Samford University's Healthcare Ethics and Law Institute (HEAL) will focus on "Healthcare Reform: Access, Economics, and Obligation" during its annual conference Friday, April 11, at Samford.
Speakers will include Dr. Stanley Hauerwas, the Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School; Dr. Robert B. Helms, resident scholar in health policy studies at American Enterprise Institute, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Loretta Kopelman, professor of medical humanities at the Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University; and Dr. William F. May, a fellow of the Institute for Practical Ethics and Public Life at the University of Virginia.
The speakers will receive Pellegrino Medals for their contributions to healthcare ethics. The medal is named for Edmund D. Pellegrino, the first recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities. Dr. Pellegrino often is called the "father of the American bioethics movement."
The HEAL conference–sponsored by Samford's McWhorter School of Pharmacy–is designed to help Alabama institutional ethics committees of all levels with some of today's most pressing healthcare ethics and law issues and problems. Registration is open to committee members, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, chaplains, administrators and others involved in end-of-life care for patients who lack decision-making capacity.
For registration information, contact Lori Bateman, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University at email address lbbatema@samford.edu or telephone (205) 726-2820. Continuing education credit is available. The program will run from 8:20 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. in Brock Forum of Dwight Beeson Hall at Samford.
Dr. Kopelman, who received the 2007 William G. Bartholome Award for Ethical Excellence from the American Academy of Pediatrics, will speak on "Children's Access to Health Care: The Puzzling U. S. Attitude" at 8:30 a.m.
Dr. May, who was professor of ethics at Southern Methodist University from 1985 until 2001, will discuss "Securing Access to the Healing Pool" at 10:30 a.m.
Dr. Hauerwas, who has worked in medical ethics, issues of war and peace and the care of the mentally disabled, will speak on "Why I Am Not a Bioethicist" at 12:45 p.m.
Dr. Helms, who has written and lectured extensively on health policy, health economics and pharmaceutical economic issues, will talk about "Health Economics and Politics: A Historical Perspective" at 1:45 p.m.
Professor Bruce D. White, HEAL director, will lead a group discussion and provide closing comments and evaluation at the end of the program.
