Ethics and Humanities
Valuing ethical leadership and the enriching aspects of humanities education, USD prioritizes nurturing the well-rounded growth of our future healthcare professionals.
At USD Sanford School of Medicine, we know the humanities can help foster such understanding for our students and faculty. We highly value educating our future healthcare professionals in ethical leadership and the enriching aspects of humanities education, for a well-rounded development approach. The school’s Section of Ethics and Humanities, established in 1995, has championed an integrated exposure to a range of humanities.
Faculty & Staff
Get to know the faculty and staff that contributing to your education in humanities and ethics in the field of medicine.
Ann Cook
Professor
Gretchen Spars
SSOM, Clinical Associate Professor
Daniel Mark
Clinical Assistant Professor
Luann Eidsness
Professor
Amber Allen
Clinical Instructor
Peter Hoesing
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Cameo Anders
Assistant Professor
Ellen Schellinger
SSOM, Assistant Professor
Jordan Baye
Clinical Assistant Professor
Michael Gibbs
Clinical Instructor
Daniel Heinemann
Clinical Professor
Jennifer Keating
Assistant Professor
Lora Black
Clinical Assistant Professor
AnnMilliken Pederson
Adjunct Professor
Tiffany VonWald
Professor
Matthew Simmons
Associate Dean, SSOM RC Campus
Connie Taylor
Assistant Professor
Anna Simonson
Hlth Sci & Research Svcs Lib
Jacob Weasel
Assist Dean, SSOM Diversity & Inclusion
Jason Freeman
Clinical Instructor
Jamie Messerli
Clinical Instructor
Jane Joyner
Clinical Assistant Professor
Sheila Agee
Instructor
Bioethics Certificate
The bioethics certificate equips physicians with the skills to make informed decisions in complex health and human service situations, with a focus on professionalism and ethical challenges in underserved areas. This training fosters responsive and confident physicians, providing them with leadership skills that will benefit them throughout their residency and medical practice.
Learn More 
Arts in Medicine
This project includes a focus on the visual arts, revealing what we might otherwise fail to see. Enhanced perception can promote the wisdom and empathy that fosters excellent patient care.
Learn More about Arts in Medicine 
Kindness Initiative
USD Sanford School of Medicine's "Kindness Initiative" implements compassion-focused curriculum aimed at achieving better healthcare.
Explore the Kindness Initiative 
Neurosciences
Providing students with the knowledge and experiences of conditions that effect the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves.
