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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

Kristina Johnson
Assistant Program Coordinator

Kristina Rene Johnson is the Administrative Assistant to several programs and projects at the Center for Ethics, including the Healthcare Ethics Consortium, “Biotechnology and the Ethical Imagination: A Global Summit” conference, and the “Culture, Religion, Ethics and the Environment” project. She is also the Program Coordinator for the Society of Jewish Ethics. Kristina has also assisted in the development of the Master of Arts in Bioethics Program and faculty research. Prior to joining the Center for Ethics in 2010, Kristina worked for Foreverfamily Atlanta as the Assistant Director of Development.

A 2014 graduate of Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Kristina concentrated in Leadership in Church and Community and received certificates in Religious Education and Black Church Studies. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Georgia State University, and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Keller Graduate School of Management.

krjohn9@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