Contact Information
Biography
Dr. Magill holds the Vernon F. Gallagher Chair for the Integration of Science, Theology, Philosophy, and Law at Duquesne University (appointed in 2007) where he is a tenured Professor in the Center for Healthcare Ethics.
In 1987 he graduated with his Ph.D. degree from Edinburgh University in Scotland. From 1987 he developed his scholarly career at Saint Louis University where in 1996 he was appointed as the Department Chair of the Center for Healthcare Ethics. As Executive Director of that Center from 1999, he held multiple appointments including being a member of the Council of Deans for the University's health sciences campus, a Division Director in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University Hospital, a member of the University's Institutional Review Board, a member of the Hospital Ethics Committee, a Professor in the School of Medicine (secondary appointment), and a Professor in the School of Public Health (secondary appointment).
He has authored, co-authored, or edited 17 books including a co-authored book on Governance Ethics in Healthcare Organizations (Routledge 2020). He has published over 85 scholarly and professional articles, and he has given over 250 scholarly presentations at conferences. He is a member of 17 Professional Associations. He has extensive experience on Institutional Review Boards, Hospital Ethics Committees and Ethics Consultation Services.
In the Center of Healthcare Ethics at Duquesne University, Dr. Magill teaches courses on ethics in the doctoral program and leads clinical ethics rotations for senior students in several hospitals. His current bioethics research includes: Governance Ethics, Organizational Ethics, Professional Ethics, and Clinical Ethics in Healthcare; Hospital Ethics Committees & Ethics Consultations; Research Ethics, Human Subjects Protection and Institutional Review Boards; Data Ethics & Digital Technology; Human Genomics; Medical Error and Patient Safety; and Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (e.g., face & limb transplants, organizing the first week-long international bioethics conference in this area with leading surgeons in the field in Geneva, Switzerland in 2017).
In 2015, he was appointed by Duquesne University's President to be Chair of the Committee for the annual endowed conference series on the Integrity of Creation. Each conference results in a co-edited book. Eight books have been published so far (the 9th book is forthcoming). In 2020 and 2021 he was the chair of search committees to hire the inaugural personnel of a newly endowed ethics center on data ethics & digital technology, the Carl G. Grefenstette Center for Ethics in Science, Technology and Law. He holds the position of Senior Research Fellow in the new Grefenstette Center.
Education
- Ph.D., Theological Ethics, Edinburgh University, Scotland, 1987
- S.T.L., Moral Theology, Gregorian University, Rome, Italy, 1976
- S.T.B., Theology, Gregorian University, Rome, Italy, 1974
- Ph.B., Philosophy, Gregorian University, Rome, Italy, 1971
Profile Information
- Primary Appointment: The Vernon F. Gallagher Chair for the Integration of Science, Theology, Philosophy and Law and tenured Professor of Healthcare Ethics, Center for Healthcare Ethics, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, USA.
- Primary Appointment: Tenured Professor, Center for Health Care Ethics, Saint Louis University.
1996-2006:
- Primary Appointment: Tenured Professor, Department Chair, Center for Health Care Ethics, Saint Louis University.
- As Executive Director (from 1999), a member of the Council of Deans for the University's health sciences campus.
- Division Directors, Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Saint Louis University.
- Dept. of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University.
- Dept. of Health Administration, School of Public Health, Saint Louis University.
- Ethics Committee, University Hospital, Saint Louis University.
- Institutional Review Committee, Health Sciences, Saint Louis University.
- Executive Committee, Center for Business Ethics, School of Business and Administration, Saint Louis University.
- 1988-1996: Assistant Professor, tenured Associate Professor, Saint Louis University.
- 1987-1988: Lecturer, Loyola University, Chicago.
- 1976-1986: Lecturer, Drygrange College, Melrose, Scotland.
Sample doctoral courses taught by Professor Gerard Magill, Ph.D.:
- HCE 653, Genetics & Ethics
- HCE 659, Normative Methods in Health Care Ethics
- HCE 662, Organizational Ethics in Health Care
Books:
- Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds. Health as a UN Sustainable Development Goal. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 2026, proposal accepted.
- Magill, G, J. Benedict, eds. Fostering Well-being as a UN Sustainable Development Goal. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 2025.
- Magill, G., J Benedict, eds. Resilience Ecology, and Health. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 2023.
- Magill, G., J Benedict, eds. Strands of Sustainability. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2023.
- Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds. Toward a Healthy Planet. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2021.
- Magill, G., L. Prybil. Governance Ethics in Healthcare Organizations, Routledge, forthcoming 2020.
- Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds. The Global Sustainability Crisis. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020.
- Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds. Cascading Challenges in the Global Water Crisis. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2019. Paperback, 2021.
- Magill, G., Jordan Potter, eds., Integral Ecology. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2018. Paperback, 2021.
- Magill. G., Aramesh, K., eds. The Urgency of Climate Change. Cambridge Scholars, 2017.
- Magill, G. The Religious Morality of John Henry Newman: Hermeneutics of the Imagination. Springer, 2015.
- D. F. Kelly, G. Magill, & H. ten Have, Contemporary Catholic Health Care Ethics, 2nd edition. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2013.
- Magill, G., ed. Genetics and Ethics: An Interdisciplinary Study. Saint Louis University Press, St. Louis, 2004.
- Randall Rainey, Magill, G., eds. Abortion and Public Policy: An Interdisciplinary Investigation. Omaha, Nebraska: University of Creighton Press, 1996.
- Magill, G., Marie Hoff, eds. Values and Public Life: An Interdisciplinary Study. Lanham, NJ: University of America Press, 1995.
- Magill, G., ed. Personality and Belief: Interdisciplinary Essays. Lanham, NJ: University of America Press, 1994.
- Magill, G., ed. Discourse and Context: An Interdisciplinary Study. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1993.
Scholarly Articles and Book Chapters:
- Magill, G., "Introduction," in Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds. Health as a UN Sustainable Development Goal. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2026, forthcoming.
- Magill, G., Chapter 1, "Pivotal Perspectives on Fostering Well-being as a UN Sustainable Development Goal," in Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds. Health as a UN Sustainable Development Goal. Cambridge Scholar Publishing, 2026, forthcoming.
- Magill, G., Chapter 30, “The Ethical Imperative to Foster Health as a UN Sustainable Development Goal,” in Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds. Health as a UN Sustainable Development Goal. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2026, forthcoming.
- Magill, G., “Introduction,” in Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds. Fostering Well-being as a UN Sustainable Development Goal. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 2025, xi-xiii.
- Magill, G., Chapter 1, “Pivotal Perspectives on Fostering Well-being as a UN Sustainable Development Goal,” in Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds. Fostering Well-being as a UN Sustainable Development Goal. Cambridge Scholar Publishing, 2025, 1-11.
- Magill, G., Chapter 28, “The Ethical Imperative to Foster Well-being as a UN Sustainable Development Goal,” in Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds. Fostering Well-being as a UN Sustainable Development Goal. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2025, 472-496.
- Magill, G., "Introduction," in Magill,G., J. Benedict, eds. Resilience, Ecology and Health. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2024.
- Magill, G., Pivotal Perspectives Regarding Resilience, Ecology, and Health,: Chapter 1 in Magill,G., J. Benedict, eds. Resilience, Ecology and Health. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2024.
- Magill, G. "The Ethical Imperative to Foster the Reciprocity between Resilience, Ecology, and Health," Chapter 28, in Magill,G., J. Benedict, eds. Resilience, Ecology and Health. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2024.
- Magill, G. "Introduction," in Magill, G., J. Benedict,eds. Strands of Sustainability, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2023.,x-xiii.
- Magill, G. "Pivotal Perspectives Regarding Strands of Sustainability," in Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds. Strands of Sustainability. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2023, 1-8.
- Magill, G. "The Ethical Imperative to Foster Sustainability," in Strands of Sustainability. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2023, 282-291.
- Magill, G., Privacy as a Pivotal Portal," forward (1500 words) in Reem Yahya (Shinawi), book, HIPAA's Privacy Rule in the Genomics Age of Data Analytics, forthcoming 2023.
- Magill, G. "Introduction," in G. Magill, J. Benedict, eds. Toward a Healthy Planet. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2021, x-xiii.
- Magill, G. Pivotal Perspectives on Working Toward a Healthy Planet in G. Magill, J. Benedict, eds. Toward a Healthy Planet. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2021, Chapter 1, 1-6.
- Magill, G. "Ethics for a Healthy Planet," in G. Magill, J. Benedict, eds. Toward a Healthy Planet. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2021, Chapter 17, 230-266.
- Magill, G. "Using the Imagination in Normative Moral Reasoning around the Principle of Double Effect to foster Doctrinal Development in Catholic Bioethics." In, J. Gielen, ed, Normativity in Bioethics. Dealing with Bioethical Issues in a Globalized World, Springer 2020, chapter 6, 51-74.
- Magill, G., "Introduction." In, Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds., The Global Sustainability Challenge, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020, x-xiii.
