ABOUT
My Background
Nipa is a bioethicist from Toronto, specializing in reproductive ethics, public policy, and public engagement.
Feel free to explore this page and get in touch!
Thank you for your time!
MY EXPERIENCE
Background & Expertise
June 2016 - Present
BIOETHICS ASSOCIATE, MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL
Assist the senior bioethicist in case consults, policy review and development, literature review and analysis, teaching, and committee presence.
Examples:
sex-selection protocol review for ultrasound technicians
medical assistance in dying case consults and capacity review
international review of abortion procedure protocol
anonymous or directed embryo donation policy creation
fair allocation of funded IVF cycles
Supervisors: Dr. Kerry Bowman (2016-2019), Dr. Rebecca Greenberg (2019 - Present)
November 2020 - Present
FERTILITY ETHICS CONSULTANT
I help answer questions on novel ethical dilemmas based within a fertility clinics; guide and develop policy, stay informed of literature on reproductive tech with an intersectional lens involving race, sex, gender, and sexuality.
If you would like ethics consultation or education for your clinic - send an email!
Sept 2017 - Present
SESSIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Assist in teaching third and fourth year undergraduate bioethics based courses in the Human Biology department (HMB306/406) and the Faculty of Medicine for the Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Master's program (LMP2003)
Be well-read and well-versed in topics such as artificial intelligence, gene editing, reproductive technologies, consent and capacity, culture etc.
Correspond with students regarding lecture and course material, grade midterm essays and final exams, and collect attendance
March 2018 - Present
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, CAFÉ BIOETHICS
Café Bioethics started as an intellectually accessible forum where individuals, who do not necessarily have a background in bioethics, medicine, or law, can participate in laid-back philosophical discussion. Everyone has a stake in what we talk about, so why not engage with everyone?
September 2021 - Present
ADVISORY CHAIR, MISSINFORMED
Professional review and commentary of content, copy and projects, for a funded organization that aims to answer common health questions for women in a scientifically-backed and accessible way.
Sept 2019 - November 2021
POET SPREAD LEADER,
WILLIAM OSLER HEALTH SYSTEM & MCMASTER DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY MEDICINE
Implement the 'Prevention of Error-based Transfers' project by encouraging adherence to Ontario's Health Care Consent Act (1996) in Long-Term Care facilities across Southern Ontario through education, consultation, and ethics support.
Supervisors: Dr. Paula Chidwick and Dr. Jill Oliver
EDUCATION
2021
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, BLAVATNIK SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT
Values and Public Policy: Political Philosophy in Practice
Short course, currently enrolled
2017 - 2019
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO,
DALLA LANA SCHOOL OF
PUBLIC HEALTH
Master of Health Science in Bioethics
Department of Joint Centre for Bioethics
Practicum: Mount Sinai Hospital, Bioethics Department
Thesis Project: OBGYN perspectives regarding permanent contraception for childless single women under 30
GPA: 4.0
2011 - 2016
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO,
ST. GEORGE
Honours Bachelor of Science
Double majored in Human Biology: Health & Disease, and Bioethics
2008 - 2011
WESTMOUNT COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
With a concentration on sciences and philosophy.
Awarded prizes in philosophy and leadership.
MY RESEARCH
To provide a tangible showcase of my work, I’ve included a portfolio of my most recent projects. Take a moment to explore below, and reach out if you’re interested in learning more about what I have to offer.
BENEFICENT PATERNALISM
Ongoing
An investigation on the causes of paternalism towards women under 30 requesting permanent contraception.
HOW SHOULD FUNDED IVF BE ALLOCATED? PATIENT INTERVIEWS
Completed
Patients’ perspectives on allocation of publicly funded in vitro fertilization in Ontario: a qualitative study
HOW SHOULD FUNDED IVF BE FUNDED? PATIENT SURVEY
Awaiting publication
On December 21, 2015, Ontario began funding one cycle of IVF for any Ontarian under age 43, with a program cap of 5000 cycles per year, which is below expected demand.
