The Medical Ethics Committee of Missouri Baptist Medical Center (MBMC), with support from the St. Louis Rabbinical Association (SLRA) and Interfaith Partnership, has planned, “Current Issues in Medicine, Religion and Ethics,” a new series of forums aiming to create ongoing interfaith educational and ethical dialogue surrounding patient care and health care today.

At each forum, a panel of physicians and community leaders will discuss a new topic affecting the practice of medicine. Attendees are welcome to participate through questions.

The first forum takes place from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18 at Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s Clinical Learning Institute, Rooms 419 and 420 (fourth floor of main garage). 

Panelists at the first event will be SLRA President and Congregation Shaare Emeth Senior Rabbi James M. Bennett; Dr. Gary Ratkin, retired, Midwest Hematology-Oncology Chair, Palliative Care Committee at MBMC; and Vicki Boehmer, Palliative Care Specialist at MBMC.

The series will include monthly events through December. MBMC, which is accredited by the Missouri State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians, designates the forum as eligible for a maximum of one hour of AMA PRA Category One Credit.