Leah Pierson
@leahpierson.bsky.social
Internal medicine resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital | Interested in ethics, priority setting, and global health | co-host of @biounethical.bsky.social: biounethical.com
Pinned
Leah Pierson
@leahpierson.bsky.social
· Feb 25
Student podcast brings bioethical issues to the public | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Leah Pierson, MD-PhD ’25, co-founded the Bio(un)ethical podcast to explore important issues in science, medicine, and public health.
hsph.harvard.edu
I was interviewed about Bio(un)ethical for the @hsph.harvard.edu website!
hsph.harvard.edu/news/student...
hsph.harvard.edu/news/student...
New episode of Bio(un)ethical is out now, with @jbcarmody.bsky.social!
Bryan Carmody: Are doctor shortages real?
We discuss:
- Why people think there aren't enough doctors
- Why many access problems reflect misallocation (vs shortages)
- What models projecting shortages miss
- AI (the 🐘 in the 🏥)
Bryan Carmody: Are doctor shortages real?
We discuss:
- Why people think there aren't enough doctors
- Why many access problems reflect misallocation (vs shortages)
- What models projecting shortages miss
- AI (the 🐘 in the 🏥)
July 19, 2025 at 3:42 PM
New episode of Bio(un)ethical is out now, with @jbcarmody.bsky.social!
Bryan Carmody: Are doctor shortages real?
We discuss:
- Why people think there aren't enough doctors
- Why many access problems reflect misallocation (vs shortages)
- What models projecting shortages miss
- AI (the 🐘 in the 🏥)
Bryan Carmody: Are doctor shortages real?
We discuss:
- Why people think there aren't enough doctors
- Why many access problems reflect misallocation (vs shortages)
- What models projecting shortages miss
- AI (the 🐘 in the 🏥)
The WHO guidance on the ethics of health research priority setting is out today!
It was a privilege to be a part of the expert writing group (led by Joe Millum) over the past two years.
I think the guidance is practical and important, especially now.
Short thread + link below!
It was a privilege to be a part of the expert writing group (led by Joe Millum) over the past two years.
I think the guidance is practical and important, especially now.
Short thread + link below!
June 23, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The WHO guidance on the ethics of health research priority setting is out today!
It was a privilege to be a part of the expert writing group (led by Joe Millum) over the past two years.
I think the guidance is practical and important, especially now.
Short thread + link below!
It was a privilege to be a part of the expert writing group (led by Joe Millum) over the past two years.
I think the guidance is practical and important, especially now.
Short thread + link below!
Friends of Cornwall
June 6, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Friends of Cornwall
Proud to have graduated from Harvard’s MD/PhD program, and to join the physicians and researchers committed to building a brighter future.
May 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Proud to have graduated from Harvard’s MD/PhD program, and to join the physicians and researchers committed to building a brighter future.
Reposted by Leah Pierson
"It is high time that the default question shift from 'is this payment too much?' to 'is this enough?' in clinical trials."
A new call to bring sense to IRB approaches to paying research participants. @1daysooner.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
A new call to bring sense to IRB approaches to paying research participants. @1daysooner.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Pursuing Fair and Just Compensation for Research Participants: An Open Letter to the Research Ethics Community
Published in The American Journal of Bioethics (Ahead of Print, 2025)
www.tandfonline.com
May 23, 2025 at 9:05 PM
"It is high time that the default question shift from 'is this payment too much?' to 'is this enough?' in clinical trials."
A new call to bring sense to IRB approaches to paying research participants. @1daysooner.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
A new call to bring sense to IRB approaches to paying research participants. @1daysooner.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Leah Pierson
The US government recently flagged my scientific grant in its "woke DEI database". Many people have asked me what I will do.
My answer today in Nature.
We will not be cowed. We will keep using AI to build a fairer, healthier world.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
My answer today in Nature.
We will not be cowed. We will keep using AI to build a fairer, healthier world.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
My ‘woke DEI’ grant has been flagged for scrutiny. Where do I go from here?
My work in making artificial intelligence fair has been noticed by US officials intent on ending ‘class warfare propaganda’.
www.nature.com
April 25, 2025 at 5:19 PM
The US government recently flagged my scientific grant in its "woke DEI database". Many people have asked me what I will do.
My answer today in Nature.
We will not be cowed. We will keep using AI to build a fairer, healthier world.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
My answer today in Nature.
We will not be cowed. We will keep using AI to build a fairer, healthier world.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
"Pausing" scientific research is like "pausing" a car in the middle of the highway—it's liable to have catastrophic, long-term effects that restarting it won't fix.
April 1, 2025 at 9:30 PM
"Pausing" scientific research is like "pausing" a car in the middle of the highway—it's liable to have catastrophic, long-term effects that restarting it won't fix.
