Emily Largent

Emily Largent is an Associate Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, where she serves as Chief of the Division of Medical Ethics and holds the Emanuel & Robert Hart Chair of Bioethics. She holds a secondary appointment at Penn Carey Law, is a Senior Fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, and is affiliated with the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics.

Research Interests: Her work focuses on the ethical and regulatory dimensions of human subject research and the lived experiences of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and their care partners. Her expertise spans bioethics, health policy, behavioral economics, and law, with a strong emphasis on patient autonomy, regulatory innovation, and equity in research participation. She employs interdisciplinary methods to address pressing challenges in clinical research ethics and dementia care.

Publication Trends: Her recent publications reflect a consistent focus on ethical challenges in clinical trials, informed consent, dementia research, and the role of incentives and digital technologies in healthcare. The articles demonstrate a trajectory toward pragmatic solutions in research ethics, emphasizing regulatory flexibility, transparency, and participant protection, particularly for vulnerable populations.

• Baruch A. Brody Award and Lecture in Bioethics (2023)
• Elected Fellow of the Hastings Center
• Greenwall Faculty Scholar

Advising and Grants: Dr. Largent mentors emerging scholars in bioethics and health policy. Her research is supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), reflecting the significance and impact of her work in aging and dementia-related ethics. She has contributed to national discourse through publications in leading journals and media outlets such as the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Washington Post, and New York Times.

Labs and Teams: She leads the Division of Medical Ethics at Penn and is actively involved with the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics and the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across medicine, law, and economics.