- Magill, G., "Pivotal Perspectives on the Global Sustainability Challenge Crisis." In Magill,G., J. Benedict, eds., The Global Sustainability Challenge, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020, Ch. 2, 8-13.
- Magill, G., "Ethics and the Global Sustainability Challenge." In, Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds., The Global Sustainability Challenge, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020, Ch. 18, 226-233.
- Benedict, J., G. Magill, "Upper extremity and craniofacial vascularized composite allotransplantation: Ethics and Immunosuppression." Emerging Topics in Life Sciences (2019).
- Magill, G. "Ethical Engagement with the Medicalization of Death in the Catholic Tradition," in T. Knepper, ed., Death and Dying: An Exercise in Comparative Philosophy of Religion, Springer, 2019, chapter 12, 187-200.
- Magill, G., Benedict, J.,Gorantla, V., Plock, J., & Krones,T. (2019). Existing and Evolving Bioethical Dilemmas. Challenges and Controversies in Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation. An International Perspective form the Brocher Bioethics Working Group." Transplantation, 1-6.
- Magill, G., "Introduction." In, Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds., Cascading Challenges in the Global Water Crisis, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2019, 1-3.
- Magill, G. "Cascading Challenges in the Global Water Crisis, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2019, chapter one, 6-11.
- Magill, G. "Ethics and the Global Water Crisis." In, Magill, G., J. Benedict, eds., Cascading Challenges in the Global Water Crisis, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2019, chapter ten, 182-194.
- Caplan, A., et al & Magill, G. (2018). "Emerging Ethical Challenges Raised by the Evolution of Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation." Transplantation Online First, 1-26.
- Benedict, J., G. Magill. 2018. "Ethics and the Future of Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation." Current Transplantation Reports, 5:4 (December), 334-338 (Springer).
- Magill, G., "Introduction." In, Magill, G., J. Potter, eds., Integral Ecology (Cambridge Scholars Publishing), 2018, ix-xi.
- Magill, G. "Pivotal Perspectives on Integral Ecology (chapter 1)." In, Magill, G., J. Potter, eds., Integral Ecology (Cambridge Scholars Publishing), 2018, 2-7.
- Magill, G. "Ethics and Integral Ecology (chapter 10)." In, Magill, G.,J. Potter, eds., Integral Ecology (Cambridge Scholars Publishing), 2018, 244-251.
- Magill, G. "Complicity of Catholic Healthcare Institutions with Immoral Laws." In, Jason T. Eberl, ed., Contemporary Controversies in Catholic Bioethics, Springer 2017, Section VII: Healthcare Law and Policy, 523-536.
- Magill, G. "Introduction." In G. Magill, K. Aramesh., eds., The Urgency of Climate Change, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2017, xi-xiv.
- Magill, G. "Interdisciplinary Views on Climate Change." In G. Magill, K. Aramesh, eds., The Urgency of Climate Change, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2017, Chapter 1, 2-19.
- Magill, G. "The Urgency of Climate Change." In G. Magill, K. Aramesh, eds., The Urgency of Climate Change, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2017, Chapter 27, 450-459.
- Magill, G. "Laudato Si': A Commentary," Spiritan Horizons 11 (2016): 80-91.
- Magill, G. "Morality and Spirituality: A Role for the Imagination." Spiritan Horizons 10 (2016): 87-98.
- Wesley N. Sivak, Vijay Gorantla, Kia M. Washington, G. Magill, "Ethical Considerations in Whole Eye Transplantation." Journal of Clinical Ethics 27 (1): (2016) 64-67.
- Magill, G. Clinical Ethics: Accreditation. In, H. ten Have & B. Gordijn, eds., Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics (Springer, 2016).
- Magill, G. Complicity. In, H. ten Have & B. Gordijn, eds., Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics (Springer, 2016).
- Magill, G. Patient Safety. In, H. ten Have & B. Gordijn, eds., Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics (Springer, 2016).
- Magill, G. Bioethics in the USA. In Henk A.M.J. ten Have & Bert Gordijn, eds., Handbook of Global Bioethics (Springer, 2014), chapter 89, 1625-1642.
- Magill, G. Bioethics in Catholicism. In Henk A.M.J. ten Have & Bert Gordijn, Handbook of Global Bioethics (Springer, 2014), chapter 22, 356-373.
- Magill, G. Quality in Ethics Consultations. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 16:4 (2013): 761-774. Peer-reviewed.
- Magill, G. A Moral Compass for Cooperation with Wrongdoing. In Nicholas F. Cafardi, ed., Voting: Catholic Perspectives on Political Participation. New York: Paulist, 2012, 135-157.
