Why Olympic athlete Emma Maltais chose to earn her Master’s in Bioethics online

Emma Maltais, a standout athlete and The Ohio State University alumna, has not only shone on the ice but also in the classroom. Recruited to Ohio State’s women’s ice hockey team as a high school freshman, she later returned to pursue a master’s in bioethics online, adding to her already impressive list of achievements. 

We spoke with Emma about her journey and how the flexibility of the Ohio State Online Master’s in Bioethics program supports her passion for learning and her career goals. 

Why pursue a Master’s in Bioethics online at Ohio State?

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Health Services at Ohio State, Maltais took a break from academia to compete in the Beijing Olympics, where she helped Canada secure a gold medal. Later, as an athlete on the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s (PWHL) Toronto team, Maltais sought a graduate degree that would fit her demanding training schedule. Ohio State’s online Master of Arts in Bioethics offered the flexibility and academic rigor she needed to advance her career goals to ultimately become a physical therapist. 

“The online piece helped with simplicity for me,” Maltais said, “I was traveling a lot, and I had a lot of tournaments and training camps. I don’t think I could have done it without it being available online.”  

Learning bioethics online: Emma’s experience

In Ohio State’s master’s in bioethics online program, Maltais studied essential topics such as biomedical research ethics, bioethics law, and public policy. One of her favorite courses included pediatric ethics, where she learned about the challenges of addressing illnesses in children who are not yet of age to make decisions, while also exploring paternal beliefs’ influence on their care. Another highlight was the collaborative case studies that connected students remotely to discuss and analyze bioethical dilemmas. 

“We had weekly case studies a group of us did online together,” Maltais said, “We would moderate a case and break down the different bioethical concepts. Sometimes it’s hard to collaborate in person, but on Zoom when we dedicated an hour, it was really easy.”  

Gaining new perspectives through bioethics

Maltais appreciated the support from her instructors and peers in the online bioethics program. The degree strengthened her critical thinking skills, teaching her to evaluate ethical considerations from multiple perspectives. While she initially pursued bioethics to prepare for a career in physical therapy, Maltais saw its relevance across many fields, including sports.  

Her favorite project during the online bioethics master’s program was her thesis, which focused on the ethical aspects of women athletes returning to play in sports after a break, due to injury, health issues, or other life circumstances.   

“It was a topic that was very applicable to my interest because it was in sports and I got to interview some of my friends who went through ethical situations,” Maltais said, “When applying those bioethical concepts to even something as simple as returning to play in sports, I got to see how important this study really was.”  

How an online Master’s in Bioethics boosted Emma’s career

Maltais expressed that when applying to physical therapy schools, her degree in bioethics was a central talking point on her resume. She shared that her online experience at Ohio State has helped her to be even more confident to pursue another dream of hers, which is to become a hockey team captain.  

With the multifaceted nature of bioethics, there is a wealth of career opportunities to explore. Relevant fields for bioethics careers include medicine, veterinary medicine, social work, policymaking, dentistry and more. Whether pursuing a health care career or another field, Maltais touched on the importance of bioethics. 

“It’s [bioethics] such a critical topic nowadays and it is relevant in every single issue. With how polarizing some arguments are, having the capability to talk through it, and to analyze what’s right or wrong in certain situations is key for everybody to understand.”  

Explore Ohio State’s online Master of Arts in Bioethics

Ohio State’s online Master’s in Bioethics program, part of the College of Medicine, offers a dynamic, interdisciplinary approach to studying ethics in health care, biomedical research, law, and beyond. This program is available entirely online without any residency requirements. Students learn from esteemed Ohio State faculty how to take an innovative approach to addressing ethical questions and challenges in medicine, health care, biomedical research and other fields.  

Ready to take your next career step in bioethics? Request more information  about this online program today.