The OSU Bioethics Society hosted its first annual NW Collegiate Biomedical Ethics Conference (NCBC) in April 2019, bringing in ethicists and physicians from around Oregon. The conference provided an opportunity for students to present their scholarly work and discuss pressing issues in the world of modern healthcare.
Students from several majors in the College of Science played a key role in making the conference a successful and intellectually engaging experience. Undergraduate students from programs in biochemistry, molecular biology and biohealth sciences enthusiastically volunteered and participated in the conference. The young scientists who dedicated much of their time and energy to the event include Delaney Smith (’19), a recent biochemistry and biophysics graduate and outgoing vice president of the OSU Bioethics Society; biochemistry and molecular biology graduate Nick Brown (’19), outgoing president of the OSU Bioethics Society; biochemistry and molecular biology student Avalon Kelly; and biohealth sciences majors Francine Mendoza and Sydney Phu. Pharmacy, psychology and public health students also volunteered and participated in the conference.
The conference stimulated thoughtful conversation between students of diverse backgrounds by bringing together alumni, undergraduate, and graduate students from Oregon State University, Western Oregon University, and Oregon Health and Science University.
Dr. Michael Huntington, an oncologist with a 35-year career, kicked off the conference with an enlightening keynote address. He discussed universal healthcare, exploring healthcare disparities and the effects on both individuals and businesses.
Following the keynote presentation, the conference featured three panels: a student panel where Smith, Phu and other participants shared their research followed by an insightful Q&A session, and two professional panels on patient autonomy and resource allocation.
