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faculty & staff

Kathy Kinlaw, MDiv, HEC-C
Director, Healthcare Ethics Consortium
Associate Director of the Emory University Center for Ethics

Kathy Kinlaw is Associate Director of the Emory University Center for Ethics where she directs the Center's Program in Health, Science, and Ethics; and Lead Ethicist at Emory Healthcare. She serves as Chair, Emory University Hospital Ethics Committee; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Emory School of Medicine; and Director of the Healthcare Ethics Consortium, a network of healthcare systems in the Southeast.

Kathy directs integration of Clinical Ethics into the School of Medicine's curriculum and residency programs. She completed 8 years of service as a Board member of the Georgia Composite Medical Board and served as a member of the Committee on Ethics and Professionalism of the Federation of State Medical Boards. She also served as a member of the CDC Ethics Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee to the Director. Kathy brings ethical analysis to public policy concerns, providing bioethics guidance to legislators and leading working groups in drafting 1) the Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare (2007); 2) 2010 revision of the Georgia Informed Consent law with particular attention to a consent process for those who lack decision making capacity; and 3) the Georgia POLST legislation (2015).

Kathy received her MDiv in religious ethics and bioethics from the Candler School of Theology at Emory; completed a bioethics internship at the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Bioethics, and a fellowship in Perinatal Ethics through the Emory University School of Medicine.

kkinlaw@emory.edu
(404) 727 - 2201

Melody Totten
Business Manager

Melody Totten is a Business Manager with over 20 years progressive experience in financial reporting for governmental entities. Currently, her responsibilities include the Accounting Department and all financial operations of the Center for Ethics at Emory University where she ensures the University is in compliance with all regulatory body requirements and policies, and ensures the financial statements accurately reflect the position of the Center.

Previous to her position with Emory, Mrs. Totten served as Assistant Controller for six years at Southern Polytechnic State University. In that role, she coordinated the daily accounting activity for several departments and cash management policies for the University. Mrs. Totten also served on several campus and Georgia University System committees to share and learn accounting and finance best practices.

mtotten@emory.edu
(404) 727 - 8307

Mary Rachel Henderson, MBA
Senior Program Coordinator

Mary Rachel plans programming for the Healthcare Ethics Consortium (HEC). She joined the HEC in 2021, contributing to year-round educational programming as well as the planning and execution of the annual conference. She facilitates the connection of healthcare professionals and organizations with the Consortium and aims to include the greater Atlanta community in the educational workshops and programs offered by the Consortium.

Prior to coming on board full time at the Center for Ethics in 2023, Mary Rachel worked in marketing at global medical device companies, responsible for product development, regional deployment and sales support, and training curriculum. She taught clinical education to a variety of audiences and served as an educational advocate within the healthcare community, a passion which she brings to her work at the HEC.

Mary Rachel received her BA in Philosophy and Catholic Studies from Emory University and her MBA from Georgia Tech. In 2023, she completed the Healthcare Ethics Leadership Academy certificate program at Emory where her research focused on the intersection of predictive risk algorithms and medical treatment decisions, specifically related to post-operative pain management.

Mary Rachel has an abiding interest in the intersection of artificial intelligence and the delivery of person-centered care, works as an animal welfare advocate for Canine Cellmates, and enjoys volunteering at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

maryrachel.henderson@emory.edu, (404) 727 - 2698

Alison Kear
Events Coordinator

Alison Kear is the Event Coordinator at the Center for Ethics. She is responsible for planning, organizing, and executing Center for Ethics (CFE) program events and guest lectures. As a key member of the operations team, Alison manages room reservations and is the contact person for hosting outside groups.

Alison joined the Center for Ethics in February 2010. Since that time, she has succeeded in bringing a standard of excellence to all CFE program events. She has been an integral part in the production of CFE signature events including Testaments of the Hearts, BEINGS, Zombethics, and The Healthcare Ethics Consortium annual conferences to name a few.

Alison is originally from Leary Georgia. Her past work experience with the Financial Aid Office at Santa Fe College in Gainesville Florida, the Admissions Office at Cornell University, and as a florist have helped her develop superb customer service skills. When Alison is not brainstorming with colleagues about program ideas, she can be found revisiting her floral roots creating avant-garde centerpieces for upcoming events.

akear@emory.edu
(404) 727 - 1476