Click Here for Debra Carroll-Beight

Toward Ethical Futures

Debra is an accomplished and dedicated professional with a unique blend of expertise in public health, bioethics, and gender studies. She is currently a 4th-year Ph.D. candidate in Bioethics at Case Western Reserve University.

About

Health is a human right and your health matters. I am working towards fostering respectful and affirming healthcare for the LGBTQIA2S+ community

Green fern leaf on the left side and letter tiles that spell healthcare on a white background

Education

She holds an MA in bioethics from the Ohio State University (2021) and an MSc in Public Health from Sweden’s Lund University (2017). She received her BAs, also from Ohio State, in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Communication Analysis (2015).

Debra’s diverse background enhances her interdisciplinary approach to complex bioethical issues related to gender and sexuality. Her research is committed to integrating comprehensive and informed perspectives into healthcare research and practice, aiming to promote understanding and equity within the healthcare system for marginalized voices.

Passionate about advocacy, education, and ethics, Debra hopes her research will enable meaningful change in both healthcare and society for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals. She is driven by a vision of a world where all sexual and gender identities are treated with dignity, compassion, and respect, allowing us all to live full lives as our authentic selves.

My values

Imagine if we lived in a world that embraced all sexual and gender identities with open arms. A world where you never had to justify, explain, or defend who you are, but were simply accepted unconditionally. Where you could access healthcare from providers who understand and affirm your needs. Where you could live as your true authentic self at home, at work, and in all parts of society without fear of discrimination or harm.

A pair of hands holding a paper heart that is rainbow colors
A pair of hands clasped together against the backdrop of the pride rainbow flag

Imagine feeling seen, valued, and secure in your identity. No longer carrying the burden of trauma, rejection, or suppression. Never again face those questioning looks and skeptical voices telling you something is wrong with you. Imagine the relief of being able to thrive as you, shaping your own path, pursuits, and purpose without limitation.

This is the future we can build together. Through sharing your stories and needs, we can open minds, alter policies, and transform systems for the better. My research aims to elevate your voice, so you can live freely and achieve your full potential. The path won’t always be smooth, but with persistence and compassion, we will get there. You give me hope and drive to create meaningful change.

A person walking away from the camera in a white t-shirt with the words no homophobia, violence, racism, sexism and yes kindness, peace, equality, love

Debra’s research examines the ethical, social, and structural dimensions of healthcare inequities affecting LGBTQIA2S+ populations, with a particular emphasis on intersex, transgender, and gender-expansive individuals. She investigates how clinical practices and institutional norms impact bodily autonomy, reproductive decision-making, and long-term health outcomes.

She has shared her work both nationally and internationally, publishing and presenting on topics such as mental health inequities for transgender adults, reproductive preservation options for intersex children, exploring the similarities and differences in clinical care between transgender and intersex persons, and healthcare access for transgender refugees in the EU. 

Debra’s scholarship is situated within queer bioethics and informed by interdisciplinary perspectives across public health, feminist theory, and disability ethics. Her work seeks to advance critical inquiry into normative frameworks in medicine and promote inclusive, community-responsive models of care.

CWRU Courses Taught

  • BETH 424: Queer Bioethics (designed and launched)
  • BETH 602: Special Topics in Bioethics – Queer Bioethics
  • BETH 371 Advanced Bioethics
  • BETH 315/415: Study Abroad – Paris, France (co-instructor)

Teaching Interests

  • Queer Methodologies
  • Feminist Ethics
  • Sexual and Reproductive Health Ethics
  • Health and Healthcare Communication
  • Disability Bioethics
  • Hauntology

Research Interests

  • Queer Identities and Identifications
  • LGBTQIA2S+ Healthcare
  • Health Disparities for Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Expansive Populations
  • Public Health and Sexual and Gender Minorities
  • Transgender and intersex communities in the EU
  • Gender-affirming care for transgender youth
  • Queer and Crip approaches to health and embodiment

Reflections