Sandra Hapenney
Resident Scholar
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Sandra Hapenney researches, writes and consults on the practices and policies affecting religious liberty especially as it relates to health care.  She has an interest in bioethics and also does presentations on theology of the human person.  Dr. Hapenney researched all Catholic hospitals in seven states analyzing their patient data to determine if the hospitals were in compliance with the Ethical and Religious Directives of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Almost half were not.  Her objective was to examine the threat posed to religious institutions based upon conscience clauses in U.S. law if hospitals do not comply with their stated religious beliefs.  She is continuing her work in this area.  Her publications in the area have helped change the practices of a number of hospitals. The website catholichospitals.org managed by Dr. Hapenney presents a summary of findings.
Sandra Hapenney has a Ph.D. in Church-State Studies from Baylor University with concentration in laws affecting health care and education, an M.A. in Theology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, a Master of Public Health, specializing in biostatistics and epidemiology from the University of Hawaii, and B.A. in Mathematics from Chapman University.  In addition she has graduate level studies in psychiatric epidemiology, educational psychology, psychology, education, computer science and business from John Hopkins University, University of Hawaii and Baylor University.