Religion, health care subject of conference and colloquy

21st Century Education

Update: Per the GVSU policy, these events have been canceled.

Two Grand Valley events on March 16 will offer participants an in-depth look at how a patient's religious beliefs might impact treatment and decision making.

The West Michigan Health Care Ethics Conference (1-5 p.m.) and the DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy (6-8 p.m.) are planned at the Eberhard Center. Registration for both events is free for GVSU students, faculty and staff; there is a $45 conference fee for all others. RSVP online at gvsu.edu/colloquy before March 11. Details of each event are below.

• Ethics Conference: "Waiting for a Miracle: Religion's Role in Patient Decision Making" will feature an interfaith panel of leaders, moderated by the Rev. Joanna Bailey, from Mercy Health Saint Mary's. Other activities include poster presentations, interactive exercises, and an opportunity to hear from keynote speakers who will also give presentations at the evening colloquy.

• DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy: "The Role of Religion in Health Care" is a collaboration between GVSU's Vice Provost for Health and Spectrum Health.

Speakers are Ana Iltis, professor of university studies and philosophy, and director of the Center for Bioethics Health and Society at Wake Forest University; and Ryan Nash, director of the Ohio State University Center for Bioethics, director of the Division of Bioethics, Dept. of Biomedical Education and Anatomy, and chair of medical ethics and professionalism. Rabbi Emeritus Albert Lewis from Temple Emanuel will serve as moderator.

Continuing education credits are offered for medical education, nursing and social work for both the conference and colloquy. Information is online at gvsu.edu/colloquy. The colloquy will be live streamed; register on the website before March 11. 

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. 

The colloquy is sponsored by Spectrum Health, Mercy Health and Metro Health/University of Michigan Health. The ethics conference is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield/Blue Care Network of Michigan.