Nanette Elster, JD, MPH

Professor

Nanette Elster, JD, MPH, is a professor at the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She is an active educator in the graduate program, teaching a variety of courses in areas related to law, pediatrics, oral health, genetics, and professionalism. She also supervises the graduate program’s writing courses, master's capstone course, and doctoral capstone courses.

She has extensive experience in legal, public health and ethical issues related to women’s and children’s health. She has spoken nationally and internationally and is the author of numerous articles on the legal, health policy and ethical implications of a range of public health issues. She has appeared on such media staples as CNN, Good Morning America, the Today Show, NPR and Chicago Tonight. More recently, she has been quoted in Forbes, Insider, and The Cut, and BMJ.

She served for many years as the chair of the Special Committee on Bioethics and the Law for the American Bar Association and was the Manager of Ethics Outreach for the Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs of the American Dental Association. She is the legal consultant to the Committee on Bioethics for the American Academy of Pediatrics. She also serves on the board of the Alliance for Fertility Preservation. She was elected in 2016 to serve on the executive board of the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE). In 2020, she was elected to a two-year term as board member of the Academy for Professionalism in Health Care (APHC); she was re-elected in 2022 for another two-year term. She is currently a member of the ethics committee of NorthShore University Health System. She was the content director for the American College of Dentists and served as the editor for the Journal of the American College of Dentists.

In 2017, she received an honorary fellowship to the American College of Dentists. This is bestowed on individuals who do not hold a dental degree but have significantly advanced the profession of oral health and have shown exceptional leadership in areas such as education, research, public health, administration, public service, or related fields of health care. This is the highest honor the ACD awards to non-dentists.

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Education

JD, Loyola University, School of Law, Chicago, IL
MPH, Boston University, School of Public Health, Boston, MA

Courses Taught

BEHL 408 Ethics, Genetics & Health Policy
BEHL 420 Advanced Topics in Bioethics and Law
BEHL 427 Professionalism & Professional Ethics
BEHL 429 Pediatric Ethics
BEHL 434 Oral Health Ethics
BEHL 423 Doctoral Capstone I
BEHL 424 Doctoral Capstone II
BEHL 492 Master's Research Capstone
BEHL 491 Bioethics of Pandemics and Public Health Preparedness
BEHL 491 Bioethics of Film and Television
BEHL 491 Adolescent Health Ethics
BEHL 491 Disability Ethics

Publications/Research Listings

PUBLICATIONS

Kelley S, Wasson K, Elster N. (2025) The Not So Obvious Benefits of Ethics Committees: What is Lost Without Them. The American Journal of Bioethics 25(3): 76-78.
Parsi K, Elster N. (2025) Slouching Toward Kakistocracy: Experts Need Not Apply. Bioethics Today, Feb 10.
Elster N, Parsi K. (2025) Autism, Neurodivergence and Transitioning to Adulthood: The Need for Supported Decision-Making and Supported Engagement. Health Progress, Winter.
Elster N, Parsi K. (2024). Beyond Supported Decision-Making: The Need for Supported Engagement for Neurodivergent Adults. The American Journal of Bioethics, 24(8), 1–3.
Elster N, Parsi K (2023) The Infodemic and Healthcare Professionals' Ethical Obligations. Sci Tech Lawyer (Spring).
Olive EJ, Parsi K, Elster N, et al (2022) MEDICAL ETHICS: Fair Game or Fair Warning? Ethical Considerations for Social Media Use in Resident Selection - American Urological Association (auanet.org). American Urological Association
Elster N, Parsi K (eds) (2022) Transitioning to Adulthood with Autism: Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (Springer)
Lanocha N, Tate T, Salter E, Elster N, Matheny Antommaria AH. (2021) Can Parents Restrict Access to Their Adolescent's Voice?: Deciding About a Tracheostomy. Pediatrics 147(4).
Macauley R, Elster N, Fanaroff JM. (2021) Ethical Considerations in Pediatrician's Use of Social Media. Pediatrics.
Elster N, Parsi K. (2021) Oral Health Matters: The Ethics of Providing Oral Health During Covid-19. HEC Forum
Parsi K, Elster N. (2020) "You Took an Oath!": Engaging Medical Students About the Importance of Oaths and Codes Through Film and Television. HEC Forum: doi.org/10.1007/s10730-020-09411-x
Laventhal N, Basak R, Dell ML,Diekema D, Elster N, et al (2020) The Ethics of Creating a Resource Allocation Strategy During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Pediatrics, doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-1243.
Elster N, Parsi K (2020) Like Autism, Representation Falls on a Spectrum. The American Journal of Bioethics 20(4): 4-5.
Elster N, Parsi K. (2020) Transitioning from Adolescence to Adulthood with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Overview of Planning and Legal Issues. Child Adolesc Psychiatric Clinic N Am: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2019.11.003.
Reinecke JD, Elster N, Letourneau J, Bowman-Curci M. (2019) Establishing Insurance Coverage for Iatrogenic Infertility. In: Textbook of Oncofertility Research and Practice, A Multidisciplinary Approach. Spring Publishers; 317-329

