Grand Valley State University will now host an established medical ethics speaker series thanks to a gift from the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation.
The DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy was established in 2005 by Richard and Helen DeVos in response to a need for a forum where topics of medical and ethical significance could be discussed under guidance from experts. The gift to Grand Valley supports the continuation of the colloquy as part of the university's efforts to provide outreach and education for students, the community and medical ethics centers worldwide. The series has tackled topics such as genetic testing, end-of-life care and health care reform.
Jean Nagelkerk, the vice provost for Health at Grand Valley, will oversee the series. She believes the community and Grand Valley students will benefit tremendously from hearing experts discuss the ethical issues medical professionals and society are facing.
"This gift will allow health science students, health care professionals and community members to join innovative discussions in the context of delivering quality, cost-effective, patient-centered care in communities," Nagelkerk said.
The bi-annual series is free and open to the public. It occurs in the spring and fall with the next one scheduled for October 26. The lecture, “Ethics of Resource Allocation across the Lifespan,” will take place from 5:30-8:10 p.m. in Hager Auditorium at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. The speakers are Mildred Solomon, president and chief executive officer for The Hastings Center, and Frederick Zimmerman, professor in the department of health policy and management at UCLA. It will be moderated by the Rev. Julius Medenblik, president of Calvin Theological Seminary.
Richard and Helen DeVos said they are extremely pleased to transition the colloquy to Grand Valley to continue the important discussions that benefit the health professions, the academic institutions and the patients who are the ultimate beneficiaries.
For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/vphealth.
Sign up and receive the latest Grand Valley headlines delivered to your email inbox each morning.
