Center for Practical Bioethics

The Center for Practical Bioethics (CPB) is a nonprofit organization based in Kansas City, founded in 1984. Initially known as the Midwest Bioethics Center, it was renamed in 2004 to reflect its focus on practical bioethics. CPB is committed to raising and responding to ethical issues in health and healthcare through education, consultation, and policy development[1][2].

Mission and Vision

The organization's mission is to advance ethical discourse and action to improve the health and dignity of all individuals. Its vision is centered on leading and promoting ethical leadership in healthcare, staying neutral and uninfluenced by special interests, and fostering civil discourse[2].

Programs and Initiatives

CPB operates through several key program areas:

• Ethics Services: Provides clinical ethics education and consultation to healthcare institutions, aiming to enhance ethical decision-making within organizations[3].
• Advance Care Planning (ACP): Focuses on facilitating discussions about future medical care preferences, particularly for underserved populations with historical health disparities[1][3].
• Community Education and Engagement: Offers community programming to engage diverse populations in bioethics discussions[3].
• Professional Education and Clinical Services: Delivers bioethics education to medical students, clinicians, and allied health professionals[4].
• Policy and Personal Guidance: Develops and advises on healthcare policies that support ethical care delivery[3].
• Technology and Science: Explores the ethical implications of emerging technologies in healthcare, including AI[3][4].
• Population Health: Engages in initiatives that address health challenges affecting diverse community groups[3].

Achievements and Impact

CPB has established several notable initiatives:

• In 1986, it founded the Ethics Committee Consortium, the longest continuously operating ethics committee consortium in the U.S., providing education and support for ethics committees[3].
• Collaborated with the Federation of State Medical Boards to revise guidelines for the use of controlled substances (2003-05)[2].
• Led efforts to advance pediatric palliative care and end-of-life care discussions[2].
• Received the Marian Gray Secundy Sankofa Award for improving palliative care for African Americans[2].
• Developed and promoted Transportable Physician Orders for Patient Preferences (TPOPP) across Kansas and Missouri[2].

CPB also hosts the annual Joan Berkley Symposium in Bioethics and supports projects like the PAINS Project, focused on addressing pain management and addiction issues[2][3]. The organization continues to evolve its services to address emerging healthcare challenges, including ethical issues in AI and technology[4].

Leadership and Recognition

As of 2022, James Stowe, PhD serves as President and CEO. CPB seeks visionary leaders to fill key roles, such as the John B. Francis Chair in Bioethics, aimed at driving research and real-world applications in bioethics[5].

[1] https://www.guidestar.org/profile/shared/b658687c-dbbc-4f2f-93fe-0f44d4220b42 [2] https://www.practicalbioethics.org/about-us/ [3] https://www.practicalbioethics.org/frequently-asked-questions/ [4] https://www.practicalbioethics.org/program-overview/ [5] https://careernavigator.gradeducation.hms.harvard.edu/news/2025/02/john-b-francis-chair-bioethics-center-practical-bioethics