Program Overview: The UAMS Division of Medical Humanities Intensive Workshop is designed to educate participants in the basic concepts in medical ethics; to introduce the insights of medical humanities for clinical care; to apply knowledge from ethics and the humanities to specific issues that arise in practice and to explore those issues in a systematic and organized way.

The workshop is composed of two one-day modules: The first day presents The Basics—an introduction to the basic concepts and issues within the field of medical ethics.  The second day focuses on a Special Topic in health care that raises ethical concerns and can be illuminated by other medical humanities.  This year the topic is Medical Ethics and the Law.

Those with no previous exposure to health ethics are encouraged to begin with The Basics.

 Objectives: Following this activity the participant should be able to:

· better  identify, analyze, and resolve ethical dilemmas in health care.

· understand the primary concepts, theories, and methods of ethical reasoning.

· upgrade their skills in shared decision-making.

· discuss, compare and evaluate a broad range of issues in contemporary health care ethics.

· ususe a variety of educational resources in biomedical ethics.

Target Audience: This course is for health care professionals and others who seek to deepen their understanding of ethical issues in health care. This includes (but is not limited to):

· hhealth care professionals who serve or expect to serve on institutional ethics committees.

· health care managers, administrators, and professionals who find themselves challenged by moral problems in health care.

· clinical faculty in schools of medicine, nursing, or allied health who plan to incorporate the discussion and analysis of ethical issues in their clinical teaching.

· lawyers who practice or are interested in practicing health law.

Program Sponsor: The Division of Medical Humanities, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

The UAMS Division of Medical Humanities was created in 1982 to help integrate the insights of ethics and the humanities into medical education and practice. In addition to teaching medical students, the division offers educational programs for various health care professionals at the UAMS Medical Center and around the state, including two national conferences on health care ethics in Little Rock. The division is widely recognized for the quality of its educational programs and the scholarship of its faculty.

Course Directors:
Chris Hackler and D. Micah Hester

Course Faculty:
Chris Hackler, Ph.D.
D. Micah Hester Ph.D.

Laura Smoller, Ph.D.
Kemal Kutait, Jr., M.A.S.

W. Steve Metzer, MD

Conference Information:

Location: Registration for day one, The Basics, begins at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday: Registration for day two - Patient Care and the Public's Health begins at 8:45 p.m. on Friday, May 11 in the Medical Humanities Conference Room, Suite 500, of the Freeway Medical Tower. A map and directions will be sent to each registrant.

Registration Fee:

The registration fee covers all course materials, breaks and  lunches. Please make checks payable to UAMS Foundation Fund.  For more details contact the Division of Medical Humanities.

Registration: Conference registrants should complete the enclosed form, and return to the Division of Medical Humanities (501-661-7970: vanpeltcarola@uams.edu) with registration fee or pending institutional support. 

Hotel Reservations: Little Rock Metro Center Hilton , 925 South University offers a workshop rate (subject to change) of $96.00 a night (single or double) plus sales tax.  Please contact the Hilton (501-664-5020) directly, deadline to be announced, and request the group rate for the "Workshop on Ethics" when making your room reservation. Participants are urged to make reservations as early as possible.

Accreditation: CME Credits have been applied for.

Workshop Schedule

Cancellations: The registration fee, minus a $25.00 administrative charge, will be refunded upon notice of cancellation.

Emergency Phone Messages: Incoming calls may be received during conference hours at 501-661-7970. Messages will be posted in the break room adjacent to the general session room.

Additional Information: Contact: Division of Medical Humanities (501-661-7970)

Registration Form
Course Faculty
Workshop Schedule
Medical Humanities Home Page