Bioethics Bowl Competition 2023

The event featured three main rounds where 11 pairs of teams from 18 colleges and universities from across the country squared off with one another in discussions of pressing ethical issues facing medical professionals today. The two highest scoring teams then advanced to a championship round where Georgetown University defeated The University of Maryland Baltimore County in an impressive performance. Each round gave the two competing teams the chance to answer a question about one of the 11 cases distributed by the event organizers in advance and to field questions about their response from the competing team and the judges. Baylor’s two teams performed remarkably well, and several judges approached me to commend them on their academic excellence and their collegial manner.

Thanks to Harrison Lee, Mike Willenborg, Rich Eva, Caitlin Maples, Libby Regnerus, Tyler Sharp, and Levi Durham for their excellent coaching work and to all the students who both competed and helped with research in preparation for the bowl!

Student participant quotes: 

“This was my third and final year participating at the bioethics bowl. I am extremely grateful that I got to experience meaningful discussions, brilliant people, and lifelong memories. The bioethics bowl taught me that controversial opinions should not tear us apart; rather, bring us closer together as we share ideas, and find the most ethical solutions.” - Jenn Jung

“Getting the opportunity to participate at the National Bioethics Bowl this year was an experience that not only served as a way to engage with different students on complex ethical issues in healthcare, but also challenged me and helped further my critical thinking, communication, and networking skills. The event was beyond rewarding and it motivated me to continue engaging with these current ethical issues that will inevitably be faced in professional and personal settings. I would highly recommend those who have an interest in bioethics to look into participating next year, as it has proven to be a remarkable way to achieve a more nuanced understanding of biomedical ethics and its importance within our society.” - Zaahra Mehdi

“The National Bioethics Bowl provided an opportunity to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of students to evaluate case studies of some of the most contentious issues facing healthcare professionals today. While the structure of this competition is very similar to a debate, teams are neither assigned a particular position nor expected to take the opposite stance of their opponents. This led the discussions to resemble real-world scenarios where clinical bioethicists and patients alike have interests much more accurately in the moral consequences of medical decisions. Our team received multiple comments from judges and competitors praising our respectful approach to establishing a healthy dialogue during rounds. We constructed our ethical arguments by integrating scientific, legal, and philosophical reasoning. This competition provided an excellent application to apply knowledge and skills gained in medical humanities courses, as the cases implicated issues ranging from disability ethics and defining the purpose of medicine to the structures of national health care systems. Engaging with students from other universities exposed me to perspectives on these issues that I had not previously considered. The ability to acknowledge and evaluate strong positions different from your own is critical to foster meaningful discussion of topics that are traditionally quite emotionally charged and morally consequential.”- Harrison Rennie

“The Bowl this weekend gave me an opportunity to see bioethics in action on a national scale, and see these important discussions unfold first-hand. I was able to connect with like-minded peers and deepen my individual thought at the intersection of philosophy and science. Moreover, I am excited to see how the bioethics conversation unfolds in the future at Baylor!”- Sai Sagireddy

“I am thankful to have been able to participate in meaningful discussions with fellow students from around the country and hear their arguments on ethical issues relevant to our modern world. My favorite aspect of the event was listening to other team’s rebuttals because the opposing team would raise many interesting questions about our arguments that challenged us to think more deeply. The spirit of the event is truly collaborative, and the students, judges, coaches, and moderators’ enthusiasm made for an excellent day.”- Madilyn Johnson

Coach and Grad Student, Harrison Lee stated: "The National Bioethics Bowl Promotes rigorous thinking about issues shaping the ethical landscape of biomedical research and clinical practice in the modern world. It prepares future medical professionals to navigate those issues responsibly and encourages all who participate to live more fully examined lives. Finally, the bowl helps students learn how to debate controversial topics in a spirit of respectful collaboration. I am grateful to the organizers of the event and proud of our students for their hard work leading to exemplary performances."