The Center for Bioethics is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Bioethics Teaching Awards, recognizing two extraordinary educators whose dedication and impact have shaped the next generation of bioethics leaders: Louise P. King, MD, JD, recipient of the Medical Student Bioethics Teaching Award, and Kelsey N. Berry, PhD, recipient of the Master’s Student Bioethics Teaching Award.
Dr. King is celebrated not only as an exceptional teacher but also as a crucial leader in the medical ethics community. As the co-director of the Essentials of the Profession: Medical Ethics and Professionalism curriculum, a foundational course for all first-year medical and dental students at Harvard, she has helped shape curriculum development and faculty training at every stage of medical education. Colleagues point out that, "whenever challenging issues arise around teaching sensitive topics, Louise is our go-to advisor, given her depth of understanding and wisdom." Her extraordinary teaching record is reflected in nearly perfect student ratings year after year, a testament to her exceptional ability to connect with and inspire students.
Students have shared their experiences with her, saying:
- "Dr. King is so awesome, I don't even know where to begin... She brought a clear breadth and depth of knowledge and everyone in our cohort benefitted greatly from this."
- "She is extremely knowledgeable and her ability to relate these complex ethical questions to her own lived experiences was extremely valuable... She was really great at pushing our thinking and making us think critically about our points of views. I am very grateful to have had this experience!"
- "This was the absolute highlight of my essentials experience. Dr. King is brilliant, thoughtful, engaging, kind, and fun—it was such a privilege to be able to learn from her."
Described as the "Mary Poppins of Teaching" and "practically perfect in every way," Dr. Kelsey N. Berry has set a high bar in the Foundations of Bioethics classroom since 2019. A natural-born teacher who combines precision with empathy, she creates an environment where students feel truly seen and heard. Her guidance also extends beyond lectures, as she actively supports students facing challenges, helping them find solutions and ensuring each person’s success. Some of the feedback included:
- "Dr. Berry is the best lecturer I have ever had. She presents clearly and concisely and has an incredibly adept way of drawing connections and simplifying complex concepts while helping us apply them to real world scenarios."
- "Kelsey has all the qualities of a role model with kindness and humanity on top. She is someone who walks the walk and talks the talk of bioethics. She genuinely cares about her students and maintains a sense of warmth that is very comforting."
- "Kelsey exemplifies our community learning commitment with her precision and her empathy."
We congratulate Dr. King and Dr. Berry on these well-deserved honors. Their passion and dedication set a powerful example for our bioethics community.
The Center also celebrates the outstanding faculty members who have provided five years of mentorship in the Master of Science in Bioethics capstone experience. With immense gratitude and admiration, we recognize:
- Anthony Weiss, MD
- Charlene A. Galarneau, PhD, MAR
- Insoo Hyun, PhD
- Jennifer McGuirl, DO
- John Peteet, MD
- Stephen D. Brown, MD, FACR, HEC-C