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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER PROGRAMS ANNOUNCED FOR THE MEDICAL CENTER HOUR

The University of Virginia School of Medicine's Medical Center Hour will continue its 2000-2001 weekly series on Wednesday, November 8, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the Jordan Conference Center Auditorium.

Founded in 1971 by former dean of the U.Va. School of Medicine, Dr. Thomas H. Hunter, the Medical Center Hour explores current issues and controversies facing medicine and society, including topics in contemporary health care, culture, ethics, religion, law, scientific research and public policy. The weekly forum, produced by the U.Va. Program of Humanities in Medicine, is held on Wednesdays from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Jordan Conference Center Auditorium. All programs are free and open to the public.

    November 8, How Long Do I Have to Live? Why Prognostic Questions Trouble Doctors. Dr. Nicholas Christakis, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor of sociology and medicine at the University of Chicago, will address why prognosis has been badly neglected in clinical practice and how non-prognosis or mis-prognosis can harm patients. Responding to Christakis’ remarks will be Dr. Munsey S. Wheby, professor of internal medicine and senior associate dean of the School of Medicine at the U.Va. Health System. This program is co-presented with the U.Va. Institute for Practical Ethics and the Center for Biomedical Ethics at the U.Va. Health System.
    November 15, Rationing Healthcare: Does it Work? Dr. Peter O. Kohler, president of the Oregon Health Sciences University, will explore the policy and ethical ramifications of rationing healthcare, as well as Oregon’s controversial health plan. Responding to Kohler’s remarks will be Dr. Peyton E. Weary, professor emeritus of dermatology at the University of Virginia Health System.
    November 29, Disentangling Alzheimer’s Disease - New Research. Dr. H. Robert Brashear, director of the Alzheimer’s disease Therapeutic Trials Center and associate professor of neurology and clinical psychiatric medicine at the U.Va. Health System; Dr. Russell Swerdlow, assistant professor of neurology; and Carol Manning, Ph.D., associate professor of clinical neurology and nursing at the U.Va. Health System, will discuss new therapies currently in development to improve Alzheimer symptoms, delay onset and slow progression.
    December 6, Conversations at the End of Life. Dr. Timothy E. Quill, associate chief of medicine at the Genessee Hospital in Rochester, NY, will discuss improving the lines of communication between doctors, patients and family members when dealing with end-of-life issues. Responding to Quill's remarks will be Dr. Daniel M. Becker, professor of internal medicine and health evaluation sciences at the U.Va. Health System.

November 6, 2000