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Lectures & Series

 

The UNC Center for Bioethics sponsors or co-sponsors six regular annual series of events designed to advance the interdisciplinary discussion of bioethical issues. These include two major annual lectureships and four monthly seminar series.

The Merrimon Lectureship in Medicine

One of the UNC School of Medicine’s oldest and most prestigious endowed lectureships, the Merrimon Lectureship sponsors an annual event of public lectures and consultations involving a distinguished senior speaker addressing issues in the ethics and history of the health professions. The Center for Bioethics coordinates this lectureship, in collaboration with the UNC School of Medicine Dean’s Office.

The Merrimon lectureship was established by the late Dr. Louise Merrimon Perry, and inaugurated in 1966. Dr. Perry’s idea was that the lectures be open to all, but that they be concerned with the origins, traditions and history of the medical profession and of that ethical philosophy which must dominate this field of human endeavors. It was her intention that the Merrimon Lecturers be distinguished both for scientific or clinical skills and a notably humane attitude towards medicine.

The Health and Human Rights Lecture

In collaboration with the UNC Department of Public Policy, the Center for Bioethics inaugurated in 2012 an annual lecture series to bring an important speaker to campus to address health policy and health care issues from a human rights perspective.

Research Ethics Grand Rounds

In collaboration with the NC Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute and the UNC Office of Research Ethics, the Center for Bioethics sponsors a monthly seminar series involving local and invited speakers addressing current ethical, legal and social issues in the design and conduct of biomedical research involving human subjects.

Clinical Ethics Grand Rounds

In collaboration with the UNC Health System’s Hospital Ethics Committee, the Center for Bioethics co-sponsors six grand rounds seminars each year devoted to issues in clinical care, health care delivery, and health care organizational ethics.

Transplant Ethics Conference Series

In collaboration with the UNC Health System Transplant Service, the Center for Bioethics co-sponsors six seminars each year devoted to ethical issues in the procurement, allocation and transplantation of human organs.

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Bioethics at UNC Faculty Seminar

In collaboration with the Parr Center for Ethics, the Center for Bioethics sponsors a monthly forum for UNC faculty with research interests in bioethics to share and discuss works in progress.

 

UNC Philosophy & Psychiatry Research Group (PPRG)

The Carolina Seminar on Philosophy, Ethics, and Mental Health is a forum for building community, enriching education, and promoting research at the intersection of Philosophy, Ethics, and Mental Health. This speaker series aims to build upon and expand the existing community of collaboration that has been developed by the UNC Philosophy and Psychiatry Research Group. We encourage jargon-free and supportive discussions that will be accessible to participants with serious interest in the topics but come from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds. Invited speakers in the series present a work-in-progress or recently published paper that is the basis for a new project. The seminars aim to provide the speakers with feedback on their current research projects. At least half of each meeting is devoted to Q&A and general discussion. This series will consist of six speakers each academic year.

Please contact Dan Moseley, daniel_moseley@med.unc.edu, for more information. These events are free and open to the public, but registration is required. Support from Carolina Seminars, the UNC Center for Bioethics, and the Departments of Philosophy & Psychiatry

  • 2nd Annual UNC Philosophy and Psychiatry Conference: May 6-7, 2022
    Check back for more details
  • Moral Memories and the Self
    Felipe De Brigard
  • The Virtue of Being Nonjudgmental
    Tom Dougherty
  • Exploring Non-Voluntary ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy): Ethical Considerations
    Ana S. Iltis
  • Ethical and Social Issus in Frontotemporal Dementia.
    Veljko Dubljevic
  • Honesty: Exploring the Philosophy and Psychology of a Neglected Virtue.
    Christian Miller