PRESENTATIONS
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD - EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF CENTRES OF MEDICAL ETHICS CONFERENCE 2019
Oxford, England - September 12th, 2019
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM - GLOBAL ETHICS CONFERENCE 2019
Birmingham, England - May 31st, 2019
CANADIAN BIOETHICS SOCIETY CONFERENCE 2019
Banff, Alberta - May 23rd, 2019
Beneficent Paternalism: A Qualitative Investigation of OBGYN Perspectives on Non-Clinical Objections to Tubal Sterilizations
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO - CENTRE FOR ETHICS GRADUATE CONFERENCE 2019
Toronto, Canada - May 3rd 2019
Beneficent Paternalism: A virtuous approach to the gatekeeper role held by obstetrician/gynaecologists for permanent contraception
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO - HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE 2019
Toronto, Canada - March 9th 2019
Café Bioethics Workshop: Biobanking and Gene-Editing Technology
CANADIAN BIOETHICS SOCIETY CONFERENCE 2018
Halifax, Canada - May 2018
Resource Allocation of Publicly-Funded Fertility Treatments: A Grounded Theory Focus Group Study of Patients’ Perspectives
PUBLICATIONS
IMPACT ETHICS
2021
Petropanagos A., Gandhi P., Chauhan N. (2021, February). Global Survey on Ethics in Long Term Care during COVID-19. Impact Ethics Blog.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
2020
Jill Oliver, Paula Chidwick, Pamela Forsyth, Nipa Chauhan, Theresa Nitti, Henry Yu-Hin Siu,
Ethical Considerations During COVID-19: Informed Consent Cannot Be Made in Advance, Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, Volume 21, Issue 12, 2020, Pages 1815-1817, ISSN 1525-8610,
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS - BMJ
2020
Dunn, M., Gallagher, A., & Chauhan, N. (2020, May 5). What does good care look like in a pandemic? A Statement of Principles for Residential Care Settings. Journal of Medical Ethics Blog.
CMAJ OPEN
2019
Assal A, Chauhan N, Shin E-J, Bowman K, Jones C. Patients’ perspectives on allocation of publicly funded in vitro fertilization in Ontario: a qualitative study. CMAJ Open. 2019 Apr 1;7(2):E385–90.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS
2018
Chauhan, N. (2018). Book Review: Lying down in the Ever-Falling Snow: Canadian Health Professionals Experience of Compassion Fatigue. Canadian Journal of Bioethics, 1(2), 80.
VOLUNTEER WORK
President and Founder
CAFÉ BIOETHICS
Founded a successful initiative dedicated to public engagement and the advancement of knowledge regarding bioethics issues
Present and lead a democratic discussion regarding various ethical issues in medicine
Plan and organize monthly events at Hart House, U of T
Invite relevant stakeholders and interested members of the public
Post and share relevant media articles on the official Facebook page
Become the public engagement facet for students at the University of Toronto Bioethics Society
Past events include topics such as: Paid Surrogacy, MAID and Mental Illness, Sex-selection, Conscientious Objections and MAID
Medical Ethicist
SOCIETY OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS OF CANADA, MEDICO-LEGAL ETHICS COMMITTEE
To provide opinions/analysis/directions on medico-legal topics for the Society and its members
To act as a resource committee to the president, the Council and the membership of the SOGC
To oversee the development and content of post-graduate courses in medico-legal aspects of the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology
To provide Policy Statements, Committee Opinions and Clinical Practice Guidelines with regards to area of reproduction and infertility
Vice-President and Co-founder
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO BIOETHICS SOCIETY
Lead an initiative dedicated to the bioethics student body
Further bioethics engagement for students in interdisciplinary fields like medicine, law, social work, nursing, scientific research etc.
Maintain a cohesive, governing student-lead body that connects the Joint Centre for Bioethics: Master of Health Sciences in Bioethics, Collaborative Program in Bioethics, the Bioethics undergraduate specialty and major in the Department of Philosophy, the Faculty of Medicine, Café Bioethics, and the Canadian Bioethics Society
President
UT-SWING
Organize weekly swing dance socials and beginner lessons for U of T students and members of the downtown Toronto area
Plan special theme events
Teach beginner swing dancing lessons
Graduate Student at Large, Board of Directors
CANADIAN BIOETHICS SOCIETY
Elected by fellow graduate and undergraduate students of the CBS
Representative of all bioethics-related graduate students acrossCanada
Involvement in CBS meetings, student liaison, event planning
Engage with fellow students to liven the bioethics community
Extensive conference planning and presentation, Halifax 2018 and Banff 2019
Advise and direct Canadian and American university representatives
Two-year term
Clinical Support Specialist
PRINCESS MARGARET CANCER CENTRE
Patient height and weight determination,
Patient hospitality, emotional support
On demand for various miscellaneous purposes within Princess Margaret Hospital.
RECOGNITIONS
MARTIN MCKNEALLY CAPSTONE PROJECT AWARD
2018
For Patients' perspectives on allocation of publicly funded in vitro fertilization in Ontario: a qualitative study.
The capstone award criteria is based on capstone oral and written grading criteria template outlined in the Practical Bioethics course outline. The criteria include but are not limited to:
the integration of theory and practice;
originality and academic excellence;
actual or potential impact on the field.
INNOVATION POSTER SHOWCASE
2018
For Patients' perspectives on allocation of publicly funded in vitro fertilization in Ontario: a qualitative study.
The poster innovation award is based on the presentation of a capstone project poster.
My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.