Rate My Professor Michael McDuffie

Michael McDuffie serves as Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at California State University, San Marcos (CSUSM). He earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Yale University. McDuffie joined CSUSM in 1996 as an Assistant Professor, advancing to Associate Professor in 2003. In this longstanding role within the Philosophy Department, he has contributed to the academic mission of the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences (CHABSS). Since 2019, he has held the position of Faculty Director for the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care at CSUSM, effective July 1 of that year. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the CSUSM School of Nursing and the Institute itself. His career trajectory reflects a deep commitment to integrating philosophical inquiry with practical applications in ethics and healthcare.

McDuffie's academic specializations center on bioethics and clinical ethics, with a focus on end-of-life issues and medical decision-making. Beyond his departmental leadership, he actively engages in clinical and community ethics through several key appointments. He is a Community Member on the Hospital Ethics Committees for Palomar Health and Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. Additionally, he participates as a member of the Clinical Ethics Consulting Team at Palomar Health. On a national level, McDuffie serves as the Public at-large Patient Representative on the Critical Care Medicine Subspecialty Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). Locally, he is Chair-Elect of the San Diego Coalition for Compassionate Care (SDCCC). These roles underscore his influence in bridging philosophy with palliative care, nursing education, and healthcare policy, fostering ethical practices in medical contexts at CSUSM and beyond. As Chair of Philosophy, he oversees faculty and curriculum in areas encompassing applied ethics and related philosophical traditions.