By Norm Miller, Louisiana College communications
PINEVILLE – Louisiana College assembled a world-class panel of bio-ethicists for its first annual “Values & Ethics” conference, Oct. 10-11.
Slated to meet in LC’s Martin Performing Arts Center, the Oct. 10 session at 6 p.m. is free and open to the public and features nationally acclaimed author/scholars Dr. Ben Mitchell and Dr. Douglas Axe.
Local health care specialist Mary Kienzle, MSW, of Christus St. Francis Cabrini Hospital completes the trio that will explore the interesting parallels between society’s view of origins and a rapidly changing culture.
Subtitled “Origins,” the conference offers Cenla residents “the rare opportunity to hear from three top-flight experts whose credentials are as impressive as their content is stimulating,” said Louisiana College president, Dr. Rick Brewer.
Former director of Social Services for New York State, Kienzle brings more than 30 years of experience in health care.
A graduate of New York University and Hunter College, Kienzle is director for Missions Integration Services and Spiritual Care Departments at Christus Cabrini Hospital, which is sponsoring the conference.
Author Doug Axe earned a PhD in biochemical engineering from Caltech and completed post-doctoral studies at Cambridge, where he worked with Nobel Laureate Max Perutz.
Published in numerous academic journals, Axe’s latest book is titled “Undeniable: How Biology Confirms Our Intuition that Life is Designed.” In 2005, Axe founded The Biologic Institute in Redmond, Wash., a non-profit research organization developing a new approach to biology with the hypothesis that life is by design.
Bio-ethicist C. Ben Mitchell earned a PhD in medical ethics from the University of Tennessee.
He completed residencies at UT Knoxville and Vanderbilt University. He is a consultant with the Center for Genetics & Public Policy at Johns Hopkins University, and is co-director for, and fellow of the Biotechnology Policy in Washington, DC.
A frequent interviewee for radio and television, Mitchell is widely published in other national media and journals. His latest book is titled “Biotechnology and the Human Good.”
Mitchell is provost and academic vice president at Union University in Jackson, Tenn.
Each of the speakers is also scheduled for lectures in various classes at LC.
“This group of stellar scholars and cutting-edge specialists provides our students exposure to the kind of academic expertise that is the heritage of Louisiana College,” Brewer said. “Professionals and students in the fields of medicine and other sciences, as well as educators, business leaders, pastors and the general public should avail themselves of this superb opportunity on Oct. 10.”
LC will livestream the conference from its website: www.lacollege.edu.
