Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, will speak on "Disparity in Healthcare in the USA" at the debut of the new biannual series, the DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy. The speech is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, in the Hager Auditorium (room 119) of the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences of Grand Valley State University, 301 Michigan St. NE.
The series will focus on the myriad ethical questions that are seen in today's headlines such as disparity in healthcare and genetic manipulation.
"The DeVos family saw a need for a forum where people could address the ethical subjects they are confronted with everyday in practice," said Dr. Luis Tomatis, director of medical affairs for the Richard M. DeVos Family. "This will be different from other medical forums because it will be open to everyone and be a colloquy -- a conversation, not a lecture. It is important that all different people come together, ask questions and discuss these important issues."
Admission to the colloquy is free and it will be open to the public. Half of the program will be devoted to questions to facilitate an emphasis on discussion. After her speech, Clancy will take questions from a guest panel before taking questions from the audience. Among the topics Clancy will discuss during her speech are access and delivery of care, outcome based medicine and sensitivities to cultural differences including ethnic, racial and religious differences.
Clancy has been recognized as a leader within the Society of General Internal Medicine, and her primary research interests include primary care, women's health, and access to care.
The DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy series will he held in March and October for the medical and West Michigan community at large to explore and discuss relevant subjects with national experts in the field.
The event is being sponsored by Grand Valley State University, Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation, Spectrum Health, Saint Mary's Health Care, Metropolitan Hospital, Grand Rapids Medical Education & Research Center, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids African American Health Institute, Aquinas College and Calvin College.
Reservations are recommended as seating is limited and can be made by calling Sandi Norton at 616-643-4768.
