Susan Sherwin

Susan Sherwin is a Canadian philosopher born on June 6, 1947. She is renowned for her foundational contributions to feminist theory, ethics, and bioethics, establishing her as one of the world's foremost feminist ethicists. Sherwin's academic career has been largely associated with Dalhousie University, where she was the first female faculty member in the Philosophy Department and later its first female chair. She also played a crucial role in developing Dalhousie's Gender and Women's Studies program. Beyond academia, Sherwin was active in professional organizations, including being a founding member of the Canadian Society for Women in Philosophy and serving on the Board of Directors of Halifax Transition House. Her academic work initially focused on logic and the philosophy of mathematics but evolved to encompass healthcare ethics and feminist philosophy. In the mid-1980s, she pioneered the integration of these fields, leading to her seminal 1992 book, 'No Longer Patient: Feminist Ethics and Health Care.' This work is considered the first book-length exploration of feminist bioethical theory and is credited with defining the field. Another significant publication, 'The Politics of Women's Health: Exploring Agency and Autonomy' (1998), examined women's health status and healthcare delivery globally through a feminist lens. Her recommendations have influenced ethical research policies in Canada. Sherwin has received numerous accolades for her work, including appointment to the Order of Canada in 2017 for her scholarly contributions and leadership in feminist bioethics. She has also been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Dalhousie University, fellowships in prestigious societies like the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the Royal Society of Canada, and the Killam Prize in Humanities.