For healthcare professionals navigating increasingly complex decisions, ethical dilemmas are a daily reality. That work is central to Gabriella Agostaro, PhD, who is the Director of Clinical Ethics at Novant Health, where she oversees the clinical ethics consultation program. She’s also an adjoint instructor for the Graduate Certificate in Bioethics and Humanities in Health, teaching two courses: Moral Distress in Healthcare and the Ethical Care of Patients Living with Dementia. In both classes, she works with students from across disciplines, guiding them through the toughest and most nuanced ethical questions in healthcare.
Ethics isn't extra. Agostaro views ethics as a vital foundation of patient-centered care, and she is passionate about teaching learners of all ages, especially as medicine and technology continue to evolve.
“I was inspired to get involved with the Graduate Certificate in Bioethics and Humanities in Health because I believe in the program’s structure and mission,” Agostaro said. “It’s an accessible format that attracts a diverse group of students, creating meaningful opportunities for discussion and shared learning.”
According to Agostaro, one of the program’s most important contributions is helping “a critical and growing need for healthcare professionals to navigate complex ethical challenges in modern medicine.” As technology advances, the ability to intervene in care has expanded dramatically. That progress also raises new questions.
“Treatments that are technically possible are no longer automatically ethically justified, shifting the central question from ‘Can we do this?’ to ‘Should we do this?’”
Through her courses, students develop the foundation to handle common ethical challenges, which help them recognize and discuss issues with an enhanced perspective. “This program equips students with the ethical frameworks, critical thinking skills, and reflective practice needed to engage responsibly with these nuanced questions,” Agostaro said. These skillsets are especially important as technology and healthcare challenges continue to evolve.
“One of the Certificate’s biggest strengths is the program’s interdisciplinary and expert-driven approach,” she said. “Courses are taught by a diverse group of subject matter experts, which allows students to engage with a wide range of perspectives.”
This environment creates space for meaningful discussion that reflects the realities of healthcare. “Exposure to multiple viewpoints enriches discussion and reflects the real-world complexity of ethical decision-making in healthcare.”
Accessibility is another key component of the program’s value. With flexible formats and scheduling, the certificate is designed to meet students where they are.
“Courses are offered at a variety of times and in multiple formats, making the program well suited for students with demanding professional and personal commitments,” Agostaro said.
In her teaching, Agostaro has observed her students apply ethical concepts in ways that extend beyond the classroom. In the Moral Distress in Healthcare course, students explored a concept that is well recognized in inpatient care, but as the semester progressed, “they began to see how moral distress also manifests in less obvious settings,” she said. Students from a variety of disciplines—including dentistry and research—shared new insights into challenges they have already encountered in their work.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the program is seeing how it changes the way students think about their roles in healthcare. "These courses open students’ eyes to new ways of thinking,” she said.
Agostaro encourages prospective students to start with a single course, even if they are unsure about committing to the full certificate. “There is no long-term commitment required, but the experience itself can be transformative.”
Beyond the coursework, she highlights the value of connection and shared learning. “Students gain the invaluable opportunity to engage and network with an interdisciplinary group of peers, and that can lead to unexpected insights and new professional opportunities.” In a field defined by complexity, those shared experiences can open doors while helping students make an impact in their careers with greater clarity and confidence.
Contact Senior Education Coordinator Laurie Munro, MA, at laurie.munro@cuanschutz.edu to ask questions about curriculum and admissions, and explore whether the certificate could support your next step.
Apply here by June 29 for fall enrollment.