With over 55 years of experience in her field, Mary Varney Rorty, PhD, is best known her for role in helping others teaching ethical uncertainty. She currently serves as a clinical associate professor, specializing in Aristotle’s philosophy and the new genesis. She has previously worked at the University of Virginia, the State University of New York at Buffalo, Ryder College, Douglass College, San Francisco State University and the University of California Santa Cruz. Additionally, she received a fellowship from the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics.
Dr. Rorty obtained her Master of Arts in clinical ethics from the University of Virginia in 1994 and attended Johns Hopkins University in 1970, where she received a PhD. She obtained an undergraduate degree from Barnard College, where she received her Master of Philosophy. Dr. Rorty is a member of the Society of Women in Philosophy, the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities, Feminist Approaches to Bioethics, and the Association for Professional and Practical Ethics. Additionally, she is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), and is currently the editor of the APA Newsletter on Philosophy and Medicine.
Dr. Rorty has formally worked on several committees for the APA including the non-academic careers committee from 2012 to 2016, the Pacific Division program committee from 2006 to 2008, the medicine and philosophy committee from 2004 to 2007, the Pacific Division nominating committee from 2002 to 2003, the feminist approaches to bioethics committee from 1997 to 2002, the teaching committee from 1989 to 1992 and the women’s committee from 1981 to 1985. From 2010 to 2013, Dr. Rorty was a program reviewer for organizational ethics committee, as well as the task force on Core Competencies for Clinical Ethics from 2006 to 2010 for the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH). Additionally, she has served as a convener for the Organization Ethics Affinity Group, and has been listed in the sixth edition of Marquis Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare published in 2006.
