Autumn M. Fiester, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Founder and Director, Penn Program in Clinical Conflict Management, University of Pennsylvania
Education Officer, Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
MBE/MSME Faculty Program Director, Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine
Consultant, Academic Conflict Management , School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania
Vice Chair for Education, Department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Department: Medical Ethics and Health Policy
Contact information
14th Floor, Blockley Hall
423 Guardian Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19104
423 Guardian Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 215-573-2602
Fax: 215-573-3036
Fax: 215-573-3036
Email:
fiester@upenn.edu
fiester@upenn.edu
Education:
B.A. (Political and Social Theory)
Bucknell University, 1988.
A.M. (Sociology)
Harvard University, 1993.
M.A. (Philosophy)
Bucknell University, 1995.
Ph.D. (Philosophy)
University of Pennsylvania, 2002.
Permanent linkB.A. (Political and Social Theory)
Bucknell University, 1988.
A.M. (Sociology)
Harvard University, 1993.
M.A. (Philosophy)
Bucknell University, 1995.
Ph.D. (Philosophy)
University of Pennsylvania, 2002.
Description of Research Expertise
Clinical EthicsConflict Resolution
Bioethics Education
Description of Other Expertise
Academic Management Consulting: conflict resolution, organizational development, strategic planning, meeting facilitation, consensus building & mediationSelected Publications
Fiester, A., guest editor: Celebrating the Work and Legacy of Nancy Neveloff Dubler. Journal of Clinical Ethics 2025 Notes: Invited special theme issue.Fiester, A.: The "Ladder of Inference" as a Conflict Management Tool: Working with the "Difficult" Patient or Family in Healthcare Ethics Consultations. HEC Forum 36(1): 31-44, March 2024.
Callahan, KP, Narva, A., Stoller, JZ, Fiester, A. : Beyond the Question: Reexamining a Parent’s Unusual Request. Pediatrics 2024 Notes: In press.
Fiester, A.: Managing Clinical Conflict. At the Bedside CORE IM (Podcast) Dec. 2023 Notes: https://www.coreimpodcast.com/category/podcast/at-the-bedside/
A. Fiester: Working with the "Difficult" Patient. Practicing (Podcast) July 2023 Notes: www. practicingpod.com.
Fiester, A.: Response to Open Peer Commentaries on 'Ethical Issues with Using Behavior Contracts to Manage the “Difficult” Patient and Family' American Journal of Bioethics 23(1), 2023.
Fiester, A.: Introduction, Special Issue, "Providing Care When Patients Are 'Difficult'" Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics 13(1): 1-30, 2023.
Fiester, A. and Stites, S.: Using a mediator’s toolbox: reducing clinical conflict by learning to reconceive the “difficult” patient or family. MedEd Portal: The Journal of Teaching and Learning Resources 19: 11324, 2023 Notes: https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11324.
Kyweluk, M. and Fiester, A. : The Ethical Mandate of Fertility Preservation Coverage for Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics 16(2): 182-198, 2023.
Fiester, A., guest editor: Providing Care When Patients Are "Difficult” Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics 13(1), 2023 Notes: Invited special theme issue.