weServe “Service through Innovation” at Drexel University: Impact of the Program and Lessons Learned

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

4:00 PM-5:30 PM

BIOMED Seminar

Title:
weServe “Service through Innovation” at Drexel University: Impact of the Program and Lessons Learned


Speaker:
Shirin Karsan, MBE

Details:
The weServe program was established at Drexel University in the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems and ran from 2009 to 2013.

The mission of weServe––“Service through Innovation”––was to enable experiential learning and leadership development for students through a first-hand understanding of healthcare needs and disparities at a local and global level, and to address such unmet needs by service through innovation and partnership.

There were three key components of this “action-learning” academic program: Leadership, Curriculum, and Service. The program established partnerships locally, nationally and internationally, and engaged students in various disciplines from across all of Drexel University, to provide interdisciplinary, multicultural and innovative, real life experiences that resulted in transformational learning for every student. The program engaged more than 18 faculty members across various schools at the university and over three hundred students, winning awards and scholarships, and receiving opportunities to travel and present at national conferences and to publish papers.

Biosketch:
Shirin Karsan graduated with a Master of Bioethics from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a Fulbright Scholar, whose work in the United Arab Emirates focused on cultural and religious perspectives in the ethics of emerging technologies, specifically related to in vitro fertilization. Shirin worked at Drexel University’s Nanotechnology Institute and later in the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems as Director of the “weServe” Program.

Shirin's work and research have been published in several books and journals. She serves on various boards, including The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, The Philadelphia Foundation, and The Global Bioethics Initiative. Shirin’s extensive training and volunteer experiences include teaching bioethics, mediation and conflict resolution, board development, and work as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for children. She is a breast cancer survivor and a pilot. Shirin is also a refugee from Uganda, an immigrant, and a citizen in the USA, and has lived in several countries.

Contact Information

Ken Barbee
215-895-1335
barbee@drexel.edu