About the Surgical Ethics Working Group

The Surgical Ethics Working Group (SEWG) is an established group of surgeons who meet weekly to discuss current ethical dilemmas as well as collaborate on projects with the goal of improving the ethics associated with clinical care, specifically surgical care. SEWG is committed to bridging the gap in conversation on medical ethics between the medical community and the public. Representing a diverse range of race, age, gender, and specialty, each SEWG member offers unique perspectives and opinions to the conversation surrounding medical ethics. SEWG hopes that by engaging in the conversation now, better patient care and satisfaction will ensure within the healthcare environment.

Theresa Williamson

Theresa Williamson, MD

Co-Chair, Surgical Ethics Working Group, HMS Center for Bioethics
Faculty Neurosurgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School

MGH Profile

Douglas Hanto

Douglas W. Hanto, MD, PhD, MBE

Co-Chair, Surgical Ethics Working Group, HMS Center for Bioethics
Lewis Thomas Professor of Surgery Emeritus, Harvard Medical School
Member, HMS Center for Bioethics

617-281-2349

John Edmund Mayer Jr.

John Edmund Mayer Jr., MD

Senior Associate in Cardiac Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital
Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Fellow in Bioethics

617-355-8258

Martin McKneally

Martin F. McKneally, PhD, MD

Founding Chair and Member of the Surgical Ethics Group, Senior Associate, Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics
Lecturer on Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Professor Emeritus of Surgery, Member of the Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto

781-922-0861

Richard Whyte

Richard Whyte, MD, MBA

Vice Chair of Quality Safety and Clinical Affairs, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School

617-632-8140

Matthew Riley, III,

Matthew Riley, III, MBE, MDiv

Lecturer on Global Health and Social Medicine, Part-time
Member, HMS Center for Bioethics