Deadline: 04-Jan-2026
The FASPE Medical Fellowship Program offers an intensive two-week study program in professional ethics and ethical leadership for medical students and residents.
The focus areas of the program include the complicity of medical professionals in the design and execution of Nazi policies, the allocation of medical care in a time of limited resources, the role and limits of contemporary bioethics, including with regards to physician-assisted death, complicated issues in research ethics, including when research is conducted outside of the United States and the impact of technological advancements, the legacy of prejudice in the medical profession, navigating multiple loyalties to individual patients, the larger patient population, the public good, research goals, medical institutions and more, end-of-life care (structured as an interdisciplinary discussion with Clergy Fellows), and tactics for addressing ethical issues within medicine’s institutions.
FASPE Medical challenges Fellows to critically examine constructs, current developments, and issues that raise ethical concerns in their profession within contemporary settings. The program engages participants in exploring the motivations and conduct of German physicians in enabling Nazi policies, drawing on these historical examples to help Fellows better understand their responsibilities as professionals and leaders in their communities.
FASPE is committed to covering all program costs and related travel so that financial ability does not affect participation. This includes roundtrip economy-class airfare from the US to Europe, all transportation expenses for group travel and activities in Germany and Poland, admission fees, program materials, hotel accommodations, and group meals. In addition, participants receive pocket money to cover non-group meals, ensuring that every aspect of the experience is fully supported.
Each year, FASPE Medical awards fully funded fellowships to 13 to 16 medical students and residents. Fellows travel to Berlin and Poland, visiting key sites of Nazi history and participating in daily seminars led by expert faculty. The program blends the power of place with academic rigor and creates opportunities for creative exchange, both within medical cohorts and across interdisciplinary groups that include Clergy and Journalism Fellows.
FASPE seeks graduate students and early-career professionals in formative stages of developing their professional identity and influence as leaders in their fields. The below guidelines should be considered when choosing whether to apply. Applications that do not strictly adhere to these guidelines will still be considered, but preference may be given to those that are more closely aligned with the outlined eligibility parameters. FASPE Medical applicants must fit into one of the following categories: are enrolled in an MD or DO program (or equivalent) at the time of their application and anticipate completion of at least one clinical year prior to the start of the fellowship; are enrolled in a residency program. FASPE seeks Medical Fellows with diverse interests and backgrounds, including those pursuing careers practicing medicine, in research, or in public health. FASPE seeks Fellows at a formative stage of their professional lives, who are open-minded and self-reflective, demonstrate leadership capabilities, and possess the potential of having influence in their fields.
FASPE selects its Fellows on the basis of their academic background, personal and professional experiences, capacity for leadership, and ability to contribute to the Fellowship program and the alumni community. FASPE values and seeks to create inclusive environments, and welcomes applicants of all religious, political, and socioeconomic backgrounds as well as gender identities. FASPE seeks Fellows who are interested in engaging in discussions with their co-Fellows and faculty, and who have the intellectual and emotional maturity to discuss difficult and controversial issues responsibly and respectfully in small group settings. All applications are welcome and reviewed.
Applications require an online form, a resume or CV, transcripts, responses to short essay questions, and two letters of recommendation. Letters should emphasize the applicant’s academic and professional strengths, participation in discussions, capacity to handle intellectually intense exchanges, leadership potential, and ability to work collaboratively in small groups.
For more information, visit FASPE.