Reposted by Leah Pierson
Every episode of Season 2 is now available wherever you get your podcasts!
We're taking a short break before making further episodes, so now is a great time to submit feedback or requests (e.g., guests or topics) at biounethical.com.
Also, we heard you: transcripts are coming!
We're taking a short break before making further episodes, so now is a great time to submit feedback or requests (e.g., guests or topics) at biounethical.com.
Also, we heard you: transcripts are coming!
March 28, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Every episode of Season 2 is now available wherever you get your podcasts!
We're taking a short break before making further episodes, so now is a great time to submit feedback or requests (e.g., guests or topics) at biounethical.com.
Also, we heard you: transcripts are coming!
We're taking a short break before making further episodes, so now is a great time to submit feedback or requests (e.g., guests or topics) at biounethical.com.
Also, we heard you: transcripts are coming!
Reposted by Leah Pierson
Hi Bluesky!
We're Bio(un)ethical, the podcast questioning existing norms in medicine, science, and public health via long-form interviews with philosophers, policymakers, physicians, and other experts.
Seasons 1 + 2 are available on all platforms and our website: www.biounethical.com
We're Bio(un)ethical, the podcast questioning existing norms in medicine, science, and public health via long-form interviews with philosophers, policymakers, physicians, and other experts.
Seasons 1 + 2 are available on all platforms and our website: www.biounethical.com
Bio(un)ethical | Bioethics Podcast
Bio(un)ethical is a podcast miniseries where Leah Pierson and Sophie Gibert interview experts on bioethical issues, and question existing norms in medicine, science, and public health.
www.biounethical.com
March 26, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Hi Bluesky!
We're Bio(un)ethical, the podcast questioning existing norms in medicine, science, and public health via long-form interviews with philosophers, policymakers, physicians, and other experts.
Seasons 1 + 2 are available on all platforms and our website: www.biounethical.com
We're Bio(un)ethical, the podcast questioning existing norms in medicine, science, and public health via long-form interviews with philosophers, policymakers, physicians, and other experts.
Seasons 1 + 2 are available on all platforms and our website: www.biounethical.com
March 21, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Reposted by Leah Pierson
The final episode of Biounethical season 2 is out now!
Rachel Fraser: How your social world shapes what you know
We discuss whether experiences of oppression give people special insight, whether this insight can be shared, and what policy implications this might have.
Links ⬇️
Rachel Fraser: How your social world shapes what you know
We discuss whether experiences of oppression give people special insight, whether this insight can be shared, and what policy implications this might have.
Links ⬇️
March 18, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The final episode of Biounethical season 2 is out now!
Rachel Fraser: How your social world shapes what you know
We discuss whether experiences of oppression give people special insight, whether this insight can be shared, and what policy implications this might have.
Links ⬇️
Rachel Fraser: How your social world shapes what you know
We discuss whether experiences of oppression give people special insight, whether this insight can be shared, and what policy implications this might have.
Links ⬇️
The final episode of Biounethical season 2 is out now!
Rachel Fraser: How your social world shapes what you know
We discuss whether experiences of oppression give people special insight, whether this insight can be shared, and what policy implications this might have.
Links ⬇️
Rachel Fraser: How your social world shapes what you know
We discuss whether experiences of oppression give people special insight, whether this insight can be shared, and what policy implications this might have.
Links ⬇️
March 18, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The final episode of Biounethical season 2 is out now!
Rachel Fraser: How your social world shapes what you know
We discuss whether experiences of oppression give people special insight, whether this insight can be shared, and what policy implications this might have.
Links ⬇️
Rachel Fraser: How your social world shapes what you know
We discuss whether experiences of oppression give people special insight, whether this insight can be shared, and what policy implications this might have.
Links ⬇️
Reposted by Leah Pierson
The two most recent episodes of #BioUnethical with
David Thorstad, Emily Largent, and @govindpersad.bsky.social were very (very!) good.
Hosts @leahpierson.bsky.social and Sophie Gibert may be doing reflective discussion better than anyone — outstanding stage setting, questioning, improvising, etc.
David Thorstad, Emily Largent, and @govindpersad.bsky.social were very (very!) good.
Hosts @leahpierson.bsky.social and Sophie Gibert may be doing reflective discussion better than anyone — outstanding stage setting, questioning, improvising, etc.
Bio(un)ethical | Bioethics Podcast
Bio(un)ethical is a podcast miniseries where Leah Pierson and Sophie Gibert interview experts on bioethical issues, and question existing norms in medicine, science, and public health.
www.biounethical.com
March 16, 2025 at 4:47 PM
The two most recent episodes of #BioUnethical with
David Thorstad, Emily Largent, and @govindpersad.bsky.social were very (very!) good.
