Steven Squires, MEd, MA, PhD, who serves as vice president of Mission and Ethics for Mercy Health, has joined with scientists, medical ethicists, physicians, nurses and other experts to moderate “Conversations in Bioethics,” a free community lecture series focused on the intersection of biology, technology and faith.

There is a global revolution occurring in the field of genetics, with major ethical implications for the individual, family and society. This series will review current developments and attempt to address these concerns with a broad based, eclectic faculty.

The series of five lectures is open to the public and takes place Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. starting October 5 in the lower level of Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church, located at 6474 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati 45230. Details and topics and speakers follow below:

October 5 – Introduction to genetics and direct to consumer testing

• Corey Mullins, MAT, Biology Science Department Chair and Biology Teacher, Turpin High School

Corey will provide an overview of basic genetic concepts, including historical events which have led to our modern understanding of genetics.

• Jon Entine, Executive Director, Genetic Literacy Project and Senior Fellow of the World Food Center, University of California at Davis.

Jon will follow with a brief overview of eugenics.  Although the term has an obvious negative connotation because of events in Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 1940s, the term actually means “Good Genes,” and is entirely neutral.  All genetic testing is an attempt to identify and target deleterious genes.

Jon will then discuss the evolving field of direct-to-consumer testing, highlighted by a review of an actual profile from 23andMe. He will address concerns about quality of testing, oversight, accuracy and the risk that consumers may make harmful healthcare decisions because of false or misleading claims.

October  12 – Genetic testing 

• Cindy Prows, MSN, APRN, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Genetics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Cindy will be begin the discussion with an overview of genetic testing and associated ethical issues. This will include types of available tests and their uses for screening and diagnosis throughout the lifespan. She will introduce the concept of patients being asked to participate in biobanks.

• Kim Horn, MS, Licensed Certified Genetic Counselor, Medical Information Manager, Assurex Health

Kim will then explore the topic of pharmacogenomics and how genetic testing may assist in the task of precision medicine, i.e. selection of the best drug for a given condition.

• Armand Antommaria, MD, PhD: Director, Ethics Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Armand will then discuss key ethical issues including privacy and confidentiality, autonomy, including return of secondary findings, testing minors for adult onset conditions and consent for biobank participation.  

October 19 – Social justice implications of the genetic revolution 

• Steven Squires, PhD, Vice President of Mission and Ethics, Mercy Health

• Howard Saal, MD, Director, Clinical Genetics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center 

Will advances in genetic testing and interventions widen the health gap between those who “have” and those who “have not?”  This is perhaps the most fundamental social justice question of the genetics revolution.  Find out more at this session about social justice and genetics including the potential of genetics to perpetuate and widen current health disparities and value tensions.

 October 26 – Ethical implications of gene editing, an interfaith panel discussion

• Jerry Lingrel, PhD, Interim Chair, Professor of Molecular Genetics, University of Cincinnati, University Distinguished Research Professor

Dr. Jerry Lingrel will provide his technical expertise on the science behind Gene Editing, and discuss the future of this rapidly evolving technology. His presentation will be followed by an interfaith panel discussion on ethical considerations featuring:

Jonathan Cohen, Rabbi, PhD, Dean of Hebrew Union College and Director HUC-UC Ethics Center

Aasim Padella, MD, Director, Initiative on Islam and Medicine, University of Chicago

Steven Squires, PhD,  Vice President of Mission and Ethics, Mercy Health 

November 2 – To make humans better: a theological inquiry into the good of human bioenhancements

• Scott C. Williamson, PhD, Associate Dean and Robert H. Walkup Professor of Theological Ethics, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

In this final session, Dr. Scott Williamson, will explore three questions:

What does it mean to make humans better? And what does theology have to say about it?

What does theology contribute to bioethical discussions about the moral permissibility of using medicine and scientific technology to make humans of  superior quality?

And, what is the relationship between theology and science?