The Rossi Center for Faith and Culture further supports and integrates the mission of the Newman Catholic Student Center at The University of Iowa by helping students interface their faith and everyday lives. The Rossi Center generously finances fellowships, speakers and varied activities hosted at The Newman Catholic Student Center. To learn more, please follow the link below.
2024-2025 Christian Healthcare Ethics Seminar
A four-part seminar series for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at the University of Iowa.
Purpose: To describe, discuss, and promote a Christian understanding of healthcare ethics.
Target Audience: Students in (or planning to enter) healthcare or related fields who desire to learn and grow in their
understanding of Christian healthcare ethics.
Instructor: Lauris C. Kaldjian, MD, PhD, MDiv
Director, Program in Bioethics and Humanities
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa
Meeting Time: Four sessions, Wednesdays, 6-7:30pm
Structure:
6:00-6:30pm Didactic presentation by Dr. Lauris Kaldjian
6:30-7pm Dinner and small group discussions at each table about the session's topic
7-7:30pm Large group Q&A and further discussion led by Dr. Kaldjian
Seminar Dates and Topics:
September 11 Ethical Challenges at the Beginning of Life
November 13 Ethical Challenges at the End of Life
February 12 Human Embodiment, Sex, and Gender
April 9 Conscientious Practice in Healthcare
Registration: Students who plan to attend, please RSVP by the Sunday before each session with that session's link or qr code.
Suggested general bibliography for background (additional references will be available for each session):
Ethics in general
Ethics in Healthcare
Purpose: To describe, discuss, and promote a Christian understanding of healthcare ethics.
Target Audience: Students in (or planning to enter) healthcare or related fields who desire to learn and grow in their
understanding of Christian healthcare ethics.
Instructor: Lauris C. Kaldjian, MD, PhD, MDiv
Director, Program in Bioethics and Humanities
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa
Meeting Time: Four sessions, Wednesdays, 6-7:30pm
Structure:
6:00-6:30pm Didactic presentation by Dr. Lauris Kaldjian
6:30-7pm Dinner and small group discussions at each table about the session's topic
7-7:30pm Large group Q&A and further discussion led by Dr. Kaldjian
Seminar Dates and Topics:
September 11 Ethical Challenges at the Beginning of Life
November 13 Ethical Challenges at the End of Life
February 12 Human Embodiment, Sex, and Gender
April 9 Conscientious Practice in Healthcare
Registration: Students who plan to attend, please RSVP by the Sunday before each session with that session's link or qr code.
Suggested general bibliography for background (additional references will be available for each session):
Ethics in general
- Frankena, William. Ethics. 2nd ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1973.
- Holmes, Arthur F. Ethics: Approaching Moral Decisions. 2nd ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007.
- Meilaender, Gilbert C. The Theory and Practice of Virtue. Notre Dame, IN: Univ of Notre Dame Press, 1984.
- Kreeft, Peter. Making Choices: Practical Wisdom for Everyday Moral Decisions. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant Publications, 1990.
Ethics in Healthcare
- VanDrunen, David. Bioethics and the Christian Life: A Guide to Making Difficult Decisions. Crossway, 2009.
- Meilaender, Gilbert C. Bioethics: A Primer for Christians. 4th ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2020.
- Pellegrino, Edmund D., and David C. Thomasma. The Christian Virtues in Medical Practice. Georgetown University Press, 1996.
- Pellegrino, Edmund D. Toward a virtue-based normative ethics for the health professions. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal;1995:5(3):253-277.
- Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers. New Charter for Health Care Workers (English Edition). Philadelphia, PA: National Catholic Bioethics Center, 2016. (https://www.ncbcenter.org/free-scribd-texts/new-charter-for-health-care-workers)
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, 6th ed. 2018 (https://www.usccb.org/about/doctrine/ethical-and-religious-directives/upload/ethical-religious-directives-catholic-health-service-sixth-edition-2016-06.pdf)