2023 Winner

Ian Stevens, MA, is a research assistant at the Oregon Health & Science University's Human Electrophysiology Lab and graduate student at the Harvard Medical School's Center for Bioethics. He received his MA in philosophy from the University of Tasmania in Australia. His prior publications have focused on the ethical examination of developing neurotechnologies, particularly deep-brain stimulation devices. While at Harvard, he is interested in exploring the topics of clinical and research neuroethics as they apply to the field of pediatric neurosurgery.

Read Ian's essay: "The Ethical Nuances of Neurosurgical Innovation from the Perspective of Novel Closed-Loop Deep Brain Stimulation Devices"

2023 Honorable Mention

Jessica Marengo, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She earned both her BS in Rehabilitation Science and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Northeastern University, where she has since worked as a lab instructor and teaching assistant. Jessica is an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh. She has presented nationally at the American Physical Therapy Association's Combined Sections Meeting. Her clinical practice is centered around critical care rehabilitation including treating patients following heart and lung transplantation. These clinical scenarios have informed her interest in bioethics education.

Read Jessica's essay: "Mandated Insurance Coverage of Assisted Reproduction for LGBTQ Individuals: A Quest for Reproductive Equity"

*This award is funded by a fund originally created as the Dr. Henry K. Beecher Prize. Before 2026, the Annual Bioethics Essay Award was referred to as the Beecher Prize.