I practice as a bioethicist and resident physician in family medicine. My writing draws connections between our belief narratives and how we structure our communities, including the ways communities engage with medicine. The ideas I develop from the humanities and theology have all been tested through research or the adventures of life and practice.
About me
I’m Dr. Brandon, a curious physician and California native returned from the East Coast. (Fun fact: my family name is Chinese with a Spanish spelling, so it’s pronounced with an ‘H’!)
I’ve long been interested in how people’s fundamental beliefs shape their courses of life and daily experiences. This interest grew at Princeton, where I studied religion, and accompanied me as I completed an MA (Villanova) in theology, concentrating in ethics, alongside my MD (Jefferson) in Philadelphia. While in Philly, I served in prison ministry and in clinical settings for people experiencing homelessness and substance addictions, deepening my appreciation for how human beings seek meaning in the most challenging settings. I also founded and directed the Winged Ox Forum, the theology and medicine seminar program hosted by the Collegium Institute.
I’m currently an officer and family medicine resident at my local military hospital, where I also serve as a consulting bioethicist.1 Now that I’ve returned to California, I hope to keep just enough Northeast edge to give sharp analysis to my writing! My work has appeared in numerous medicine, ethics, and theology journals, and my research and scholarship touches on:
Moral communities and their use of rituals and diverse personalities.
Theological anthropology.
Addiction medicine and underserved settings.
Connect
You may reach me at brandonjoa(at)substack(dot)com. Connect with me on LinkedIn or download a recent resume. Academic CV available upon request.
Why subscribe?
I’m thankful for all who have supported my journey. By subscribing, you’ll be able to give feedback and join me and others in understanding our addictive culture and finding solutions.
The opinions on this site are my own or other contributors’ and do not represent those of the United States Department of Defense. This site is intended for information only and not to provide any specific medical advice. If you have questions about a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health professional.
