DEPARTMENT OF BIOETHICS

Stephen G. Post, Ph.D.

Professor of Bioethics
Professor of Philosophy
Professor of Religion

History of Bioethics
Geriatrics, Dementia
Religion and Healthcare
Compassion and Altruism

Office Phone: 216-368-6205
e-mail: stephen.post@case.edu

CV

Bio

Stephen G. Post is Professor, Department of Bioethics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, as well as Senior Research Scholar in the Becket Institute at St. Hugh's College, Oxford University. Post is serving as President of the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, which focuses on the scientific study of phenomena such as altruism, compassion, and service. He received his Ph.D. in philosophical and religious ethics from the University of Chicago (1983), where he was an elected university fellow, a fellow in the Institute for the Advanced Study of Religion, and a co-preceptor in the Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Post's work focuses on three major areas:

(1) Cognitive Disabilities and Dementia. Dr. Post is a member of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Panel of Alzheimer's Disease International. He serves on the National Ethics Advisory Board for the Alzheimer's Association, and was recognized for "distinguished service" by the Association's National Board for educational efforts in bringing ethical issues to Association Chapters and families throughout the United States (1998). Post was presented with the "special recognition" award by the American Geriatrics Society for service on its Ethics Committee (2001). His book, entitled The Moral Challenge of Alzheimer Disease: Ethical Issues from Diagnosis to Dying (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000, 2nd edition), is widely influential. In collaboration with Robet H. Binstock, he has recently edited The Fountain of Youth: Cultural, Scientific, and Ethical Perspectives on a Biomedical Goal (Oxford University Press, 2004), and served as ethics editor for The Encyclopedia of Aging, 4 vols. (Macmillan Reference, 2002).

(2) Family Caregivers and the Ethics of the Family. Dr. Post has been a consultant for family caregivers throughout the United States and Canada, and has led workshops and educational forums for more than 80 Chapters of the Alzheimer's Association across the United States since 1995. He has worked with Professor Don S. Browning of the University of Chicago on The Religion, Culture, and Family Project, funded by the Lilly Endowment, and has published a monograph with the project series addressing marriage, parenthood, and filial duties. He is currently involved with a research project on adoption sponsored by Emory University.

(3) Altruism and Compassionate Love in the Context of Scientific Research, Philosophy, Religion, Ethics, and the Professions. Dr. Post has written several books on this topic, most recently co-editing a book entitled Altruism and Altruistic Love: Science, Philosophy, and Religion in Dialogue (Oxford University Press, 2002). Post is President of the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, a 501 (c)(3) established in July 2001 to conduct high-level empirical research on topics such as unselfish love, compassion, care, kindness, and altruism, as well as to encourage scientifically-informed pedagogy.

Post is Editor-in-Chief of the definitive Encyclopedia of Bioethics, 3rd edition (Macmillan Reference, November 2003), and the author of more than 120 articles in leading peer-reviewed journals representing the sciences and humanities. He has also written seven books, four edited reference works, seven edited books, and two edited journals. His articles have appeared in various leading journals including Science, The Hastings Center Report, Annals of Internal Medicine, The Journal of Religion, The American Journal of Psychiatry, The Journal of the American Medical Association, Hypatia, The Journal of the American Academy of Religion, and Lancet.

Recent Publications

S.G. Post and Jill Neimark. Why Good Things Happen to Good People: The Exciting New Research that Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life. New York: Broadway Books/Random House, May 2007.

S.G. Post, ed., Altruism and Health: Perspectives from Empirical Research. New York: Oxford University Press (2007).

M.E. Pagano, B.B. Zeltner, J. Jaber, S.G. Post, W.H. Zywiak, R.L. Stout, “Helping Others and Long-Term Sobriety: Who Should I Help to Stay Sober?  Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly (in press).
  
S.G. Post, “Stumbling on Joy: Not Always a ‘Burden’ of Care,” Alzheimer’s Care Quarterly, Vol. 8, No. 3, July-September 2007, pp. 247-250.

Recent Activities

Inaugural Calgary Foundation Forever Funds Distinguished Speaker Series, “It’s Good to be Good: Why Giving of Oneself is Essential to Happiness & Health,” Calgary TELUS Convention Center, 24 February 2008; Keynote Address, Calgary Health System Annual Conference, Banff Center for Creativity, 25 February 2008, Calgary, Canada.

Keynote, “Happiness, Health, and Giving:  The Benefits of Volunteerism” (Governors’ Summit on Volunteerism), Las Vegas, 31 January 2008.

Plenary, “It’s Good to be Good…and Science Says It’s So” (Crystal Cathedral National Re-Think Conference), Irvine, CA, 18 January2008.

Distinguished Author Public Reading, “Why Good Things Happen to Good People” (KAMA Book Award Reading Series, World Literacy Canada, Royal Ontario Museum), Toronto, Canada, 16 January 2008.
 
U.S. Congressional Forum, “Respect and Civility” (Faith & Politics Institute), U.S. Congress, 24 October 2007.

Contact Information

Stephen Post, Ph.D.
Department of Bioethics
CWRU School of Medicine
10900 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106-4976

Tel. 216-368-6205
Fax: 216-368-8713
e-mail: stephen.post@case.edu