This special episode of The Doctor’s Playbook steps outside the usual clinical lens to explore the ethical, spiritual, and human dimensions of medicine. My guest is The Reverend Clayton L. Thomason, J.D., M.Div., who holds the Bishop Anderson Endowed Chair of Religion and Ethics in Medicine at Rush University Medical Center, where he serves as Chair of the Department of Religion, Health & Human Values and Director of the Healthcare Ethics Program.

Rev. Thomason’s career bridges law, theology, and medicine. He has chaired state commissions on end-of-life care, served on national ethics boards, and spent decades guiding clinicians, patients, and families through some of healthcare’s most profound dilemmas. His work focuses on community-based research addressing health disparities, the role of virtue in professional development, and public policy in palliative and end-of-life care.

In our conversation, we talk about what it means to be human in medicine, how ethics and spirituality influence the care we provide, and the stories that have shaped his career. This episode is not just about medicine — it’s about meaning, values, and the questions that stay with us long after a case is closed.

Lead Host: Andrew Mohama

Guest: Reverend Clayton L. Thomason, J.D., M.Div.

Produced By: Andrew Mohama

Alert & Oriented is a medical student-run clinical reasoning podcast dedicated to providing a unique platform for early learners to practice their skills as a team in real time. Through our podcast, we strive to foster a learning environment where medical students can engage with one another, share knowledge, and gain valuable experience in clinical reasoning. We aim to provide a comprehensive and supportive platform for early learners to develop their clinical reasoning skills, build confidence in their craft, and become the best clinicians they can be.

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A fantastic resource, by learners, for learners in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Primary Care, Emergency Medicine, and Hospital Medicine.