Arthur R. Derse

Arthur R. Derse, MD, JD, is a Professor of Bioethics and Emergency Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he also serves as Director of the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities and the Julia and David Uihlein Chair in Medical Humanities. A dual-trained physician and attorney, he holds leadership roles in national organizations including the American Medical Association’s Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs and the AAMC Council of Faculty and Academic Societies.

• JD, University of Wisconsin School of Law (1987)
• MD, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (1983)
• BA, University of Notre Dame (1976)

Dr. Derse’s research focuses on intersections of emergency medicine, bioethics, and law, particularly informed consent, end-of-life decisions, and physician-patient confidentiality. His recent publications analyze ethical dilemmas in opioid care, artificial intelligence in EDs, and normothermic regional perfusion in organ transplants. He has co-authored major guidelines for the American College of Emergency Physicians and the National Ethics Committee of the Veterans Health Administration.

Notable Awards:

• 11-time MCW Outstanding Teacher Award recipient
• Gold Foundation Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award (2005)
• American Society for Bioethics and Humanities Certificate of Excellence (2014)

As an educator, he directs MCW’s Bioethics Scholarly Pathway and teaches courses in medical ethics and the Healer’s Art. He founded the MCW Bioethics Discussion Forum, a national resource for bioethics discourse.