Dalton News

Columbia University Bioethicist Zoom Visits Dalton’s High School Class

HS Biology teacher Ron Schollenberger’s 11th/12th grade Bioethics class had the pleasure of hosting a guest Zoom visit by Columbia University Bioethicist (and Dalton parent) Dr. Barbra Rothschild on April 14.
After our transition to Digital Dalton, Dr. Rothschild immediately volunteered to visit Scholl’s class to share her wealth of experiences and knowledge in the field. Having already taught some of her own classes digitally over the years, Dr. Rothschild seamlessly entered into the world of Digital Dalton. 

Her Zoom presentation primarily focused on various types of Assisted Reproduction Technologies and the associated bioethical issues surrounding their uses. Students were provided with some videos and readings beforehand to prepare for her presentation, and Dr. Rothschild was able to engage them in a lively give and take discussion. She described interesting bioethical dilemmas and then posed questions for them to ponder. Students shared some thoughtful answers and questions.

Emily Saxl ’21: “I thought that the issue of much older women becoming mothers through in vitro fertilization was a fascinating topic that I have never really considered. It brings in legal, medical, and ethical questions, as so many bioethical issues do.”

Theo Strauss ’20: “Dr. Rothschild discussed Assisted Reproductive Technologies and specific controversial cases that dealt with the ethics of ART. An interesting case concerned a man who paid for a surrogate to be fertilized by his sperm, carry the child to term, and then transfer the baby to the man. However, the woman who carried the baby did not want to give up the child once it had been born. And that carried with it a number of interesting bioethical considerations.”

The Bioethics class thanks Dr. Rothschild for taking the time to visit them during Digital Dalton days. She gave them a great deal to think about both during the presentation and afterwards, and we hope that she will visit the Bioethics class again in the future (hopefully in person next time!).

Dr. Rothschild is currently an internist at Columbia University with a research interest in human subjects research ethics and in community engagement. Her multiple research interests have included early phase clinical trial research, the concept of ownership of biologic samples collected for research, and the notion of consent in human subjects research. She is also currently a visiting scholar at the Hastings Center in Garrison, N.Y. studying the moral underpinnings of healthcare finance decision-making. 

Story submitted by High School Science Teacher Ron Schollenberger
Back
(Grades K-3) 53 East 91st Street
New York, NY 10128
General: (212) 423-5200 | Admissions: (212) 423-5463
General: info@dalton.org | Admissions: fpadmissions@dalton.org

(Gr. 4 Dalton East & PE Center) 200 East 87th Street
New York, NY 10128
General: (212) 423-5200 | Admissions: (212) 423-5262
General: info@dalton.org | Admissions: admissionsmshs@dalton.org

(Grade 5-12) 108 East 89th Street
New York, NY 10128
General: (212) 423-5200 | Admissions: (212) 423-5262
General: info@dalton.org | Admissions: admissionsmshs@dalton.org