On Saturday, May 10, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University hosted its Ethics Intensive Event, a key component of the university’s REACH Badge program. The day-long session, held from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., provided students with a unique opportunity to engage in ethical decision-making within the healthcare field.
Designed specifically for students pursuing the REACH Badge, the Ethics Intensive offered an immersive and interactive learning experience. Faculty members guided participants through in-depth discussions of four complex case studies, each highlighting critical ethical issues in healthcare. Students used FranU’s internally developed Ethical Reasoning Framework to examine real-world scenarios and refine their clinical reasoning and ethical analysis skills.
“The REACH Badge program, including attending FranU’s Bioethics Lectures and participating in a day-long ethics intensive, enabled students to achieve a level of excellence in Catholic healthcare ethics that surpassed the knowledge they gained from coursework alone,” said Hannah Ragusa, REACH Director.
During the intensive, students explored ethical dilemmas surrounding beginning- and end-of-life issues, human dignity, and conscientious objection. “I was impressed by the level of discussions we were able to have,” Ragusa added. “I think the students found the experience to be very rewarding.”
The REACH Badge program is a microcredential designed to prepare healthcare students to navigate ethical challenges with confidence, compassion, and clarity. It aims to:
To be eligible for the REACH Badge, students were required to be currently or previously enrolled in IPGC 6125 or one of the following undergraduate courses: PHIL 2320, THEO 3345, NURS 4750, NURS 4790, or NURS 4795. This requirement ensured that participants had foundational knowledge in ethics or philosophy before advancing through the program.
Beginning in Spring 2026, eligibility will expand to include students who are concurrently enrolled in or have successfully completed these courses. This change is intended to reach a broader group of degree-seeking students across the university.
By earning the REACH Badge, students demonstrated a strong commitment to ethical excellence and positioned themselves as thoughtful, well-prepared professionals in the healthcare field.
For more information about the REACH Badge program or future Ethics Intensive events, contact:
Emily Richard, Nursing Professor
Email: emily.richard@franu.edu
Visit franu.edu/reachbadge for additional details.
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