Previous Lectureships

Cover image for the 2023 Thomas A. Pitts lecture brochure.

29th Annual Thomas A. Pitts Memorial Lectureship in Medical Ethics

Date: April 7, 2023

The Ethics of Organ Transplantation (PDF)


Thumbnail of the Gun Violence and Public Health lecture program.

28th Annual Thomas A. Pitts Memorial Lectureship in Medical Ethics

Date: April 8, 2022

Gun Violence and Public Health (PDF)

Keynote Video: Panel on the Effects of Gun Violence

Session I Video: Gun Violence, Policy and Public Health

Session II Video: Debating the Boundaries of the 2nd Amendment

Session III Video: Breaking the Cycle: Interventions for Stopping Gun Violence


Thomas Pitts Lectureship 2021 graphic

27th Annual Thomas A. Pitts Memorial Lectureship in Medical Ethics

Date: February 19, 2021


25th Annual Thomas Pitts Lectureship in Medical Ethics

25th Annual Thomas A. Pitts Memorial Lectureship in Medical Ethics

Date: April 4, 2019

Topic: Opioid Controversies: The Crisis - Causes and Solutions

Speakers

Richard C. Ausness, JD, LLM
Paul J Christo, M.D., MBA
Rebecca L. Haffajee, JD, Ph.D., MPH
Stefan Kertesz, M.D., MSc
Richard S. Larson, M.D., Ph.D.
Robert Malcolm, M.D.
Jacob Sullum
Arthur Robin Williams, M.D., MA


2018 Pitts Lecture

Frankenstein at 200 Years: Contemporary, Ethical, Scientific, and Social Relevance

Date: May 24, 2018

Speakers

Kathleen Beres Rogers, Ph.D.
Susan Lederer, Ph.D.


2017 Pitts Lecture

Perspectives of Alzheimer's Disease: Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues

Date: April 6, 2017

Speakers

Jonathan Haines, Ph.D.
Mary W. Sheldon, M.D.
Jacobo Mintzer, M.D.
Annette Leibing, Ph.D.
Robert H. Blank, Ph.D.
Dena Davis, JD, Ph.D.
Elaine Amella, Ph.D.
Jason Karlawish, M.D.
Elinor Fuches, Ph.D.


2016 Pitts Lecture

Controversies in Clinical Research

Date: April 8, 2016

Speakers

Mark Cherry, Ph.D.
Susan Ellenberg, MA, Ph.D.
John Lantos, M.D.
Margaret R. Moon, M.D., MPH
Robert Nussbaum, M.D.
Rosamond Rhodes, Ph.D.
Lowell E. Schnipper, M.D.
Udo Schuklenk, Ph.D.
Robert Schwartz, JD
Lois Shepherd, JD
Susan M. Wolf, JD
Mark Yarborough, Ph.D.


2013 Pitts Lecture

Ethical and Legal Issues in Pediatrics

Date: October 18, 2018

Speakers

Melissa Wasserstein, M.D.
Norman Fost, M.D., MPH
Stan L. Block, M.D.
Douglas Diekema, M.D., MPH
Michael T. Brady, M.D.
J. Steven Svoboda, JD
Minoo Kavarana, M.D.
Eric Graham, M.D.


2012 Pitts Lecture

Brain Science in the 21st Century: Clinical Controversies and Ethical Implications

Date: October 26, 2012

Speakers

Jonathan Edwards, M.D.
Joe DeLamielleure
Robert Adams, M.D.
Wally Smith, M.D.
Ronald Acierno, Ph.D.
Mark Hamner, M.D.
Peter Tuerk, Ph.D.
Nicholas Avgeropoulos, M.D.
Michael K. Gusmano, Ph.D.


2011 Pitts Lecture

The Health Care Reform Law (PPACA): Controversies in Ethics and Policy

Date: October 28, 2011

Speakers

Allan Brett, M.D.
John Geyman, M.D.
Ronald Hamowy, Ph.D.
Paul T. Menzel, Ph.D.
Robert Moffitt, Ph.D.
Len Nichols, Ph.D.
James Taylor, Ph.D.
Griffin Trotter, M.D., Ph.D.


2010 Pitts Lecture

From Laboratory to Bedside: Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Translational Research

Date: October 29, 2010

Speakers

Mark Bernstein M.D.
Benj. Djulbegovic M.D. Ph.D.
Scott D. Halpern M.D. Ph.D.
Gail E. Henderson Ph.D.
Charles W. Lidz Ph.D.
Franklin G. Miller Ph.D.
Nathan Nobis Ph.D.
Dario Ringach Ph.D.


2009 Pitts Lecture

The Graying of America: Challenges and Controversies

Date: October 30, 2009

Speakers

Daniel Callahan, Ph.D.
P. Dilworth-Anderson Ph.D.
Muriel Gillick M.D.
David A. Gruenewald M.D.
Yale Kamisar JD
William F. May Ph.D.
Thomas P. Miller JD
Timothy E. Quill M.D.


