February 2016 Newsletter

Through its events and activities, which include an annual Summer School on Global Bioethics, GBI seeks to keep the international community, policy decision-makers, the media, and the general public informed and aware of important bioethical issues. Such awareness is essential for making informed decisions and fostering public debate. Using various platforms, we at GBI are able to promote our motto “Doing bioethics in real life!”

GBI is also an active member of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), a global initiative that aligns institutions of higher education with the United Nations in furthering the realization of the purposes and mandate of the Organization through activities and research in shared culture of intellectual social responsibility.

Global Bioethics Initiative enjoys a special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, the UN’s central platform for debate, reflection, and innovative thinking on sustainable development.

“My first impression of the International Bioethics Summer School in Manhattan can be summed up in four words, INSIGHTFUL, INFORMATIVE, EDUCATIVE AND HELPFUL. The program is well organized and the Professors are amiable, accommodating and very resourceful. They know their subjects very well too. Based on this, I will highly recommend this course for both students and professionals in the field of Bioethics anywhere in the world.” – Sampson Addo, Research Development Officer, College of Basic and Applied Sciences,University of Ghana, Ghana

“It has been two weeks since the start of the Summer School in Bioethics in Manhattan and it has been a real eye opener. The participants are a very diverse group ranging from High school majors to established professionals, which makes the class very vibrant and thought provoking. I am very honored to be part of this wonderful experience. The highlight for last week was the invitation to the United Nations General Assembly as guests of the Romanian ambassador to be part of the One World Concert. This marked 70 years since the signing of the United Nations Charter. What an enjoyable experience it was to see all the different choirs and cultures coming together. I can’t think of a more fitting symbolism for what Global Bioethics Initiative stands for.”– Pinky Chirwa, Neonatologist, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, South Africa

“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend my first summer working in New York City. I truly enjoyed participating in the Summer School, as well as working as an intern and learning the behind the scenes operations of a non-governmental organization.” – Agata Ferretti, Graduate Student, The University of Milan, Italy

“Attending the GBI Summer School was a once in a lifetime opportunity! The lectures were fascinating and I loved how much I learned about how bioethics applies to the real world. I also loved the camaraderie that was formed as the class got to know each other over the course of the five weeks.” – Eija Lindroos, Graduate Student, University of Turku , Finland

Dr. Bruce Gelb, Director of Renal Transplantation, Department of Transplant Surgery NYU Langone Medical Center and GBI Board Member accompanies 2015 students to the United Nations feild trip.