Health care access subject of annual medical colloquy

The annual DeVos Medical Colloquy will focus on "The Ethics of Health Care Access" as presented by a respected philosopher and a well-known journalist-documentary filmmaker.

Larry S. Temkin, distinguished professor of philosophy at Rutgers University, and Thomas R. (TR) Reid, author and filmmaker, will highlight the event set for September 17 from 6-8 p.m. in the Eberhard Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. 

Sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for Health, the event is free and open to the public; register online at gvsu.edu/colloquy. The colloquy will be webcast live, participants who register will receive a link several days in advance of the event.

Continuing education credits will be offered for nursing and medical education. Students from all disciplines are invited to meet the speakers from 5-5:30 p.m. at the Eberhard Center. The speakers will provide a brief overview of the night’s presentation and answer questions. Students should register for the event on the colloquy website.

Temkin is the author of Rethinking the Good: Moral Ideals and the Nature of Practical Reasoning (2012); his 1993 work, Inequality, has been touted as an important contribution to analytical political philosophy. Temkin's individualistic approach to inequality has been adopted by the  World Health Organization and the Gates Foundation in their measurements of the global burden of disease.

Reid is among the nation's best-known reporters and a contributor to the Washington Post and NPR. He is the author of many books including The Healing of America, a national best-seller that spurred two PBS "Frontline" documentaries. Reid's recent PBS documentary, "U.S. Health Care: The Good News," is airing on affiliate stations across the country. 

Carl E. Ver Beek, labor and employment attorney for Varnum Law, will serve as moderator. VerBeek has served as chairs for the boards of Holland Home, Health Net of West Michigan, Jellema House and Bethany Christian Services.

The DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy is held twice per year. Grand Valley began hosting this series in 2015, after receiving a gift from the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation.