Urologist/photographer to give Pellegrino Lecture at Humanities in Medicine Symposium Oct. 19

Story Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 18:06:00 EDT

Students at EVMS are bringing together experts from medicine and the social sciences for the first “Humanities in Medicine Symposium” October 19, 2013, on the school’s Norfolk campus.

The day-long event will feature a variety of activities and talks as well as two keynote addresses.

The first keynote speaker is Jacek Mostwin, MD, a Professor of Urology at Johns Hopkins and a photographer whose pictures reflect the human concerns of the sick and those who care or them. Dr. Mostwin will deliver the Thomas R. Pellegrino, MD Endowed Lecture, named in memory of the EVMS educator and bioethicist who used his own terminal illness as a “teaching moment” for his students. The Thomas R. Pellegrino, MD Endowed Lectureship is given by The Rashti Family and EVMS Faculty.

The second keynote address will feature William Hennessey, Director of the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk. Mr. Hennessey’s talk is entitled “Diagnostic Art History: Looking at Patients and Paintings.” He will draw from the museum’s collection to illustrate the similarities between physicians and art historians, whether they are diagnosing a patient’s illness or discerning a painting’s provenance.

The symposium grew out of conversations between the late Dr. Pellegrino and Edward “Jack” Sommers, PhD, now Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Old Dominion University. Dr. Sommers will speak early in the day on “Medicine and Humanities: A Strategy for Integration.”

The symposium is hosted by students in the EVMS Gold Humanism Honor Society. The society values and supports a respectful and compassionate doctor-patient relationship. The symposium is open to anyone interested in exploring the humanities, ethics and medicine.

The day’s activities include a display of art by local youth and performing arts courtesy of Tidewater Arts Outreach.

The symposium will take place in Lester Hall, 651 Colley Ave, in the Eastern Virginia Medical Center. Check in is at 9 a.m. and opening remarks begin at 9:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided. Parking is free and is available in the medical center parking garage.

All activities are free and open to the public. There is no cost for admission, but reservations are requested. RSVP to evmsghhs@gmail.com. For directions and more information, go to evms.edu/hms.

Sponsors for the event include the Sedona Fund and the Thomas R. Pellegrino, MD Memorial Fund.