Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD, HEC-C

Professor & Graduate Program Director

Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD, is a tenured Professor of Bioethics & Health Policy at the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics, Loyola University Chicago, having joined the faculty in January, 2002. He is also the director of the graduate programs in bioethics (certificate, master’s, and doctoral degrees), which are delivered primarily online. The bioethics graduate programs have grown to be one of the most thriving graduate programs at Loyola, having graduated many successful alumni. He is the moderator for Loyola Bioethics Live, a monthly program where Loyola faculty, students and guests discuss their work in an informal online format. In 2018, he was named Graduate Faculty Member of the Year at Loyola University Chicago.

He has served as a co-course director for Patient-Centered Medicine for the first year medical students at Stritch and is also a small group facilitator for both PCM-1 and PCM-3. He serves on the LUHS ethics committee and is an ethics consultant for LUHS. He became certified in 2019 by the HCEC Certification Commission and now holds the Healthcare Ethics Consultant-Certified (HEC-C) credential.

He has published in a variety of areas and has interests in clinical ethics, medical ethics education, professionalism and professional ethics, global health and justice, media and bioethics, the history of medicine and bioethics, and autism and neurodiversity. He has been an adjunct professor at Northwestern University Law School and UIC College of Medicine.

Dr. Parsi was elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2007 to the nominating committee of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities, the major professional organization for bioethicists and medical humanities scholars in the United States. He was elected in 2009 to a 3-year term to the Board of Directors of ASBH.  He was elected in 2015 to serve a two-year term as Treasurer of ASBH. He was elected in 2019 as president-elect of ASBH. He began a two-year term as President of ASBH in October, 2021.

He also served as a member of the Public Interest Panel of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education from 2004 to 2006. He served as the chair of the Council of Graduate School Programs at Loyola for the year 2007-2008.  He became chair of the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure (CART) for the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in 2016.

In 2009, he was invited to serve as a book review editor for the American Journal of Bioethics (AJOB). In 2012, he was invited to serve as an associate editor for AJOB, one of the highest impact journals in bioethics. In 2020, he started moderating AJOB webinars on a variety of topics. More recently, he has been quoted in various media outlets, such as Forbes, Insider, and BMJ. He was also quoted in Medical Ethics Advisor about the Joint Commission’s decision to update its ethics standard (“The [hospital] develops and implements a process that allows staff, [patients], and families to address ethical issues or issues prone to conflict.”)

From 1997 to 2001, he worked at the Institute for Ethics at the American Medical Association (AMA). As Director of Academic Affairs, he supervised the Institute's Fellowship and Externship Programs, as well as the seminar and lecture series. He was a senior editor for the Virtual Mentor (now the AMA Journal of Ethics).

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Education

• JD, University of Houston Law Center, Houston, TX
• PhD, Medical Humanities, University of Texas Medical Branch of Galveston, Galveston, TX

Professional/Community Affiliations

• Institute for Ethics at the American Medical Association, Bioethics

Courses Taught

• BEHL 402 Justice and Health Care
• BEHL 406 Principles of Health Care Ethics
• BEHL 410 Ethics Consultation Simulation Seminar
• BEHL 413 History of Medicine & Bioethics
• BEHL 417 Narrative Bioethics
• BEHL 427 Professionalism & Professional Ethics
• BEHL 491 Bioethics of Pandemics and Public Health Preparedness
• BEHL 491 Bioethics of Film and Television