2008 Pitts Lecture

Conundrums & Controversies in Mental Health and Illness

Date: September 5, 2008

Speakers

Raymond F. Anton M.D.
Joseph D. Bloom M.D.
Mark J. Cherry Ph.D.
M. Carmela Epright Ph.D.
Rikki Lynn Halavonich M.D.
Robert Kinscherff Ph.D., JD
Robert L.M. Phillips M.D.
Jeffrey A. Schaler Ph.D.
Howard V. Zonana M.D.


2007 Pitts Lecture

Dangerous Liaisons? Industry Relations with Health Professionals

Date: September 8, 2007

Speakers

Paul Anthony M.D., MPH
Howard Brody M.D., Ph.D.
Sigrid Fry-Revere JD, Ph.D.
Harry B. Greenberg M.D.
Peter Lurie M.D., MPH
Bruce W. Lytle M.D.
Paul H. Rubin Ph.D.
Lance K. Stell Ph.D.
Matthew Wynia M.D. MPH


2006 Pitts Lecture

Religions & Cultures of East and West Perspectives on Bioethics

Date: September 8, 2006

Speakers

Shahid Athar M.D.
S. Cromwell Crawford Ph.D.
Russell Kirkland Ph.D.
William LaFleur Ph.D.
Andrew Lustig Ph.D.
Laurie Zoloth Ph.D.


2005 Pitts Lecture

Reflection on Emerging Technologies at the Centennial of Organ Transplantation

Date: September 9, 2005

Speakers

Troyen A. Brennan M.D.
H.T. Engelhardt Ph.D., M.D.
Gary Francoine JD
Albert Jonsen Ph.D.
Edwin Locke Ph.D.
Carlo Montemagno Ph.D.
Robert M. Sade M.D.
Monique Spillman M.D., Ph.D.
Robert Truog M.D.


2004 Pitts Lecture

Defining the Beginning and the End of Human Life: Implications for Ethics, Policy and Law

Date: September 10, 2004

Speakers

James L. Bernat M.D.
David DeGrazia Ph.D.
George Khushf Ph.D.
Donald Marquis Ph.D.
William F. May Ph.D.
Jeff McMahan Ph.D.
Lynn M. Morgan Ph.D.
Bonnie Steinbock Ph.D.


2003 Pitts Lecture

When People Attack People: Ethics Law and Policy of Violence

Date: September 19, 2003

Speakers

Lillian R. BeVier JD
Dean Kilpatrick Ph.D.
Stephen Morse JD, Ph.D.
Lance Stell Ph.D.
Deborah Prothrow-Stith M.D.
Frans de Waal Ph.D.
David Wasserman JD
Franklin E. Zimring JD


2002 Pitts Lecture

Alternative Medical Systems: Here to Stay But on What Terms?

Date: September 13, 2002

Speakers

Kathleen Boozang JD, LLD
Ruiping Fan Ph.D.
Randall Holcombe Ph.D.
Henry L. Miller MS, M.D.
E. Haavi Morreim Ph.D.
Gary Nestler DA, DOM
Kenneth Pelletier Ph.D.
Stephen Schabel M.D.
Lawrence Schneiderman M.D.
Jeremy Sugarman M.D.


2001 Pitts Lecture

HIV/AIDS as an Epidemic: Ethical Issues at the 20th Anniversary

Date: September 14, 2001

Speakers

Donald Ainslie Ph.D.
Ronald Bayer Ph.D.
Charles S. Bryan M.D.
Lawrence O. Gostin JD
David Kelley Ph.D.
Jan F. Narveson Ph.D.
Samuel H. Nelson Ph.D.
Stephen B. Thomas Ph.D.


2000 Pitts Lecture

Power Over Information, Power to Decide: Paternalism and Autonomy in Health Care

Date: September 15, 2000

Speakers

Ronald Bailey
H.T. Engelhardt Ph.D., M.D.
Lawrence Gostin JD
Sherman A. James Ph.D.
Karen Labacqz Ph.D.
David J. Rothman Ph.D.
Alfred I. Tauber M.D.
Beverly Woodward Ph.D.


1998 Pitts Lecture

Revisiting the First Four Years Where are we Today?

Date: January 9, 1998

Speakers

Stuart J. Youngner, M.D.
William Winslade JD, Ph.D.
E. Haavi Morrein Ph.D.
Rosemary Tong Ph.D.


1996 Pitts Lecture

Women's Health Issues

Date: November 8, 1996

Speakers

Eileen Hoffman M.D.
Mary B. Mahowald Ph.D.
Carol S. Weisman Ph.D.


1995 Pitts Lecture

Ethical Issues of Managed Care

Date: November 17, 1995

Speakers

Louis L. Brunetti M.D., JD
E. Haavi Morrein Ph.D.
Daniel Sulmasty M.D., Ph.D.


1994 Pitts Lecture

Dying in America: Choices at the End of Life

Date: November 18, 1994

Speakers

Daniel Callahan Ph.D.
William Winslade JD, Ph.D.
Timothy Quill M.D.
Mark Siegler M.D.