Ethics is not a specialty: It is a conversation. As science and technology advance, so do ethical questions surrounding those developments.

From the moral treatment of embryos and donor autonomy to the moral imperative to develop treatments that may correct or prevent medical conditions, stem cell research and development include topics ripe for scholarly discussion and debate. By exploring these issues both scientifically and ethically in a public forum, participants will gain a deeper understanding of new technologies and their larger societal impact.

Speaker Bios

Connie J. Eaves, PhD is the Director of Terry Fox Laboratory and VP of Research of the BC Cancer Agency. She is the Associate Dean of Research and Professor of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia. Her PhD studies contributed to the discovery of T and B cells and she is now acknowledged for her seminal contributions to understanding the stem cells of the blood and their regulation in both normal and perturbed states, with a particular emphasis on human chronic myeloid leukemia.

Col. Robert G. Hale, DDS, LTC MIL, is the Commander of Dental and Trauma Research Detachment and Director of Craniomaxillofacial Research at Brooke Army Medical Center. He is published in numerous professional journals, and has lectured extensively on maxillofacial battle injuries. He currently lectures to deploying providers in the Joint Forces Combat Trauma Management Course, US Army Medical Department Center and School. He holds a teaching appointment at UCLA School of Dentistry. Dr. Hale was awarded the "A" Proficiency Designator from the US Army Surgeon General to recognize professional expertise, leadership and academic achievements.

Rev. Paul Parks, D.Min,is the executive director of the Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health in San Antonio. A consultant for many congregations and businesses regarding conflict management, transitioning, strategic planning and leadership, Parks is a United Methodist clergyman; a Fellow, American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC); a Licensed Professional Counselor; and holds Ecclesiastical Endorsement for Pastoral Counseling by the United Methodist Church. He has provided clinical services for twenty-two years and served in administrative roles for more than thirty years.

Christopher Thomas Scott is the director of the Stanford University Program on Stem Cells in Society, a faculty member and senior research scholar at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, a Brocher Institute Fellow and an associate fellow at King's College, London and the University of Sheffield.

Continuing Education Information

Conversations About Ethics is committed to providing free continuing education credits in ethics and professionalism for physicians, nurses, social workers and chaplains.

Content of this activity meets the criteria for many health care professionals, including but not limited to occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants, to submit certificates of attendance for continuing education credits.  Please check with your licensing body for more information on claiming credits for your participation in this activity.

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