Hosts @leahpierson.bsky.social and Sophie Gibert may be doing reflective discussion better than anyone — outstanding stage setting, questioning, improvising, etc.
David Thorstad, Emily Largent, and @govindpersad.bsky.social were very (very!) good.
Hosts @leahpierson.bsky.social and Sophie Gibert may be doing reflective discussion better than anyone — outstanding stage setting, questioning, improvising, etc.
New blog post!
The $500,000 Gap Year
In honor of #Match2025, I wrote about whether the fourth year of medical school needs to exist.
www.leahpierson.com/blog/the-500...
If you have feedback, I'm eager to hear it, and good luck to everyone matching next week!
The $500,000 Gap Year
In honor of #Match2025, I wrote about whether the fourth year of medical school needs to exist.
www.leahpierson.com/blog/the-500...
If you have feedback, I'm eager to hear it, and good luck to everyone matching next week!
The $500,000 Gap Year
It’s an open secret in medicine that fourth year medical students do very little medicine or school. So why do we have a fourth year of medical school (M4)? And do we need one? Why M4 exists...
www.leahpierson.com
March 13, 2025 at 5:03 PM
New blog post!
The $500,000 Gap Year
In honor of #Match2025, I wrote about whether the fourth year of medical school needs to exist.
www.leahpierson.com/blog/the-500...
If you have feedback, I'm eager to hear it, and good luck to everyone matching next week!
The $500,000 Gap Year
In honor of #Match2025, I wrote about whether the fourth year of medical school needs to exist.
www.leahpierson.com/blog/the-500...
If you have feedback, I'm eager to hear it, and good luck to everyone matching next week!
Our new episode of Biounethical Podcast is out today!
Emily Largent and Govind Persad: Is Bioethics Okay?
(Writing questions for this was frankly a blast.)
Available wherever you get your podcasts.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4Veq...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Emily Largent and Govind Persad: Is Bioethics Okay?
(Writing questions for this was frankly a blast.)
Available wherever you get your podcasts.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4Veq...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
February 27, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Our new episode of Biounethical Podcast is out today!
Emily Largent and Govind Persad: Is Bioethics Okay?
(Writing questions for this was frankly a blast.)
Available wherever you get your podcasts.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4Veq...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Emily Largent and Govind Persad: Is Bioethics Okay?
(Writing questions for this was frankly a blast.)
Available wherever you get your podcasts.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4Veq...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Reposted by Leah Pierson
‘I would like to see bioethics as a field be more oriented around fixing things rather than problematizing potential solutions.’
I was interviewed about Bio(un)ethical for the @hsph.harvard.edu website!
hsph.harvard.edu/news/student...
hsph.harvard.edu/news/student...
Student podcast brings bioethical issues to the public | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Leah Pierson, MD-PhD ’25, co-founded the Bio(un)ethical podcast to explore important issues in science, medicine, and public health.
hsph.harvard.edu
February 26, 2025 at 7:24 AM
‘I would like to see bioethics as a field be more oriented around fixing things rather than problematizing potential solutions.’
I was interviewed about Bio(un)ethical for the @hsph.harvard.edu website!
hsph.harvard.edu/news/student...
hsph.harvard.edu/news/student...
Student podcast brings bioethical issues to the public | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Leah Pierson, MD-PhD ’25, co-founded the Bio(un)ethical podcast to explore important issues in science, medicine, and public health.
hsph.harvard.edu
February 25, 2025 at 9:30 PM
I was interviewed about Bio(un)ethical for the @hsph.harvard.edu website!
hsph.harvard.edu/news/student...
hsph.harvard.edu/news/student...
We interviewed David Thorstad on Bio(un)ethical about epistemic issues related to longtermism and existential risk.
You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0dXR...
Our website: www.biounethical.com/episodes/epi...
You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0dXR...
Our website: www.biounethical.com/episodes/epi...
EPISODES | Bio(un)ethical
www.biounethical.com
February 11, 2025 at 11:51 PM
We interviewed David Thorstad on Bio(un)ethical about epistemic issues related to longtermism and existential risk.
You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0dXR...
Our website: www.biounethical.com/episodes/epi...
You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0dXR...
Our website: www.biounethical.com/episodes/epi...
We interviewed former CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on
Bio(un)ethical about US public health infrastructure, lessons learned from COVID, and how prepared we are for the next pandemic.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0oDt...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...
biounethical.com
Bio(un)ethical about US public health infrastructure, lessons learned from COVID, and how prepared we are for the next pandemic.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0oDt...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...
biounethical.com
January 28, 2025 at 5:32 PM
We interviewed former CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on
Bio(un)ethical about US public health infrastructure, lessons learned from COVID, and how prepared we are for the next pandemic.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0oDt...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...
biounethical.com
Bio(un)ethical about US public health infrastructure, lessons learned from COVID, and how prepared we are for the next pandemic.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0oDt...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...
biounethical.com
It’d be cool if there was a Center for Progress-Oriented Bioethics, an institution that treated scientific and medical progress as an ethical imperative, and aimed to study ethico-regulatory barriers and reform excessive ones.