- Magill, G. Threat of Imminent Death in Pregnancy: A Role for Double Effect Reasoning. Theological Studies 72 (December 2011): 848-878.
- Magill, G. To Live is to Change: John Henry Newman on Imagination and Certitude. Listening: Journal of Communication Ethics, Religion, and Culture (Spring, 2011): 109-125.
- Magill, G. & Lawrence Prybil, Board Oversight of Community Benefit: An Ethical Imperative. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal 21:1 (2011): 25-50.
- Magill, G. Using Excess IVF Blastocysts For Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Developing Ethical Doctrine, Secular And Religious. Hofstra Law Journal , 37 (2009): 101-135.
- Magill, G. & William B. Neaves. Direct Nuclear Reprogramming: Response. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal 19:2 (June 2009): 201-202.
- Magill, G. & William B. Neaves. Ontological and Ethical Implications of Direct Nuclear Reprogramming. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal 19:1 (2009): 23-32.
- Magill, G. Missouri's Referendum and the Ethics of Embryonic Stem Cell Research. The Sci-Tech Lawyer 3:2 (2006): 16-19 (American Bar Association).
- Devlin, B., G. Magill. The Process of Ethical Decision Making. In, Scott, Wendy E. Current Ethical Thinking in Anesthesia and Intensive Care. Special issue of the journal, Best Practice & Research Clinical Anesthesiology. Vol. 20, No. 4 (2006): 493-506.
- Magill, G. Ethical and Policy Issues Related to Medical Error and Patient Safety. In, S. A. M. McLean, First Do No Harm. Law, Ethics, and Healthcare. London: Ashgate, 2006, 101-116.
- Magill, G. Embryonic stem cell research and human therapeutic cloning: Maintaining the ethical tension between respect and research. In A. Iltis, Research Ethics. Routledge, 2005, 61-85.
- Magill, G. Preface, In, G. Magill, ed., Genetics and Ethics. Saint Louis University Press, St. Louis, 2004, ix-xiv.
- Magill, G., Brehany, J. The Development of Ethics Discourse on Genetics. In, G. Magill, ed., Genetics and Ethics. Saint Louis University Press, St. Louis, 2004, 1-22.
- Magill, G. Genetics, Investment, and Business: Organizational Ethics for Genomics Companies. In, G. Magill, ed., Genetics and Ethics. Saint Louis University Press, St. Louis, 2004, 53-79.
- Magill, G. Science, Ethics, and Policy: Relating Human Genomics with Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Therapeutic Cloning. In, G. Magill, ed., Genetics and Ethics. Saint Louis University Press, St. Louis, 2004, 253-83.
- Magill, G. & Lawrence Prybil. Stewardship and Integrity in Health Care: A Role for Organizational Ethics. Journal of Business Ethics 50 (2004): 225-238.
- Miller, D. Douglas, G. Magill. Evolving Internal Medicine Faculty and Resident Comprehension of an Attitudes toward a Departmental Documentation Compliance Program (1999-2002). D. Douglas 114 (2003): 1-7.
- Magill, G. The Ethics Weave in Human Genomics, Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Therapeutic Cloning: Promoting and Protecting Society's Interests. Albany Law Review (Summer 2002): 701-28.
- Magill, G. Roman Catholic Church. In, R. Anderson, Religious Traditions and Prenatal Genetic Counseling. Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 2002.
- Magill, G. & Prybil, L. Guidelines for Organizational Ethics. Health Progress (2001): 12-14.
- Magill, G. Organizational Ethics in Health Care: Honoring Stewardship and the Work Environment. Christian Bioethics 7:1 (2001): 67-93.
- Magill, G. & Trotter, G. The Role of Solidarity and Subsidiarity for Unions in Healthcare. HEC Forum 13: 2 (2001): 178-195.
- Magill, G. Ethics Committees and Ethics Consultations for Catholic Health Care in the United States. In, J. Glasa, ed., Ethics Committees in Central and Eastern Europe. Council of Europe, Charis-IMEB Fdn, Bratislava, 2000, 141-48.
- Magill, G. Ethical Perspectives on Life Sciences Research and mapping the Human Genome. Medical Ethics & Bioethics 8:1-2 (2001): 3-5.
- Magill, G. Transforming Culture. Catholic Health Care in the United States. In, M. Allsopp, ed., Ethics. Scranton University Press, 1999, 175-202.
- Rainey, R., G. Magill, K. O'Rourke. Abortion. The Catholic Church, and Public Policy. In, G. Magill, R. Rainey, eds., Abortion and Public Policy. Omaha, Nebraska: University of Creighton Press, 1996, 1-46.
