Capstone

A mentored, hands-on capstone ethics experience complements the Master of Science in Bioethics (MBE) program, tailored to each student’s professional expertise and interests. Our program participants are paired with faculty who are actively working on the front lines of bioethics. Working in collaboration, students actually see and participate in the type of bioethics they will be practicing after graduation. They gain practical, real-life understanding applying what they have learned as they work alongside a bioethics leader in their area of concentration.

Mentored Practical Experience

The capstone experience is a mentored practical experience tailored to each student's professional expertise and interests culminating in a poster presentation in May. Our program participants are paired with faculty who are actively working on the front lines of bioethics.

Working in collaboration with their mentor, students actually see and participate in the type of bioethics they will be practicing after graduation. They gain practical, real-life understanding applying what they have learned as they work alongside a bioethics leader in their area of concentration.

Capstone Seminar

The Capstone Seminar engages intentionally-small sections of students led by a Seminar leader on a weekly basis with occasional larger group meetings on Zoom which bring together speakers and students from multiple sections to share content and increase networking opportunities. The part-time sections meet in the evening hours.

Capstone Symposium

Each year Harvard Medical School and the Center for Bioethics communities recognize and celebrate graduating Master of Science in Bioethics students and their capstone projects. Capstone mentors, faculty, alumni, members of the HMS community and prospective students are in attendance. The capstone symposium program features an address by a keynote speaker followed by a poster presentation and reception.

Celebrating 10 Years as a Community

In 2025, the in-person MBE Capstone Symposium was hosted at the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center on campus as part of the Center's 10th Anniversary Event and Alumni Celebration. The in-person keynote speaker was Neal Baer, MD, MA, MEd, and the virtual keynote speaker was Thos Cochrane, MD, MBA.

View Photos of the Celebration

This Year's Capstone Symposia

The 2026 In-Person MBE Capstone Symposium will be held on Tuesday, April 28th from 3-5pm ET, with a reception to follow from 5-6pm ET in TMEC. The keynote speaker will be Mark R. Mercurio, MD, MA. Registration is required to ensure accurate numbers for seating, catering, and security purposes. MBE students, capstone mentors, and teaching affiliates should have received their special registration links via email and/or Canvas. For all others interested in attending, such as family and friends of the presenters or members of the broader HMS community, please register here. All registrant names will be given to HMS Security. You may be asked to show a valid ID at the door. Those who do not register ahead of time may be denied entry by HMS Security.

The 2026 Virtual MBE Capstone Symposium will be held on Zoom on Tuesday, May 5th from 7-9pm ET. The keynote speaker will be Martha Montello, PhD. Student presentations will be held in breakout rooms. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link and call-in details. Please register here.