2023: Genetics & Genomics: Medical, Ethical and Social Implications

  • Ethical Aspects: An Overview of Human Identity
    Dennis Sansom, Ph.D., professor emeritus, Samford University
  • Genomics Aspects: An Overview of Genomics and Precision Medicine
    Pellegrino Awardee: Bruce Korf, M.D., Ph.D., professor and associate dean, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Pharmacogenomic Aspects: Chronic Disease Aspects and Pharmacogenomics
    Nita A. Limdi, Pharm.D., Ph.D., M.S.P.H., FAHA, professor and associate director of Precision Medicine Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Ethics Considerations and the International Governance of Human Genome Editing: Prospects or Pipe Dream?
    Pellegrino Awardee: Jeffrey Kahn, Ph.D., M.P.H., Andreas C. Dracopoulos Director of Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University
  • Medical Aspects: Human Identity and Medicine
    Pellegrino Awardee: Farrell Mendelsohn, M.D., cardiologist and director of the Center for Therapeutic Angiogenesis, research investigator, Cardiology, P.C.
  • Genetic Counseling Aspects: Genetic Testing Challenges and Counseling Considerations
    Kelly East, M.S., CGC, vice president of Educational Outreach, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
  • Faith, Health Care and Genetic Testing: Diagnosed with a Rare Disease: How One Family Navigates the Unknown
    Renie Moss, parent and advocate for children with neurofibromatosis

2022: Coming out of the Pandemic: Where are we Mentally?

  • Ethical Aspects: Why Should We Do the Moral Thing: For Reason or Love? Dennis Sansom, Ph.D ., Samford University's Department of Philosophy
  • Nurse Aspects: The Nursing Profession’s Mental Health and Wellbeing: COVID-19 Impacts Stephanie Wynn, D.N.P., RN-BC , PMHNP, Samford University's Nurse Practitioner Department
  • Psychologist Aspects: The COVID pandemic and acclimating during prolonged crises Josh Klapow, Ph.D ., University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Legal Aspects: Public Health Mandates and the Law Frank McPhillips, J.D ., Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C.
  • Pharmacist Aspects: The Interplay Between COVID-19 and Psychotropic Medication Use Marshall Cates, Pharm.D., BCPP, FASHP, FCCP , McWhorter School of Pharmacy
  • Social Worker Aspects: Caring for the Caregivers: Impact of the Pandemic on the Profession of Social Work Lisa Baker, Ph.D., LCSW , Samford University's Department of Social Work

2019: Medical Marijuana: Its Benefits and Risks to Society

  • "The Changing Legal and Ethical Contexts of Medical Marijuana and CBD" by David Smolin, J.D., Samford University
  • "Medical Cannabis: What is the Evidence for its use?" by Tyler Gaston, M.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham
  •  "Real Medicines Have Real Risks: Marijuana's Potential Health Hazards Explained" by Erik Messamore, M.D., Ph.D., Northeast Ohio Medical University
  • "Impact of the Agriculture Improvement Act" by Scott Gottlieb, M.D., American EnterpriceInstitute and 23rd Commissioner fo the US Food and Drug Administration (2017-2019)
  • "Suffering, Marijuana, and the Goals of Medicine" by Farr Curlin, M.D., Duke University
  • "Medical and recreational marijuana laws: effects on marijuana and opiod outcomes in the US adolescent and adult population" by Silvia Martins, M.D., Ph.D., Columbia University

2018: The Ethics of Access to Health Care: Are We Doing Too Much or Too Little

  • "Biblical Framework for Caring for the Poor" by Dennis Sansom, Ph.D.
  • "The Ethics of Access to Health Care: Evidence from the World Cities Project" by Michael K. Gusmano, Ph.D., Hastings Center for Bioethics
  •  "Ethics of Access to Care from a Hospital/Health-System Perspective" by Keith Parrott, CEO, Brookwood Baptist Health
  • Ethics of Access to Care: Local Approaches and Considerations, Panel of Birmingham Area Health Care CEOs

2017: Effective Pain Management in an Era of Opioid Abuse

  • "The Nature of the Soul, Addiction, and the Seven Deadly Sins" - Dennis Sansom, Ph.D.
  • “Opioids for Chronic Pain: Whatever Happened to First, Do No Harm?”- David N. Juurlink, BPharm, M.D., Ph.D., FRCPC, FACMT, FAACT
  • “Turning the tide or riptide? Ethical Challenges of the changing opioid epidemic.” - Stefan G. Kertesz, M.D., M.Sc.

Watch the lectures: Part 1 | Part 2

2015: Religion and Health Care in a Diverse Society: The role of Institutional and Provider Conscience

  • "Taking Moral Diversity Seriously: The Implications for Bioethics" - H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr., Ph.D., M.D. 
  • "Can Professional Practice Help in Adjudicating Professional Conscientious Objection?" -Thomas S. Huddle, M.S., Ph.D., FACP
  • "Reframing Conscientious Refusals in an Era of Competing Visions of Health, Medicine and Ethics" - Ryan Nash, M.D., M.A., FACP, FAAHPM
  • "Health Policy and Conscience Protection: Is There a Place for Religious People in Health Care Professions?" - Leonard J. Nelson, J.D., LL.M.

