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Kevin Gibbs, IT Operations Manager at CSTEAmanda Masters, Director of Workforce Development at CSTEAl DemariaJennifer Lemmings, CSTEErica Runningdeer, ILJessica Arrazola, Director of Educational Strategy at CSTEJeff Engel, Senior Advisor for COVID-19 at CSTERita Altamore, EpidemiologistLesliann HelmusRachel StricofAmanda Payne, Senior Consultant at J Michael ConsultingKatie BrownAnne KjemtrupJen FiddnerJulius Tonzel, Epidemiologist at LA DOH, OPH, IDEPI +112 others
Posted by Ian Horste ·

Public Health Ethics Boards

Hello All,

I apologize as this inquiry is only Institutional Review Board adjacent, but my hope is (given the "ethics" component) the audiences overlap. If this isn't the appropriate forum, feel free to let me know or ignore. Michigan is looking for good state/territory or local models for boards (or other bodies) that provide an ethics recommendation/basis (formal or informal) for public health decision making. If any of you all are part of such efforts for your jurisdiction, it would be wonderful to learn about your experiences. If you might have resources or materials you are comfortable sharing, that would be welcome also.

Thank you,
-Ian

Comments & Events

Pam Isom Pam Isom
Hello from TN.   Currently the IRB has consultants that are ethicist with local educational institutions.   Maintaining the linkage with the IRB helps to create a (very small) pool of experts if the need arises.   In addition to using these folks with research consultation they have been used for other topics as needed.   It is an extremely specialized group and there has been difficulty getting individuals involved on a routine basis.  TDH opted for the consultant status to keep them linked and not require "routine" type service.
Pam 
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Ian Horste Ian Horste
Thank you for the response Pam! Is "consultant status" an official designation (like something that comes with an appointment from the Director of TDH)? Or, is the relationship more informal? I'm just trying to better understand how you keep the connection with the pool of experts. I'm gaining a good appreciation of the challenge for obtaining this type of ethics consult when there isn't a standing committee (like an IRB) and when the collaboration occurs as needed rather than routinely, and just want to better understand how you keep the pool of experts engaged.
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Pam Isom Pam Isom
There is that really difficult word "engaged".   Within the IRB world the use of consultants is standard with difficult of extremely specialized projects.  I think it is a formal type of relationship.   They are required to complete some training and have conflict of interest statement up to date.  
As for the engagement there are some that are more engaged than not and serve on other areas.   When this started I reached out to the ethicist that served on the Newborn Screening advisory board.   There was an established relationship there and it was easy to expand that.  This is one that stays pretty engaged.  
There are two others that are not easily engaged with the routine things i.e. annual conflict of interest statements, etc.   However, I have been successful in keeping these three engaged annually with a "workshop".   Through the year we try to do some "learning/discussion" sessions for the IRB members and the Data Release Committee Members (these do data release that is not research related).   I have asked at least two of the ethicist to present on topics of their choice.   They seems to love this.  Following their presentation which I try to keep 20 minutes or so.  TDH will do the other required IRB trainings.   While this is not the greatest option it does keep them in-touch on an annual basis.  
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