About

Welcome to Wrestling with Philosophy, official website for Amitabha Palmer. This website provides resources and ideas for teachers and students of philosophy as well as some of my random thoughts.

My Philosophical Interests

I have two main areas of research: medical misinformation and the ethics of AI in healthcare.

For many years (before it was cool!) I’ve been interested in the relationship between conspiracism, science denialism, polarization, and public policy within the context of democratic theory. I’m also interested in how these variables interact within the medical context. For example, what does informed consent look like when people are deeply misinformed and impervious to the contradictory evidence they hear? Do healthcare professionals have additional duties beyond mere disclosure in these cases? Is it permissible for healthcare professionals to persuade such patients?

While some of my work on medical misinformation is on the theory end of the spectrum, I also do applied work. I have created a conversation guide and training module for healthcare workers to have more fruitful discussions with cancer patients who endorse misinformation about their care.

I’ve been working on the ethics of AI in healthcare since around 2019 when I helped to co-author the American Nursing Association’s Position Statement on the Ethics of AI and Robotics in Nursing. Since then I’ve co-authored several papers with David Schwan, Brandon Long, Anita Ho, and Charles Binkley. I am also affiliate faculty at the Institute for Data Science in Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. There I teach the AI ethics component of the fellowship and provide guidance on the ethical aspects of the many new AI tools being developed at the institute.

For my publications check out my Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vM4lYQkAAAAJ&hl=en

About Me

I am an Assistant Professor and Clinical Ethicist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Affiliate Faculty at the Institute for Data Science in Oncology. I earned my PhD in Philosophy from Bowling Green State University and my MA from the University in Houston. My dissertation was on how widespread science denialism and conspiracism affect democratic policymaking. Currently, I primarily teach medical ethics and AI ethics.

Outside of philosophy, I’m an avid judoka and grappler. I’ve been doing some form of grappling (wrestling, judo, submission wrestling, BJJ) for over 30 years. Before moving to Houston, I coached the BGSU Judo and Grappling club and previously coached the University of Houston Grappling Club. I currently run a “judo for BJJ” class at Rilion Gracie BJJ Missouri City.

My dream is to teach my Philosophy and Martial Arts course as a for-credit course. Ideally it would combine training in the dojo with learning the philosophy of martial arts. The philosophical and technique/strategy lessons in the dojo mutually reenforce each other making it the ultimate course in applied philosophy!

For over a decade I taught and performed salsa/merengue/reggaeton/yoruba all over the world. I still go out dancing but not as regularly as I used to. My other hobbies include hiking and camping with my dog Otis Ponens. You can find us every weekend in a nearby forest and every summer camping in the Rockies. 

Visit my other websites for more resources:

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Amitabha Palmer at philosophami(AT)gmail.com

6 thoughts on “About”

  1. Great job with this site, Ami! Highly recommended. Yet another accomplishment under your multi-talented (black) belt! Love your insight and playful methods of approaching/encouraging critical thinking relating to serious topics/science. It reflects your hard work, dedication and love of teaching. Thank you for sending us the materials for your Philosophy of Martial Arts course! So grateful to be some of the first to test it out! (Of course it doesn’t make up for being in our living room teaching how to tie gi knots, but it wins a pretty close second!) Your course is well-organized, easy-to-access, insightful, and perfect for the kinaesthetic learner-I’d argue the most effective way to learn and effect positive systematic change of both mind /body.) You are making a difference.

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  2. Hmm it seems like your blog ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any suggestions for novice blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.

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    1. Hi Darrell, I really appreciate your feedback. You’re not the first person to say that my blog has eaten their comments. I wish I knew what was going on. I do get most comments though. The best advice I can give to an aspiring blogger is to write, write, write. When you start out, aim for at least a post a week. Also, invest in the editing process. It’s not enough to have content. The internet is overflowing with content. Take the time to revise posts before publishing them. I never publish immediately after writing. I wait a day then read the post with fresh eyes, edit, then post.

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  3. Hi Ami, just listened to your talk on ETV pod. Really enjoyed it. Was particularly interested in your comments about partisan cheerleading effects and shared realities. I’m doing some work in political psychology and behavioral economics and am curious if you have explored cognitive bias effects in relation to incentives that dig through partisan cheerleading? Thanks and cheers.

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