University of Texas Medical Branch MD/MPH student Leonard Wang has been selected as a 2025 Medical Fellow for the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE), joining a distinguished cohort of medical, clergy, and journalism professionals for an intensive summer program in Germany and Poland.
FASPE challenges future leaders to confront ethical responsibilities by analyzing the decisions of Nazi-era professionals, offering fellows a unique opportunity to examine historical examples that inform contemporary ethical leadership.
"I am excited to learn from the lived experiences and diverse perspectives of the outstanding medical, clergy, and journalism cohorts," Wang said. "Together, I hope we can examine historical examples to inform our approach to ethical leadership and decision-making."
Wang, currently a Fulbright Scholar pursuing an MSc in Health and Social Policy in Glasgow, Scotland, discovered this opportunity through social media and the mentorship of Dr. Laura Flores, a 2024 FASPE Medical Fellow.
"I thought the program would be a perfect fit for my academic and professional interests," Wang explained. "At UTMB, I served as a trainee member on the Institutional Ethics Committee which opened my eyes to many of the complex ethical challenges faced by academic medical centers and healthcare professionals."
Wang credits his preparation for this opportunity to "continuous support from the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine and several wonderful mentors, especially Dr. Michael Malloy," as he explored medical humanities and professional ethics during his medical education.
Following his Fulbright year, Wang will pursue an MBA at the University of Cambridge as a Rotary Global Grant Scholar before returning to complete his MD/MPH studies at UTMB.