Inspired by a curiosity to understanding the world from different perspectives, Cody Moore '09 completed a Master of Arts in philosophy in 2012, three years after graduating from Texas A&M University with degrees in biochemistry and genetics, and in history.
“During my time as a history undergraduate, I focused on intellectual history,” Moore said. “This included the study of how ideas have developed, changed and influenced societies over time. Naturally, I was introduced to philosophers and grew curious enough that I wanted to take a philosophy course directly. I fell in love with the subject and decided to pursue it in graduate school.”
Several faculty members played a formative role in his development as a philosophy student, including Dr. Ted George, Dr. Kristi Sweet and the late Dr. John McDermott. Beyond being incredible educators, he said, all of them had exceptional interpersonal skills and an ability to make students feel welcomed.
“They are all fantastic human beings and teachers who take their role as a part of the university community seriously,” he said. “They believe deeply that philosophy has something vital to offer a world increasingly driven by the hard sciences, and that belief is infectious.”
Moore is an internal medicine hospitalist at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and an assistant professor of medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, where he earned his MD in 2017. Studying philosophy taught him to question deeply, think critically and grow comfortable grappling with complicated issues. One such issue is diagnostic uncertainty, in which a medical practitioner, such as a doctor, perceives their patient’s diagnosis inaccurately.
“I look for ways to incorporate medical humanities into my clinical experiences,” Moore said. “I work with medical residents and students who are training in hard sciences, taking detailed notes and completing patient orders. On most days, they don’t leave the hospital until 10 p.m. It’s important, when certain situations arise, to stop and say, ‘Hey, we just experienced something meaningful. Let’s take a moment and acknowledge it.’ That might be a patient’s death, a difficult conversation with a family or a breakthrough in a patient’s recovery. My background in philosophy helps me approach these situations with intention.”
He pointed to philosophers like John Dewey and William James, whose ideas on learning by doing and pragmatism still inform his daily life.
“Immerse yourself in philosophy, regardless of your background, and it will provide deeper, more complex ways of understanding our world,” Moore said. “Whether you pursue a Ph.D. or take another route, the writing and critical thinking skills that a philosophy degree offers will serve you for a lifetime.”