From the operating room to the ethics committee, Dr. Marta Seretny's career has been a testament to the power of interdisciplinary learning. Now, with AMRF’s prestigious Gavin and Ann Kellaway Medical Research Fellowship, she has begun a new chapter of learning at the University of Oxford Uehiro Institute.
Background
Dr. Marta Seretny, a specialist anaesthetist and part-time senior lecturer in Auckland, began her journey into medical ethics during her university years. Later, as a junior doctor, she delved into health research ethics during her Master's in Public Health (MPH).
“The advanced research ethics modules I completed during my MPH highlighted the chasm between ethics as applied by medical practitioners and the realities of ethics as a branch of philosophy, where comprehensive ethical arguments and varied research methodologies are employed. This experience spurred me on to learn more.”
Throughout her PhD and postdoctoral clinical research, Marta applied the knowledge gained from her MPH. Over the past two years, she has served as a member and, more recently, deputy chair of the Auckland Health Research Ethics Committee (AHREC).
“These experiences underscored the need for cross-disciplinary communication and understanding between ethicists and medical practitioners”, she says.
Her time on the AHREC fuelled her desire to pursue formal education in ethics, aiming to bridge the gap between ethics as a humanities subject and its practical application in clinical medicine and research.
Why Oxford?
Dr. Seretny's aspiration to gain a deeper understanding of ethics and its practical application has led her to pursue a Master of Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford. Oxford's consistent top-ranking and longstanding reputation as a premier centre for teaching and research in ethics make it the ideal institution for her further education.
The program's design and the relevance of its taught modules to her area of interest solidify Oxford as the perfect place for her academic and professional growth.
“The fact that it’s part time allows me to pursue my current family and work commitments at home while still being able to be a student at the University of Oxford.”
The degree is structured as a part-time program over three years, requiring in-person attendance in Oxford annually for up to a month to complete six taught modules (two per year). The taught component is followed by a dissertation, which can be completed remotely.
Personal and Career Impact
“Receiving the Gavin and Ann Kellaway Medical Research Fellowship is transformative for my career and personal growth.”
As a specialist anaesthetist and part-time senior lecturer, her introduction to medical ethics began at university. Her journey through various stages of medical training and research has consistently highlighted the importance of ethics in healthcare. The advanced research ethics modules during her MPH revealed the chasm between practical medical ethics and the philosophical underpinnings of the field, driving her desire to bridge this gap.
Applying the knowledge from her MPH during her PhD and postdoctoral research, and serving on the AHREC, has shown Dr. Seretny the critical need for cross-disciplinary understanding. This fellowship is unique in its support for part-time education abroad for specialist clinicians, covering the tuition fees for this degree. It will not only enable her to complete her Master's degree but also open new avenues for research and opportunities, significantly impacting her career and the field of medical ethics.
Dissertation focus
Marta has two key dissertation ideas that she plans to explore and refine during the taught component of the Master's program, ultimately choosing one to complete.
Ethics and Māori Access to Medical Research: This idea stems from recurring discussions in AHREC meetings about the rights and laws governing Māori. She’ll explore how Eurocentric ethical principles in local healthcare research ethical approval processes impact Māori access to medical research in Aotearoa, New Zealand. This underdeveloped concept requires evidence-based refinement. She plans to start with a combination of Māori ethical framework references and a phenomenological method, honing these approaches during the Master's course.
“As a non-indigenous researcher, I recognize the importance of proper engagement with Māori experts and guidance from Iwi to avoid causing harm through well-intentioned research,” says Marta. Therefore, Māori consultation processes will be central to this research avenue.
AI in Anaesthesia: This dissertation idea focuses on the imminent changes in her clinical specialty. Knowledge exchange and shared mental models within anaesthetics are crucial, especially during emergencies. Marta will explore how interactive machine learning algorithms, in the form of artificial intelligence (AI), will affect clinical work in anaesthesia, a specialty reliant on pattern recognition and data-oriented, time-critical responses. Specifically, she will investigate the ethical safeguards necessary for developing machine learning-based anaesthetic assistants and the ethical assurances required for equitable access to such technology in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Dr. Seretny's overarching goal is to utilize her newly gained knowledge to improve clinical ethics locally. She hopes to form new research collaborations during her time at Oxford, fostering grassroots changes to address local inequities.
Impact of Receiving This Award
Marta says, “There are very few grants or awards that support continued part-time education abroad for specialist clinicians. This fellowship is the only one that gives me the scope to pay for the tuition fees related to this degree. Receiving this award would is life-changing and the only way I am able to complete this Master's degree.”
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