Events
All events are open to students, faculty, staff, and the general public, free of charge. Unless otherwise noted, events will be held in the Moraine Valley Library, Building L, second floor.

Spring 2011

Henrietta Lacks, Medical Research, and the Politics of Trust
Tuesday, Feb. 8, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., library lounge
We welcome special guest Dr. Rick Kittles, a human geneticist from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Department of Medicine. Dr. Kittles studies cancer and is a pioneer in tracing African-American ancestry through DNA. Dr. Kittles will discuss this year’s One Book text, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and place the Lacks story into the wider context of the ethics of medical research.

Global Aging: Confronting the Challenges of Demographic Changes
February 16th 2:30-3:45 p.m., library lounge
Throughout the world societies are experiencing dramatic shifts in population demographics due to factors such as the post World War II baby boom, higher life expectancy, and/or lower birth rates. As a result, these societies and governments must deal with an increased proportion of their population being out of the work force while eligible for guaranteed government benefits. This discussion will highlight these global challenges with a special focus on medical spending in the last years of life. The event will highlight a brief video clip from CBS 60 Minutes addressing the cost of medical care for the elderly and will be followed by a discussion examining the varying governmental health care policies for elderly and the ethical dilemmas associated with health care spending.

Special Guest, Ms. Toni M. Bond-Leonard
Wednesday, March 23, 1-2 p.m., library lounge
Join us as we welcome the Executive Director of Black Women for Reproductive Justice, Ms. Toni Bond-Leonard. Ms. Bond-Leonard will draw on her interview with Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, for a discussion of the Lacks case and reproductive justice.

Past Events: Fall 2010

Understanding Ethical Dilemmas in Medicine: What Do I Need to Know?
Find information about the podcast of this event here: http://ext.morainevalley.edu/librarynews/?p=531
Wednesday, Sept. 22 , 11 a.m., library lounge
We welcome special guest Dr. Bernard Heilicser, of Ingalls Memorial Hospital, who will discuss ethics in medicine. Dr. Heilicser's specialty is emergency medicine and medical ethics. He has led special responses to the crises in Haiti and following Hurricane Katrina. He is the Deputy Commander and Deputy Medical Director, Illinois Medical Emergency Response Team.

Paying for the Legacy of the Past, a Special Panel Discussion
Find information about the podcast of this event here: http://ext.morainevalley.edu/librarynews/?p=535
Wednesday, Oct. 20, 1 -2 p.m., library lounge
What responsibility do we hold for decisions that were made 50 or 100 years ago? When we benefit from unethical acts of the past, what responsibility do we have to make reparations? Join Moraine Valley faculty members Jim McIntyre, Merri Fefles, Kevin Navratil, and Ricky Cobb as they explore these questions.