Joseph J. Fins

Dr. Joseph J. Fins holds dual roles as a Visiting Professor of Law at Yale Law School and the E. William Davis, Jr. M.D. Professor of Medical Ethics at Weill Cornell Medical College. He serves as Chief of the Division of Medical Ethics at Weill Cornell and directs medical ethics at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he also practices as an attending physician.

Education:

• M.D., Cornell University, 1986
• B.A., Wesleyan University, 1982

Research interests focus on medical ethics, bioethics, and healthcare law, particularly in neuroethics, end-of-life care, and disability rights. He has pioneered ethical frameworks for brain injury treatment and disability advocacy.

Awards & Memberships:

• Member, National Academy of Medicine (formerly Institute of Medicine)
• Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Honored Member, Royal Academy of Medicine of Spain

Leadership roles include founding chair of the Ethics Committee at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell and advisor to international bioethics initiatives. His work bridges clinical practice, policy, and academic scholarship.