Putting Perspectives in Perspective
For Michael Young ’11, it’s important to act when he sees something wrong. This is the advice his grandparents, both holocaust survivors, always told him. This guiding principle, combined with his life experiences, has led him toward a life of ethical questioning.
“Bioethics is the interface of my two interests, medicine and philosophy,” he said. “The idea behind bioethics is especially important for my generation and issues we will face.”
Since coming to UMBC in fall 2008 as a transfer student, Young has taken every opportunity to learn more about bioethics. He joined the Bioethics Student Association (BSA) and then attended the National Undergraduate Bioethics Conference at Harvard University, along with other UMBC students. He also applied for and was offered a prestigious internship with Yale University’s Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics, one of a handful of students selected from across the country. He will spend the summer of 2009 in New Haven, where he will complete research and “get a feel for what a bioethicist does.” In the months before and after his internship, he will work at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in the Bioethics Department.
The diversity of UMBC’s campus attracted Young to enroll at UMBC, and he has not been disappointed.
“I like having friends from different backgrounds,” he said. “It helps to be at a place like UMBC because you can put your own perspectives into perspective. It gives me an opportunity to understand what separates us and yet brings us together.”
In addition to his involvement with the BSA, Young also participates in the Fencing Club and is on the editorial staff of Bartleby, the University’s literary magazine. He is also active in Healing Harmonies, a student volunteer organization for musicians. Through these organizations, he has been introduced to new ideas and exposed perspectives, something he feels all students should experience in college.
“Students should study in an environment in which they are exposed to new ideas, and UMBC offers that in a way that exceeds other colleges,” he said.
Although Young isn’t set on his future plans, he knows he wants to focus on medicine in conjunction with philosophy. He hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Philosophy along with an M.D. He thinks each field enhances and strengthens the other.
Young also believes that not only will he have to act – as an individual – but society must also play a role.
“I personally feel that what society will need are leaders that can understand the ethical implications of facts. We need guidance from leaders in a diverse way.”
To read more about Young and the students who attended the National Undergraduate Bioethics Conference, visit http://www.umbc.edu/research/blog/2009/03/umbc_bioethics_association_stu_1.html.
(4/3/09)
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