- Magill, G. Love Safeguarding Faith. The Ethical Commitment to Ecumenical Dialogue. In, G. Sloyen, ed., Religions of the Book, ed. Lanham, NJ: University of America Press, 1996, 319-32.
- Magill, G. Scotland, the Church in. In, The New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 19 (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America, 1996): 354-57.
- Magill, G. Hermeneutics and Democracy: Religious Dialogue on Values in the Public Arena. In, G. Magill and M. Hoff, Values and Public Life. Lanham, NJ: University of America Press, 1995, 89-111.
- Magill, G. Public Conversation on Values. In, G. Magill and M. Hoff, Values and Public Life. Lanham, NJ: University of America Press, 1995, 1-25.
- Magill, G. A Connected View of Old and New. In, G. Magill, ed. Personality and Belief. Lanham, NJ: University of America Press, 1994,197-99.
- Magill, G. Newman's Sense of Personal Belief. In, G. Magill, ed. Personality and Belief. Lanham, NJ: University of America Press, 1994, xi-xviii.
- Magill, G. Planning for Reform. Health Progress (January 1994): 78-84.
- Magill, G. Public Religious Dialogue. The Economic Pastoral and the Hermeneutics of Democracy. Theological Studies 54 (1993): 678-97.
- Magill, G. Interpreting Moral Doctrine. Horizons 20 (1993): 7-22.
- Magill, G. The Living Mind: On Assent and Dissent. In, G. Magill, ed., Discourse and Context. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1993, 144-64.
- Magill, G. The Intellectual Ethos of John Henry Newman. In, G. Magill, ed., Discourse and Context. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1993, 1-11.
- Magill, G. Imaginative Discernment. In, M. Allsopp, ed. John Henry Newman. Theology and Reform. New York: Garland, 1992, 241-55.
- Magill, G. Personal Reasoning. Irish Theological Quarterly 58/4 (1992): 305-13.
- Magill, G. Moral Imagination in Theological Method. Theological Studies 53 (1992): 451-75.
- Magill, G. Liberal Education and Moral Pluralism. Scottish Journal of Theology 45 (1992): 45-64.
- Magill, G. Theology in Business Ethics: Appealing to the Religious Imagination. Journal of Business Ethics 11 (1992): 129-35.
- Magill, G., Cross, J. Imaginative Learning in Science, and Technology. In, R. Brungs, Science/Technology Education. Saint Louis University Press, 1991, 8-17.
- Magill, G. The Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian, Current Issues in Catholic Higher Education 12/1 (1991): 17-23.
- Magill, G. Newman's View of Catechesis. The Living Light 27 (1991): 103-11.
- Magill, G. Imaginative Moral Discernment: the Tension between Reason and Religion. The Heythrop Journal 32/4 (1991): 493-510.
- Many other published professional articles
- Journal Editor. 1999-2006. Editor of the journal, Health Care Ethics USA.
- Manuscript Review Editor. 2014-continuing. Editorial Board of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery (specialty section of Frontiers in Surgery) as Manuscript Review Editor.
Organization of Major Academic Conferences:
- G. Magill was lead coordinator for the 1st International Bioethics conference on Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation. The conference was funded by a grant from the Brocher Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland, where the conference occurred in May 9-12, 2017.
- G. Magill is Chair of the Committee for the annual Presidential Endowed Conference series on the Integrity of Creation at Duquesne University.
- Magill, G., et al. ASBH Task Force Report on Ethics Consultation Liability, 2005. Prepared by 11 nationally and internationally prominent scholars for the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH). 80-page report, ASBH website publication.
- Magill, G. The Ethical Principle of Material Cooperation in Health Care. Prepared by G. Magill for a national association, 1995. 50-page report, distributed nationally to health systems.
Membership of Institutional Review Board
- January 1988, continuing. Member of the Ethics Committee at UPMC Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA.
- September 2013, continuing. Voting Member of the University of Pittsburgh hSCRO (Human Stem Cell Research Oversight) Committee.
Membership of Professional Associations
- American Academy of Religion (AAR).
- American Association of University Professors (AAUP).
- American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
- American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH).
- American Society for Law, Medicine, and Ethics (ASLME).
- Association for Professional and Practical Ethics (APPE).
- Bioethicists Beyond Borders (BBB).
- Catholic Health Association (CHA).
- Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA).
- College Theology Society (CTS).
- European Society for Philosophy of Medicine and Healthcare (ESPMH).
- International Association for Education in Ethics (IAEE).
- Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology (ITEST).
- Newman Association of America (NAA).
- Society of Christian Ethics (SCE).
- The Transplantation Society (TTS)
