Teacher of the Year

At the University of Colorado School of Medicine, ethics education is more than a course requirement—it’s an experience woven into the fabric of medical training. This year, that commitment was recognized when Chelsey Patten, DBe, HEC-C, Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Ethics at the Center for Bioethics and Humanities, was named the Children’s Hospital Colorado Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) Seminar Teacher of the Year.

The LIC program, envisioned by Jennifer Adams, MD, Associate Dean of Medical Education, is the largest of its kind in the country. It gives second-year medical students early and continuous clinical experience across multiple disciplines, allowing them to follow patients and mentors over time. This innovative model fosters strong relationships, deep learning, and an integrated approach to patient care that sets the CU School of Medicine apart.

Within this framework, ethics education plays a vital role. The Health and Society Curriculum, led by Kristin Furfari, MD, integrates ethics and professionalism throughout the clerkship experience. Core faculty from the Center for Bioethics and Humanities—including Patten, Furfari, and Gianna Morales—facilitate ethics seminars across several LIC sites. Together, they ensure that students are equipped not only with clinical knowledge but also with the skills to navigate complex moral questions in real time.

What makes these sessions unique is their grounding in students’ lived experiences. Rather than working through hypothetical scenarios, students bring cases from their own clinical rotations to explore through an ethics lens. “These conversations are deeply personal,” Patten explains. “Students are reflecting on situations they’ve been part of—how they felt, what they noticed, and how they might approach similar challenges in the future.” This approach helps future physicians develop moral reasoning, empathy, and self-awareness from the very start of their careers.

The LIC staff who nominated Patten highlighted her ability to make those difficult conversations approachable and meaningful. “Patten leads our ethics conversations with unique skill. Students consistently report that she creates a safe space for challenging discussion, sharing a clear passion for ethics with her learners. Patten encourages connection with light-hearted ice breakers before delving into weighty seminar sessions, helping all students to feel a part of the group. We are so grateful for her consistent excellence in leading these seminar afternoons.”

Reflecting on the honor, Patten shared, “It’s an incredible privilege to teach within a program that values ethical reflection as an essential part of becoming a physician. Watching students connect their experiences to broader questions of meaning and morality reminds me every day why this work matters.”

Through the collaborative efforts of the LIC program, the Health and Society Curriculum, and the Center for Bioethics and Humanities, CU School of Medicine continues to set a national example for integrating ethics into medical education—preparing physicians who not only practice skillfully but think deeply and care compassionately.