2014: Immunizations across the Lifespan: Ethical and Legal Implications

  • "Immunizations: Individual Rights vs. Societal Obligation" - Dennis Sansom Ph.D.
  • "Adult Immunization: Do Disparities Have Ethical Implications?" - William Schaffner, M.D.
  • "Requiring Immunizations for Health Care Workers: Fair and Just?" - Lisa M. Lee, Ph.D., MS, (Pellegrino Medalist) .
  • "Pediatric Immunizations: the Effect of Conscientious Objection" - David Kimberlin, M.D.
  • "The Illusion of Charity Care" - Bruce White, D.O., J.D. (Pellegrino Medalist)

2013: Marketplace Medicine and Conflicts of Interest

  • "Fear and Loathing in Medical Research" - Carl Elliott, M.D., Ph.D.
  • "Health Care Reform and the Market" - Leonard Jack Nelson, III, J.D., LL.M.
  • "Patient Demands and Accommodations" - Bruce White, D.O., J.D.

2012: Moral Distress at the Bedside: A Role for Hospital Ethics Committees?

  • "Collaboration of a Nursing Ethics Roundtable and a Hospital Ethics Committee to Decrease Moral Distress at the Bedside" - Joy Hinson Penticuff, RN, Ph.D.
  • "The Role of Ethics Committees in Catholic Hospitals" - Leonard Jack Nelson, III, J.D., LL.M.
  • "Medical Futility and Moral Distress" - John Lantos, M.D.
  • "The Moral Distress of an Outside-the-Loop Clinician: Challenges for Pharmacists as Newcomers to the Health Care Team" - David Brushwood, R.Ph., J.D.
  • "The Effect of Completing a Surrogacy Information Tool on Admission to an Intensive Care Unit on Length of Stay and Charges: A Case Study" - Bruce D. White, D.O., J.D. Case study article

2011: Eliminating Healthcare Disparities: An Ethical Quagmire?

  • "Health Disparities: Just and Unjust" - Robert Veatch, Ph.D.
  • “From Stem Cells to Cloning: Where Are We Now?" - Gregory Pence, Ph.D.
  • Panel Discussion on Health Disparities: The Case of an Undocumented Immigrant with End Stage Renal Disease - Denyse Thornley-Brown, M.D., Gregory E. Pence, Ph.D., Robert Veatch, Ph.D.
  • “Notes on the Role of University-Based Ethics Programs and Their Communities” - Joseph O. Dean, Jr., Ph.D.
  • “The Health Impact of Resolving Racial Disparities: An Analysis of US Mortality Data” - David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Case study, “The Family from Hell” - Bruce D. White, D.O., J.D.

2010: Are Codes of Ethics Enough?

  • “Codes, Standards of Care, and the Differences between Ethics and Law” - Bruce White, D.O., J.D.
  • “Developing Ethical Standards: The Role of People, the Role of Codes” - Joseph Fink III, B.S. Pharm, J.D.
  • “Ethics Code Design: Emerging Best Practices” - John Knapp, Ph.D.
  • “Applying the Health Education Code of Ethics to other Health Care Professions” - Chuck Sands, Ph.D.
  • “Codes Are More Than Rules, They Are Virtues” - Dennis Sansom, Ph.D.
  • “Primer on Clinical Ethics for Ethics Committee Members” - Ronn Huff, M.A.(c)
  • “Codes of Ethics: Setting the Goal Posts for Professionalism?” - DeWitt C. Baldwin, Jr., M.D., Sc.D. (Hon)
  • “Codes and Care at the Bedside: The Nurse’s Dilemma” - Joy Penticuff, R.N., Ph.D.

2009: The Intersection of Faith and Ethics in Healthcare

  • “The Numinous, the Medical and the Moral” - Daniel P. Sulmasy, O.F.M., Ph.D.
  • “The Fine Edge Between Light and Shadow: Spirituality, Illness and Dignity” - Karen Lebacqz, Ph.D. 
  • “When to be Spiritual in Health Care” - Dennis Sansom, Ph.D.
  • "Conscientious Objection and the Future of Catholic Health Care" - Leonard J. Nelson, J.D., LL.M.
  • “Self-Deception, Medical Practice and the Eclipse of Spirituality” - John Knapp, Ph.D.
  • “Justice: Bedside Clinical Ethics’ Next Great Challenge” - Bruce D. White, D.O., J.D.

2008: Healthcare Reform: Access, Economics and Obligation

  • “Children’s Access to Health Care: The Puzzling U.S. Attitude” - Loretta Kopelman, Ph.D. - Response, Leonard J. Nelson III, J.D., LL.M.
  • “Securing Access to the Healing Pool” - William May, Ph.D. - Response, Wilton Bunch, M.D., Ph.D.
  • “An Argument for Universal Health Care” - Melvin Brandon, Ph.D.
  • “Finite Care in a World of Infinite Need” - Stanley Hauerwas, Ph.D. - Response, Dennis Sansom, Ph.D.
  • “Health Economics and Politics: A Historical Perspective” - Robert Helms, Ph.D. - Response, Michael Morrisey, Ph.D.

2007: Struggling with Improving Bedside End-of-Life Care

  • Medical Futility: Where Do We Stand?, Lawrence J. Schneiderman, MD 
  • Insights from Tarot about Futility Decisions: The Hanged Man, Amy Haddad, Ph.D., R.N. 
  • Where is God in Suffering and Death?, Wilton H. Bunch, MD, PhD.