Clinical Ethicist

Major Responsibilities:

• Responds to ethics consultation requests from team members, patients, family, substitute/surrogate decision makers, and others involved in the patient's care. Assesses medical facts, patient/decision-maker’s beliefs and values, and contextual factors through review of the medical record, relevant documentation, and conversation with relevant stakeholders. Effectively communicates clinical, social, and contextual information.
• Assists with identifying the ethical values held by the individuals related to the case, including the patient's moral framework, values, goals of care and preferences, and analyzes ethical principles pertinent to cases.
• Mediates and helps resolve communication issues, conflicts, or dilemmas related to patient care.
• Identifies non-ethics issues raised during consultation that may warrant notification to partner areas such as, but not limited to, Medical Staff Leadership, Administration, Civil Rights, Compliance, Human Resources, Legal, Clinical Risk Management, Mission and Spiritual Care, and/or other system departments.
• Maintains clear and comprehensive documentation for ethics consultations, including notes in patient's electronic health record if appropriate. Provides timely case handoffs, follow up, and continuity of service.
• Participates in Clinical Ethics Team on–call schedule on weekday evenings and weekends (no overnight responsibilities).
• Supports the infrastructure and activities of specific ethics committees.
• Presents summaries of ethics consultations to ethics committees and service lines, and contributes to Ethics Program Dashboard to summarize consultation data, education and policy work.
• Leads consultation, education, and policy support and training for ethics committees, as assigned by Director, Ethics.
• Educates medical residents and health professions students.
• If/when the Department hosts a fellow and/or intern, collaborates on consultation and other activities, which may include serving as a preceptor or mentor.
• Provides ethics-related support to team members upon request and as part of system ethics initiatives and events, moral distress debriefs, organizational strategy, and quality improvement projects. Supports clinical, organizational, and social ethics projects, and other duties as assigned by Director, Ethics. Keeps abreast of developments in and contributes to the field of bioethics.
• This is a hybrid role. The balance of remote work and time on-site at locations in Wisconsin and Illinois will be determined by departmental needs.                                                                             

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• None Required.

Education Required:

• Master's Degree in Health Care Ethics or related field.

Experience Required:

• Typically requires 3-4 years of experience in ethics consultation, as well as previous experience serving on, and/or leading, an ethics committee.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Demonstrated knowledge, skills and attributes as defined in the Core Competencies for Health Care Ethics Consultation (ASBH).
• Collaborative approach to working within a small team of clinical ethicists, sharing consultation responsibilities and collaborating on ethical analysis, particularly for complex, uncertain, or high‑risk cases.
• Desire to actively support other members of the Ethics team during periods of high workload.
• Ability to support ethically sound practices, even when controversial or uncomfortable.
• Openness to giving and receiving constructive feedback in support of team learning and ethical rigor.
• Understanding that emotions, beliefs, and moral standards interact in morally relevant ways.
• Proactive, energetic approach to identifying opportunities for process and service improvement.
• Flexibility and adaptability to meet the evolving needs of the Ethics department.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office or similar products.
• Ability to work in stressful situations, with incomplete information, under time pressure, and with emotionally distraught people.

Essential Interpersonal Qualities

• Maintains a calm, supportive presence in high‑stress, high‑stakes clinical situations.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive situations and communications with confidentiality and professionalism.
• Willingness to raise ethically complex issues and address moral concerns directly and respectfully.
• Maintains impartiality and credibility with all stakeholders; avoids advocacy for any single party while supporting ethical clarity and fairness.
• Engages with differing worldviews without assumptions or bias.
• Respects cultural, religious, and social diversity in patients, families, and staff.
• Builds trust through consistency, reliability, and ethical integrity.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Exposure to normal office environment.
• May be exposed to normal hazards while in the health care facility environment.
• The position requires travel and therefore there is exposure to weather and road conditions.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.