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Rosario Isasi, the new director of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy, is prepared to take on ethical challenges in medicine and health care.
Rosario Isasi, J.D., M.P.H., has been appointed the new director of the Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Her appointment took effect on September 1.
The field of bioethics is rapidly evolving, shaped by emerging scientific discoveries, technological innovation and a deepening understanding of the human condition. In this context, Isasi’s appointment opens the door to fresh perspectives and renewed commitment to ethical inquiry in medicine and health care.
“I am both humbled and energized to take on this role, and I look forward to contributing to the institute’s next chapter of excellence,” said Isasi, who holds faculty appointments in the Miller School’s Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics and the University of Miami School of Law. “This appointment is especially meaningful because the University of Miami has long been my academic home. It was here that I received my first faculty appointment and where I grew as a scholar and leader. Just as important, it is the encouragement, collaboration and spirit of this community that have shaped my path, and it is this same community that makes the next chapter so inspiring.”
Recognized Expertise in Ethics
Isasi is widely recognized in the bioethics community for her expertise in ethical, legal and social issues surrounding genomics, biomedicine and public health. With academic roots in law and bioethics, she has built an impressive career through research, writing and prior leadership roles. She succeeds Kenneth W. Goodman, Ph.D., who founded the institute in 1991 and recently retired from the Miller School.
“It is an honor to follow Dr. Goodman’s leadership,” Isasi said. “His dedication built the institute into a respected voice in bioethics, and I look forward to building on that strong foundation.”
Our vision is bold and forward-looking. We will advance a dynamic model where scholarship, service and teaching reinforce one another, positioning the institute as a leader, locally and globally.
Rosario Isasi
“The institute is now entering a new chapter in its impressive history,” said Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A., dean and chief academic officer of the Miller School, “and Rosario is without question the right person to lead it forward.”
The Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy is a hub for dialogue, research and education on ethical issues in medicine, public health and the life sciences. It serves as a crucible for ideas and a bridge connecting academia, the medical profession and the broader community. The institute’s mission includes advancing knowledge, informing policy and promoting equity in health care delivery and research.
Research: The Foundation of Ethics
“Bioethics must not only interpret the challenges of today but also anticipate those of tomorrow,” Isasi said. “Research will provide the foundation for embedding ethics into science, medicine and policy, ensuring that innovation advances responsibly and with integrity.”
“One of our greatest ethical challenges will involve the appropriate use of technology in medicine and biomedical research,” said Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., chief executive officer of UHealth—University of Miami Health System, executive vice president for health affairs at the University of Miami and founding director of the Desai Sethi Urology Institute. “Our technological tools are becoming increasingly powerful and our first concern should always be the best possible patient outcomes.”
Isasi’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment. She is being tasked with steering the institute into the future.
“Our vision is bold and forward-looking,” she said. “Grounded in three interdependent pillars — innovative research and scholarship, integrated ethics consultation and education and leadership development — we will advance a dynamic model where scholarship, service and teaching reinforce one another, positioning the institute as a leader, locally and globally.”
Education and Mentorship
Isasi considers the most inspiring aspect of this role is the opportunity to mentor and educate.
“By strengthening curricula, fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue and supporting young scholars, we will prepare a new generation of leaders to face the profound ethical questions that define our time,” she said.
“I am delighted that we have someone with the breadth of experience in bioethics research and policy to serve as the next director of the Institute,” said Latha Chandran, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., executive dean for education and policy and the Bernard J. Fogel Chair in Medical Education at the Miller School. “Our NextGenMD curriculum has a major emphasis on bioethics professionalism and professional identity formation. Rosario will certainly enhance the existing training in these topics and augment associated research activities.”
“I step into this role with gratitude, energy and vision,” Isasi said. “What excites me most is working alongside colleagues, students and communities to ensure that ethics remains at the heart of medicine and biomedical innovation. The true measure of our success will be the leaders we inspire, the institutions we guide and the lives we touch.”
Tags: bioethics, Dean Henri Ford, Dr. Dipen J. Parekh, Dr. Latha Chandran, Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy, medical ethics, Newsroom, Rosario Isasi
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