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.
- History of the Merrimon Lecture
- 2018 Merrimon Lecture
Keith Wailoo
The Politics of Pain: Medicine and the Gatekeepers of Relief in America’s Opioid Era - 2017 Merrimon Lecture
Wylie Burke
Pathways to Trust
Genomics, Precision Medicine, and Health Disparities - 2016 Merrimon Lecture
Nicole Lurie
Striking the Balance
Patient Care, Activism, and Public Service in the Health Professions - 2015 Merrimon Lecture
Gilbert Welch
Seven Assumptions that Drive Too Much Health Care - 2013 Merrimon Lecture and Health Justice Conference
Ruth R. Faden
Health and Justice
What’s Theory Got to Do With It? - 2011 Merrimon Lecture
Diane Meier
Medicine - Past Merrimon Lectures
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.
- 2020 Health and Human Rights Lecture
Mary Bassett
How Pandemics Show Us Who We Are: Race and Risk in the United States - 2016 Health and Human Rights Lecture
Gopal Sreenivasan
Health, Human Rights, and Public Goods - 2015 Health and Human Rights Lecture
Veronica Magar
Health and Human Rights in the Sustainable Development Goal Era - 2013 Merrimon Lecture and Health Justice Conference
Ruth R. Faden
Health and Justice
What’s Theory Got to Do With It?
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.
BUNC
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.