Senior biochemistry major Albash Kahan was awarded first place in the 2025 J.T. Barton Jr. Memorial Ethics Award, which recognizes outstanding students who show exceptional ethical leadership and a commitment to advancing good decision-making on campus.
Originally from Florence, SC, Albash chose our biochemistry program to help reach his goal of becoming a nephrologist. His passion for nephrology and internal medicine comes from personal experience, his family having dealt with diabetes and kidney problems.
Academically, Albash has been involved in the Hunting for Novel Antibiotics Creative Inquiry led by Dr. Min Cao in Biological Sciences; the Rutland Institute for Ethics’ student ethics committee, Creative Habits and Norms Guiding Ethical Decisions; and the Health Extension for Diabetes Program, a free, practice-tested program recognized by the American Diabetes Association.
After graduation, Albash’s aspiration is to pursue a career in medicine with a specialization in internal medicine and nephrology. He plans to attend medical school and hopes to one day establish his own clinic and dialysis center to provide comprehensive care for patients with renal disorders.
The J.T. Barton Jr. Memorial Ethics Award was established in 2001 by Stephan Barton in honor of his late father and supports students who could demonstrate a noteworthy understanding of the essence of an ethical dilemma, as well as excellence in strategic thinking on how to deal with the dilemma through ethical decision-making skills.
The award is given to a singular student and/or a student group on the Clemson University’s campus who pledges to use the award programmatically for advancing good ethical decision-making skills. Three awards are provided annually in the amounts of $1,500, $1,000, and $500. A panel of judges made up of the Rutland Institute Advisory Board Program Committee members determine award recipients each year.
