UNC Bioethics

📣 Upcoming Merrimon Lecture – February 18
Join the UNC Center for Bioethics for the 2026 Merrimon Lecture on Wednesday, February 18, from 12:00–1:00 pm ET.
This year’s lecture, “Can We Balance Professionalism with the Extreme Financial Focus of U.S. Healthcare?”, will be delivered by Robert Califf, MD, MACC, former FDA Commissioner and a nationally recognized leader in clinical research and cardiovascular medicine.
Dr. Califf will explore how financialization in U.S. healthcare affects professional ethics, clinician well-being, public trust, and the spread of health misinformation—and will discuss potential paths forward grounded in professional values.
📍 Location: G-100 Bondurant Hall & Zoom Webinar
🍴 Lunch provided for in-person attendees
🔗 Learn more and add to your calendar: https://bioethics.unc.edu/talk/merrimon-lecture-2026/

Your support empowers students, trainees, and faculty to address the most pressing ethical questions of our time. www.unchf.org/tht25bioethics

Join us for Tar Heal Tuesday Roper Hall Your gift drives impact—locally and globally.
The Center for Bioethics is participating in Tar Heal Tuesday on December 2nd! This campaign helps support our faculty’s groundbreaking research, mentorship of future health leaders, and community outreach through events and ethical engagement. www.unchf.org/tht25bioethics

Bioethical issues arise across health care, public health, environmental concerns, animal welfare, and biomedical research. They may stem from new innovations or reflect ongoing societal challenges.

Your gift makes a lasting impact by:

• Advancing faculty research and scholarship
• Mentoring future leaders in patient care, public health, and bioethics
• Hosting events and lectures that equip learners and professionals to navigate ethical challenges
http://www.unchf.org/tht25bioethics

📣 Exciting media highlights from our team!
📰 Anne Lyerly was quoted in STAT+'s article, "Fights over Tylenol, SSRIs highlight the enduring lack of pregnant women in drug trials." (Note: article is behind a paywall.)

🗞️ Jill Fisher was featured in multiple outlets:
Quoted in The New York Times piece, "How Private Equity Oversees the Ethics of Drug Research."
Quoted in C&EN's article, "How do drug trials really work? I got dengue fever to find out."
Guest on the First Opinion Podcast episode, "Would you contract dysentery for $7,300?"

👏 Kudos to Anne and Jill for contributing to these important conversations on ethics and equity in clinical research!

Newsletter now available image to inform that the current newsletter is now available.

🗓️: Friday, Nov. 7, 2025
⏱️: 12-1 p.m. (CST)

Register Now! It’s free: https://z.umn.edu/apae

Gain insights into navigating the complexities of ethical dilemmas. Earn IPE credit and receive certificates of attendance for CEUs.

Learn more and register at: https://z.umn.edu/aq9y

Join our mailing list https://bioethics.unc.edu/about/join-our-mailing-list/

The most recent issue of our newsletter has been released. Discover more about Kavita Arora, the inaugural fellowship director for the UNC OB/GYN Rural Fellowship, and the PREPARE Research Team that is showcasing their work globally. Check out the latest publications and stay informed about future events.

https://mailchi.mp/unc/news-from-the-unc-center-for-bioethics-july-2025?e=a419cb33d0