January 16, 2025 at 5:25 PM
It’d be cool if there was a Center for Progress-Oriented Bioethics, an institution that treated scientific and medical progress as an ethical imperative, and aimed to study ethico-regulatory barriers and reform excessive ones.
New Bio(un)ethical episode is out!
Quayshawn Spencer: What is race?
We discuss the philosophy of race, why he’s a radical racial pluralist, and the implications of his views for scientific research and medicine.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1EBb...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...
Quayshawn Spencer: What is race?
We discuss the philosophy of race, why he’s a radical racial pluralist, and the implications of his views for scientific research and medicine.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1EBb...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...
January 15, 2025 at 2:51 PM
New Bio(un)ethical episode is out!
Quayshawn Spencer: What is race?
We discuss the philosophy of race, why he’s a radical racial pluralist, and the implications of his views for scientific research and medicine.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1EBb...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...
Quayshawn Spencer: What is race?
We discuss the philosophy of race, why he’s a radical racial pluralist, and the implications of his views for scientific research and medicine.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1EBb...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...
Reposted by Leah Pierson
New piece in Nature: @leahpierson.bsky.social and I argue that philanthropic funders should shield science from cuts the Trump administration may make to climate science, infectious disease, etc.
Free access link: rdcu.be/d6aul
Longer version on my website: shorturl.at/muwts
Free access link: rdcu.be/d6aul
Longer version on my website: shorturl.at/muwts
January 14, 2025 at 6:49 PM
New piece in Nature: @leahpierson.bsky.social and I argue that philanthropic funders should shield science from cuts the Trump administration may make to climate science, infectious disease, etc.
Free access link: rdcu.be/d6aul
Longer version on my website: shorturl.at/muwts
Free access link: rdcu.be/d6aul
Longer version on my website: shorturl.at/muwts
We recently wrote an article responding to commentaries on our Views in Bioethics Survey (VIBeS).
Next month, four of us will have a conversation on Bio(un)ethical about the state of bioethics, and how to address its challenges. (You can submit questions!)
x.com/leah_pierson...
Next month, four of us will have a conversation on Bio(un)ethical about the state of bioethics, and how to address its challenges. (You can submit questions!)
x.com/leah_pierson...
December 27, 2024 at 5:38 PM
We recently wrote an article responding to commentaries on our Views in Bioethics Survey (VIBeS).
Next month, four of us will have a conversation on Bio(un)ethical about the state of bioethics, and how to address its challenges. (You can submit questions!)
x.com/leah_pierson...
Next month, four of us will have a conversation on Bio(un)ethical about the state of bioethics, and how to address its challenges. (You can submit questions!)
x.com/leah_pierson...
Reposted by Leah Pierson
New column out today in @bostonglobe.com's "Ideas" section!
Prof. Joshua Greene and I make the case for applying a balanced approach to charitable giving, backed by recent research:
www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/18/o...
Prof. Joshua Greene and I make the case for applying a balanced approach to charitable giving, backed by recent research:
www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/18/o...
This giving season, give with your heart and your head - The Boston Globe
There’s no right way to give to charities, but there’s a better way.
www.bostonglobe.com
December 18, 2024 at 3:21 PM
New column out today in @bostonglobe.com's "Ideas" section!
Prof. Joshua Greene and I make the case for applying a balanced approach to charitable giving, backed by recent research:
www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/18/o...
Prof. Joshua Greene and I make the case for applying a balanced approach to charitable giving, backed by recent research:
www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/18/o...
Our new episode of Bio(un)ethical is out today!
Jeff McMahan: On the ethics of choosing our children's genes
Some things we discuss:
- whether/when/how we should control the genetic outcomes of our children
- treatment vs enhancement
- reproductive technologies and injustice
Links below ⬇️
Jeff McMahan: On the ethics of choosing our children's genes
Some things we discuss:
- whether/when/how we should control the genetic outcomes of our children
- treatment vs enhancement
- reproductive technologies and injustice
Links below ⬇️
December 17, 2024 at 4:12 PM
Our new episode of Bio(un)ethical is out today!
Jeff McMahan: On the ethics of choosing our children's genes
Some things we discuss:
- whether/when/how we should control the genetic outcomes of our children
- treatment vs enhancement
- reproductive technologies and injustice
Links below ⬇️
Jeff McMahan: On the ethics of choosing our children's genes
Some things we discuss:
- whether/when/how we should control the genetic outcomes of our children
- treatment vs enhancement
- reproductive technologies and injustice
Links below ⬇️