Lectures and Events
The events below include our biweekly Montgomery Lectures, other events we host, and relevant events hosted by other groups at Northwestern University and its affiliated clinical partners.
The Montgomery Lectures Series is presented biweekly on Thursdays from noon to 12:45pm, and is open to all. Presenters are faculty in the Master of Arts in Medical Humanities & Bioethics program, CBMH members, and special guests. This series was named in 2013 for Emeritus Professor Kathryn Montgomery.
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May
01
Synthesizing Supported Decision-Making, Supported Engagement and Greater Autonomy for Autistic and Neurodivergent Individuals - Nanette Elster | Kayhan Parsi | Devon Price
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
The Master of Arts in Medical Humanities & Bioethics Program
Presents
A Montgomery Lecture
Synthesizing Supported Decision-Making, Supported Engagement
and Greater Autonomy for Autistic and Neurodivergent Individuals
Speakers:
Nanette Elster, JD, MPH
Professor of Bioethics, Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD, HEC-C
Professor of Bioethics, Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Devon Price, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor
School of Continuing and Professional Studies
Loyola University Chicago
This panel presentation focuses on the concept of supported engagement which builds on the recent trend away from guardianship or conservatorship to the more flexible approach of supported decision-making. Over half of the states now have legislation that allows individuals with intellectual disability to seek the support of a trusted friend or relative to help make healthcare decisions while still retaining full decision-making authority. The concept of supported engagement builds on this concept by acknowledging that autistic and neurodivergent individuals need not only support in the form of trusted individuals but also coordinated and individualized resources in order to have a flourishing life. The presentation will also challenge the "pathological demand avoidance" profile of autism: the argument being that this, in fact, is a persistent drive toward autonomy and respect for individual dignity. This suggests that one of the major ways institutions fail autistic patients and students is by ignoring the autistic person s own personal goals, desires, and feelings. The numerous struggles other disabled communities face in uplifting autonomy (even within theoretically friendly spaces) will also be considered. A synthesis will be drawn between the philosophy of supported decision-making and the need for greater autonomy for disabled persons.
This lecture is open to the public and will be held in the Searle Seminar Room in the Lurie Research Building (303 E Superior), Chicago Campus. For those outside the Chicago area and anyone who would prefer to attend remotely, a Zoom option is also available.
**REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ZOOM ATTENDANCE ONLY**
REGISTER HERE
Read more about this series | Sign up for lecture announcements
May
15
Wayfinding Through the Human Genome - The 4th Annual Carlos Montezuma Native Health Lecture - Keolu Fox
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
The Master of Arts in Medical Humanities and Bioethics Program
Presents in Co-Sponsorship With
Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR)
A Special Montgomery Lecture:
The 4th Annual Carlos Montezuma Native Health Lecture
This lecture is named in honor of Carlos Montezuma, the first Native American graduate of Northwestern University s medical school.
Speaker:
Keolu Fox, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Anthropology
University of California, San Diego
Wayfinding Through the Human Genome
Keolu s research uses genetic data to rewrite the narratives of Indigenous people, emphasizing that the human genome, much like the vast Pacific Ocean, contains clues about our history, health, and future. By studying the genomes of Polynesian descendants of ancient navigators, his work not only highlights the complex migration patterns that brought them to distant islands like Hawaii and Tahiti but also offers insights into modern health challenges faced by these communities. In this lecture, Keolu will discuss how genomics can serve as a tool for land reclamation, public health improvements, and cultural preservation. He emphasizes the need for ethical, community-driven research models that prioritize benefit-sharing and cultural sustainability over extractive scientific practices. By incorporating Indigenous values and decision-making, his approach seeks to return agency to the communities that have historically been marginalized in genomic studies. Keolu s vision extends beyond academia, with aspirations to develop mobile genomic technologies that could bring research directly to remote communities, revolutionizing conservation genetics and healthcare delivery. This lecture will provide a fascinating look at how the past informs the future, offering a new path forward in genomics that aligns with the global push toward inclusivity, equity, and sustainability in science.
This lecture is open to the public and will be held in the Searle Seminar Room in the Lurie Research Building (303 E Superior), Chicago Campus. For those outside the Chicago area and anyone who would prefer to attend remotely, a Zoom option is also available.
**REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ZOOM ATTENDANCE ONLY**
REGISTER HERE
Read more about this series | Sign up for lecture announcements
May
21
(RE)CENTERING: The Eighth Annual Northwestern Bioethics and Medical Humanities Conference
Chicago - 8:00 AM - 4:15 PM
The Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities and the Medical Humanities and Bioethics Graduate Program are hosting a one-day conference dedicated to engaging the Northwestern and Chicagoland communities in the rich, multidisciplinary research and scholarship of our field.
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This event will present an exciting lineup of talks and discussions -- centered around this year's theme: (RE)CENTERING -- showcasing diverse work by a mix of Northwestern Medicine clinicians and researchers, colleagues from other Chicagoland institutions, and alumni of the Medical Humanities and Bioethics graduate program.
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Registration is free. For updated details and to register, please visit:
https://bioethics.northwestern.edu/conference/
May
29
30 Days Out: Medicaid and Consent to Sterilization in the US - Sarah Rodriguez | Katie Watson | Chloe Matovina
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
The Master of Arts in Medical Humanities & Bioethics Program
Presents
A Montgomery Lecture
With
Panelists:
Sarah B. Rodriguez, PhD
Associate Professor of Instruction, Global Health Studies
Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences
Lecturer, Medical Education, Feinberg School of Medicine
Faculty, Graduate Program in Medical Humanities & Bioethics
Katie Watson, JD
Professor of Medical Education, Medical Social Sciences, and OB/GYN
Faculty, Graduate Program in Medical Humanities & Bioethics
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chloe Matovina, MD, MA
OB/GYN Resident
Alum, MD/MA in Medical Humanities &
Bioethics Dual-Degree Program
Northwestern Medicine
30 Days Out: Medicaid and Consent to Sterilization in the US
Since the 1970s, people insured by Medicaid who want a tubal ligation or vasectomy need to consent to a sterilization at least 30 days before the procedure. This rule was inspired by a history of unconsented sterilizations and designed to prevent future abuse. Performing a tubal ligation at the time of delivery is the safest and most efficient practice for pregnant people who will be finished with their childbearing after they deliver and want the procedure, yet in practice the 30-day rule has prevented some patients insured by Medicaid from getting this standard-of-care treatment package. Some argue this waiting period is no longer clinically or ethically justifiable, and obstetrician objections to this policy have escalated in recent years. A reproductive rights attorney, a reproductive health historian, and a second-year OBGYN resident will discuss historical, clinical, and legal aspects of this waiting period, and consider arguments for removing and keeping it.
This lecture is open to the public and will be held in the Searle Seminar Room in the Lurie Research Building (303 E Superior), Chicago Campus. For those outside the Chicago area and anyone who would prefer to attend remotely, a Zoom option is also available.
**REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ZOOM ATTENDANCE ONLY**
REGISTER HERE
Read more about this series | Sign up for lecture announcements