Publications/Research Listings

PUBLICATIONS

• 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.
• Parsi K. (2024) Death of a Healthcare CEO: Physical Violence, Structural Violence and Social (In)justice. Bioethics Today, Dec 10. 
• Parsi K. (2024) Have We Finally Amused Ourselves to Death? the Triumph of Entertainment Values over Civic Virtues. Bioethics Today, Nov. 18. 
• Ray K, Blumenthal Barby J, Parsi K, Magnus D. (2024) The Future of Bioethics: Striving for a More Diverse and Inclusive Bioethics. The American Journal of Bioethics 24(9): 1-2. 
• 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.
• Omelianchuk A, Ansari AA, Parsi K (2023) What Is It That You Want Me To Do? Guidance for Ethics Consultants in Complex Discharge Cases. HEC Forum. 
• 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
• Parsi K (2022) Ethical Issues in Complex Discharge Cases in Thorny Issues in Clinical Ethics Consultations (eds. K. Wasson and M. Kuczewski) (Springer)
• Elster N, Parsi K (eds) (2022) Transitioning to Adulthood with Autism: Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (Springer)
• Parsi K, Dudzinski DM (2022) The Need for Praxis in Combating the Race Idea in Bioethics: Theory, Refelction and Action. AJOB 2(3).
• Zientek D, Parsi K. (2021) Just Distribution of Cardiovascular Resources: The Left Ventricular Assist Device. Ethical Issues in Cardiovascular Medicine, edited by David M. Zientek and Mark J. Cherry (Routledge Press)
• Elster N, Parsi K. (2021) Oral Health Matters: The Ethics of Providing Oral Health During Covid-19. HEC Forum
• Klugman C, Michelson K, Parsi K. (2020). Local Bioethicists Respond to the Pandemic: The Birth of the Covid-19 Chicago Bioethics Coalition (CBC). Bioethics.Net June 5th.
• 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
• 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.
• Parsi, K, Winslade WJ. Why Dax's Case Still Matters. The American Journal of Bioethics 2019; 19(9): 8-10.
• Wasson K, Adams WH, Berkowitz K, Danis M, Derse AR, Kuczewski MG, McCarthy M, Parsi K, Tarzian AJ. What Is the Minimal Competency for a Clinical Ethics Consult Simulation? Setting a Standard for Use of the Assessing Clinical Ethics Skills (ACES) Tool. AJOB Empirical Bioethics 2019; DOI: 10.1080/23294515.2019.1634653.
• Parsi, K. Review of Christopher Meyers, The Professional Ethics Toolkit. The American Journal of Bioethics 2019 19(6).
• Southworth E, Parsi K. How Should a Physician Counsel a Vegan Patient With IBD Who Might Benefit from Supplements? AMA Journal of Ethics 2018; 20(11): E1025-32
  
  

PRESENTATIONS

• October 2, 2024
  Ethical, Legal, and Social Challenges for Neurodivergent Adults in our Communities
  Providence Center for Health Care Ethics, Portland, OR
• October 1, 2024
  The "Stuck" Patient: Ethical and Legal Issues in Complex Discharge Cases
  Providence Center for Health Care Ethics, Portland, OR
• October 1, 2024
  The Infodemic and Healthcare Professionals' Ethical Obligations
  Providence Center for Health Care Ethics, Portland, OR
• September 20, 2024
  Autism, Neurodiversity, and Inclusion: Striving for Greater Social Justice through Narrative and Supported Engagement
  (with N. Elster, S. Chipman, and K Richman)
  ASBH Meeting, St Louis, MO
• 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 25, 2023
  Ethical and Legal Issues in Complex Discharge Cases
  Speaker: Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD, HEC-C
  Internal Medicine Grand Rounds, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital
• October 14, 2023
  Interrogating the Bioethics of Family Policing
  Speaker: Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD, HEC-C
  ASBH 25th Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD
• October 12, 2023
  President's Welcome and Opening Address
  Keynote: Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD, HEC-C
  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
• August 4, 2023
  Ethical Issues in Complex Discharge Cases
  Speaker: Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD, HEC-C
  Summer Seminar in Healthcare Ethics, University of Washington
• June 29, 2023
  The Days are Long But the Years Are Short: Reflections by an Ethicist-Humanist as the Institute Turns 50
  Keynote Speaker: Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD, HEC-C
  The Institute for Bioethics and Health Humanities, UTMB-Galveston
• 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 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
• 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
• 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)
• October 21, 2022
  Lies, Damn Lies & Statistics: Professionalism & Health Care - Misinformation on Social Media
  Spekers: 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
• February 9, 2022
  Complex Discharges: Ethical and Legal Concerns
  Speaker: Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD, HEC-C
  Catholic Health Association
• December 8, 2021
  A Brief History of Vaccine Mandates
  Speaker: Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD
  American Health Law Association Webinar
• September 18, 2021
  Ask the Bioethicist: Informed Consent and Controversy Over Radioactive Iodine in Thyroid Cancer
  Speaker: Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD
  The Endocrine Ethics Association Inaugural Fall Conference (Virtual)
• May 4 2021
  Expertise in the Time of COVID: Who has it? Who should have it?
  Speakers: Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD, Jennifer Oliva, JD, Chelsea Barrett, MBA, MI, Peter Wicks, PhD
  Moderator: Bryan Pilkington, PhD
  Covid Ethics Series, Seton Hall University
• April 23, 2021
  Complex Discharges and the Undocumented and Unrepresented: Ethical and Legal Concerns
  Speaker: Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD
  Bioethics Network of Ohio (BENO) 30^th Annual Conference
• April 6, 2021
  The Brave (But Not So) New World of Telehealth: Opportunities and Challenges
  Speaker: Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD
  SSOM AMA & BIG
• 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 Dipiction of Autism in Film and Television
  Speakers: Kayhan Parsi, PhD, JD, Nanette Elster, JD, MPH
  Institute for Bioethics and Humanities, UTMB-Galveston