Three distinguished authors will make presentations on campus in late March. University of Texas at Austin historian David M. Oshinsky, Ph.D., will discuss his Pulitzer Prize-winning book “POLIO: An American Story” on March 29. Maureen Keeley, Ph.D., from Texas State University, will speak about her new book, “Final Conversations: Helping the Living and the Dying Talk to Each Other” on March 21. The third event is a discussion between Pulitzer Prize winner Peter Matthiessen and Health Science Center professor, physician and author, Abraham Verghese, set for March 22.
UT historian to discuss impact of polio on America Dr. Oshinsky, the Jack S. Blanton Chair of History at The University of Texas at Austin, will deliver the Fifth Annual Frank Bryant Jr., M.D., Memorial Lecture in Medical Ethics on Thursday, March 29.
The lecture series honors Dr. Bryant (1930-1999), the co-founder and first medical director of the Ella Austin Clinic and co-developer of the East San Antonio Medical Center.
The event begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by Dr. Oshinsky’s presentation at 6 p.m. A book signing will follow the presentation.
The Bryant Lecture is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Central Campus of the Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, in Lecture Hall 3.102 near the Dolph Briscoe Jr. Library.
In his book, which won the 2006 Pulitzer, Dr. Oshinsky describes the gripping story of polio, its enormous impact on American society in the 20th century and the intense effort to find a vaccine. Although a relatively uncommon disease, polio had neither a prevention nor a cure, and children were its prime victims. As a result, it was the most feared disease in mid-century America.
The Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics in the Health Science Center School of Medicine, Humanities Texas and the Health Science Center invite everyone to attend. This presentation is made possible in part by the Salinger-Forland Endowment, the law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP, and the National Endowment for the Humanities’ We the People initiative.
Dr. Frank Bryant Jr. received many honors and awards, including the Bexar County Medical Society Foundation Award, given to an individual who promoted excellence in the San Antonio medical community, dedicated time to volunteer efforts and provided leadership within the community.
Presentation to focus on dialog with the dying Faculty, staff, residents, fellows and students of the Health Science Center, health care providers from the community, the loved ones of the dying and others are invited to attend a presentation on “Final Conversations: Helping the Living and the Dying Talk to Each Other” on Wednesday, March 21, at the Health Science Center.
Maureen Keeley, Ph.D., associate professor in the department of communication studies at Texas State University in San Marcos, will speak on the subject from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in School of Medicine building, room 309L. The presentation is free and open to the public.
This lecture meets the Texas Medical Board Criteria for formal continuing medical education involving the study of medical ethics and/or professional responsibility. The presentation is offered as part of grand rounds in the department of obstetrics and gynecology.
Dr. Keeley and her co-author, Julie Yingling, Ph.D., have authored a book with the same title as the presentation. It is expected to be released this month.
For more information, call 210-567-5035.
Pulitzer Prize winner Matthiessen visits March 22 for dialogue Health Science Center faculty, staff and students are invited to a conversation between Pulitzer Prize winner Peter Matthiessen and Dr. Abraham Verghese, professor and director of the Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics in the School of Medicine. The event is at noon Thursday, March 22, in room 110 of the Academic and Administration Building (on Central Campus). Pizza will be served.
A naturalist, explorer and author, Matthiessen has published more than 20 books of fiction and nonfiction over his 50-year career.
His works of fiction include
At Play in the Fields of the Lord about missionaries in South America. His nonfiction works include
The Snow Leopard.
The Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics thanks Gemini Ink for bringing this celebrated author to San Antonio.