PRESENTATIONS

October 2, 2024
Introduction to Bioethics
Northwestern University PA Program, Chicago, IL
September 20, 2024
Autism, Neurodiversity, and Inclusion: Striving for Greater Social Justice through Narrative and Supported Engagement
(with Kayhan Parsi, Samantha Chipman and Ken Richman)
American Society for Bioethics and Humanities Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO
June 4, 2024
Exploring the Role of Social Responsibility in Bridging the Medical and Dental Care Gap
(with Shavonne Healy, Howard Notgarie, and Suzanne Newkirk)
Academy for Professionalism in Health Care, Navigating Ambiguities in Health Care
May 3, 2024
Ethical Issues in Fetal Health
Clinical Innovation, University of Chicago
April 22, 2024
Fertility Law & ART
DePaul Law School, Chicago, IL
April 18, 2024
Pediatric End of Life Issues
Bioethics Network of Ohio
April 12, 2024
Ethical, Legal, and Social Challenges for Neurodivergent Adults in our Communities
Speakers: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH; Kayhan Parsi, PhD, JD, HEC-C
31st Annual Interprofessional Healthcare Ethics Conference, Center for Bioethics & Health Law, University of Pittsburgh
February 29, 2024
Engaging with Neurodiversity Narratives in Healthcare
Speakers: Samantha Chipman, MA; Melanie Gregg, PhD; Nanette Elster, JD, MPH; Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD, HEC-C
The Person in Front of You: 2024 Gold Humanism Summit, Atlanta GA
February 24, 2024
Disability Health Justice Panel: The Need for Medical-Dental Integration - One Educational Step in the Process
Speakers: Emily Carnes, M4; Carla Hanna, M4; Nanette Elster, JD, MPH; Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD, HEC-C
Association for Practical and Professional Ethics, Cincinnati, OH
February 1, 2024
Ethical, Legal, and Social Challenges for Neurodivergent Adults in our Communities
Speakers: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH; Kayhan Parsi, PhD, JD, HEC-C
MCPHS Center for Health Humanities, Boston, MA
November 2, 2023
Autistic and Neurodiverse Adolescents Transitioning to Adulthood: Legal and Ethical Issues
Speakers: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH; Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD, HEC-C
Illinois Statewide Transitional Conference, Bloomington-Normal, IL
October 18, 2023
Disability Justice: Our Ethical Commitments
Speaker: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH
Virginia Commonwealth University
October 14, 2023
Thought Leader Break - Medical-Dental Integration: A Matter of Social Justice
Speakers: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH; Cheryl Austin Casnoff
ASBH 25th Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD
September 27, 2023
Law and Ethics: Complementary, Competing, or Conflicting?
Speakers: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH; Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD
Christus Health Ethics Webinar
June 9, 2023
Educating Medical Students on Disability Health: Creating a New Disability Health Elective
Speakers: Emily Carnes; Nanette Elster, JD, MPH; Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD
Academy for Professionalism in Health Care (APHC)
June 8, 2023
Earned Mistrust: Involuntary (Permanent) Contraception in the US
Speaker: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH
UIC Co-EMCH/IL LEND Alumni Virtual Book Club
June 7, 2023
Neurodiverse and Autistic Adolescent Patients Transitioning to Adulthood: Legal and Ethical Issues
Speakers: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH; Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD
Catholic Health Association: Emerging Topics in Catholic Health Care Ethics
May 20, 2023
Oral Health Ethics: An Overview
Speaker: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH
Indiana Dental Society Midwest Dental Assembly
April 6, 2023
Legal and Ethical Challenges/Questions in Neurodiverse Pediatric Patients Transitioning to Adulthood
Speakers: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH; Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD
Children's National Hospital Ethics Committee
April 4, 2023
Oral Health Ethics: An Overview
Speaker: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH
American Association of Orthodontists
March 31, 2023
Communication in Healthcare: Ethical & Professionalism Challenges and Opportunities in Editing, Scholarly Writing and Social Media
Speakers: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH; Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD; Earl Sewell, MFA
Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE)
March 1, 2023
The Impact of Dobbs Through an Historical Lens
Speaker: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH
2023 Jaharis Symposium (Unplanned Obsolescence: Reproductive Health Care Technology's to a Changing Legal Landscape)
October 27, 2022
The Ethics of Health Care Organizations’ Apologies for Systemic Racism
Panel: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH, Lena Hatchett, PhD, Liz Stokes
24th Annual ASBH Meeting, Portland, OR
October 21, 2022
Lies, Damn Lies & Statistics: Professionalism & Health Care - Misinformation on Social Media
Speakers: Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD; Nanette Elster, JD, MPH
Academy for Professionalism in Health Care (APHC)
October 13, 2022
Making your Voice Heard: Challenges and Opportunities in Editing, Scholarly Writing, and Social Media
Speakers: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH; Earl Sewell, MFA, Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD
American Association of Dental Editors & Journalists (AADEJ) Meeting, Houston, TX
March 16, 2022
Ignatian Pedagogy and Student Advocacy
Speakers: Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD; Nanette Elster, JD, MPH
Ignatian Pedagogy Seminars, Loyola University Chicago
October 16, 2021
Dental Ethics Through the Lens of Covid-19
Speakers: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH; Erik G Klingman, DMD, MPH, MA; Carlos S Smith, DDS, MDiv
ASBH Annual Meeting (Virtual)
February 27, 2021
The Ethical Importance of Clear Communication in the Times of Public Health Crisis
Speakers: Nanette Elster, JD, MPH; Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD
Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE) Annual Meeting
February 11, 2021
From Autistic Savant to Autistic Sauvant: The Narrow Depiction of Autism in Film and Television
Speakers: Kayhan Parsi, PhD, JD, Nanette Elster, JD, MPH
Institute for Bioethics and Humanities, UTMB-Galveston