Episode 88 - Wylin Wilson - Social Justice and Black Women's Health

In this conversation, Dr. Wylin D. Wilson discusses the concept of womanist bioethics, its historical context, and the need for a more inclusive approach to bioethics that addresses the experiences of marginalized populations, particularly women of color. The discussion highlights the shortcomings of mainstream bioethics and the importance of expanding narratives to include diverse voices in healthcare and ethical considerations. In this conversation, Wylin D. Wilson and David Bryan explore the complex intersections of race, genetics, healthcare, and faith. They discuss the role of public health in addressing racism as a social determinant of health, the historical significance of the Black church in public health activism, and the broader implications of womanist bioethics. The conversation emphasizes the importance of awareness, advocacy, and the interconnectedness of all individuals in addressing health disparities and fostering community well-being.Dr. Wylin D. Wilson is Assistant Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School, where she teaches within the Theology, Medicine and Culture Initiative.  Her teaching and research are at the intersection of Bioethics, Gender, and Theology. She is former Teaching Faculty at Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics, she served as a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Divinity School Center for the Study of World Religions, and Visiting Lecturer in Harvard Divinity School Women’s Studies in Religion Program.  She is also former Associate Director of Education for the Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care and former faculty member of the Tuskegee University College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences. She is currently Principle Investigator for the Bioethics and Black Church: Addressing Racial Inequalities and Black Women’s Health in North Carolina research project which examines the potential of the Black Church as a resource in addressing the Black maternal health crisis in the U.S. Dr. Wilson earned her Ph.D. in Religion, Ethics and Society from Emory University; her M.S. in Agricultural, Resource, and Managerial Economics from Cornell University; and her M.Div. from the Interdenominational Theological Center.  She is a member of the Society for the Study of Black Religion, the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities, the American Academy of Religion, and the Center for Reconciliation Advisory Board at Duke Divinity School. Dr. Wilson’s publications include: “‘This is My Body’: Faith Communities as Sites of Transfiguring Vulnerability” in Bioenhancement and the Vulnerable Body: A Theological Engagement (Baylor University Press, 2023); her first book, Economic Ethics and the Black Church (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017) and her second book, Womanist Bioethics: Social Justice, Spirituality and Black Women’s Health (New York University Press).https://wylindwilson.com/linkedin.com/in/wylin-dassie-wilson-55bb7a47