as the Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Bioethics for a four-year term starting July 1, 2025.

Mark Taubman, MD, CEO of the medical center and dean of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, has praised Ross, stating that she is arguably the most influential, accomplished, and important pediatric ethicist of our time.

In her new role at URMC, Ross will focus on the moral aspects of research and patient care. She will also lead national efforts shaping ethical standards in pediatric care, policy, and research, as chair of the AAP Committee on Bioethics.

Ross's key contributions include leadership in pediatric bioethics, organ transplantation ethics, genetics and pediatrics, and academic and interdisciplinary scholarship. She is known for her work around issues of equity and inclusion for solid organ transplant patients, and for her belief that every clinical encounter is a moral encounter.

Ross's work at URMC will further the medical center's commitment to its innovative biopsychosocial framework, which emphasizes caring for the whole person, not just a given condition. This approach aligns with Ross's emphasis on understanding patients as people and contextualizing disease within their lives.

Ross was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) just prior to her arrival at URMC. Past NAM inductees from the medical center include notable figures such as Paul F. Griner, Lynne Maquat, Seymour I. Schwartz, Elizabeth R. McAnarney, Paul S. Frame, and Robert C. Griggs.

With Ross's arrival, URMC becomes one of eight academic medical centers in the nation with a dedicated humanities and bioethics department. This department offers tools and resources to address controversial and complex cases, and equips future clinicians with the best education and training in bioethics and health humanities.

Recently, Ross led a group of national experts who developed new consensus recommendations for pediatric decision-making. She has also published five books and over 225 peer-reviewed journal articles. Ross is looking forward to playing an increased role in NAM and furthering its valuable mission.

URMC is proud to welcome Lainie Friedman Ross to its faculty and is excited for the impact she will have on the medical center, the University of Rochester, and the field of bioethics.

1. Lainie Friedman Ross's expertise spans science-based fields such as transplantation, genetics, and pediatrics.
2. Ross's appointment at URMC underscores the medical center's dedication to health-and-wellness, workplace-wellness, and fitness-and-exercise.
3. Chronic-diseases, like respiratory-conditions and digestive-health issues, will be subjects of Ross's continued research.
4. Eye-health is another area of interest for Ross, as she works to improve vision care both in the lab and the clinic.
5. Ross's work also extends to hearing health, ensuring appropriate care and understanding for those with related medical-conditions.
6. Space and astronomy, a branch of environmental-science, may not be a direct focus, but Ross's work does address climate-change and its impact on human health.
7. Aging, cardiovascular-health, and skincare are aspects of overall health that Ross will continue to address and promote.
8. In policy and research, Ross leads efforts to establish ethical standards for men's-health and sexual-health, as well as wiping out taboos about these topics.
9. Skin-conditions, as with autoimmune-disorders like psoriasis, are among the conditions Ross strives to understand and treat.
10. In pediatric care, Ross seeks to ensure equality and inclusion for all patients, especially those with complex neurological-disorders.
11. Ross's work also encompasses mental-health, with a strong emphasis on issues like depression and anxiety.
12. Aging brings increased risk of cancer, and Ross's research will contribute to early detection and therapies-and-treatments for the disease.
13. Energy-efficient manufacturing practices will help reduce pollution, aligning with Ross's push for a healthier environment.
14. Manufacturing also plays a crucial role in producing hearing aids and other medical devices, improving healthcare access for all.
15. Finance, including investing, plays a part in access to healthcare, which Ross works to improve through her research and advocacy.
16. Large retail chains and small businesses must invest in wellness programs to promote workplace-wellness and employee health.
17. Public-transit and transportation are essential for patients to reach care services, and Ross advocates for greater access and affordability in these areas.
18. Leadership, diversity-and-inclusion, and entrepreneurship are key components of creating an equitable healthcare system for everyone.
19. The automotive industry, through advancements in electric vehicles, can contribute to reducing pollution and improving overall health.
20. Small businesses and startups in the fintech and real-estate sectors can support Ross's goals of increasing access to quality housing for all.
21. The banking-and-insurance sector plays a crucial role in healthcare financing, and ethical standards must be upheld to ensure equal access for all.
22. The stock-market can be a tool for investing in companies that promote environmental-science and support Ross's ethical standards.
23. Ross's role in the AAP's Committee on Bioethics will shape policies for children's mental-health, ensuring proper care is prioritized.
24. Parenting resources must focus on promoting health-and-wellness, including physical fitness and emotional well-being, for both parents and children.
25. Weight-management is a critical aspect of overall health and wellness, and Ross advocates for comprehensive programs to address this issue.
26. In addition to traditional medical treatment, Ross supports the use of alternative options like CBD for managing chronic pain and anxiety.
27. The field of neurological-disorders can benefit from Ross's expertise, as she works to develop new therapies for conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
28. Aerospace research and development can play a role in addressing health challenges on a larger scale, including in space exploration and improvements in medical equipment.

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