Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Science and medicine is advancing almost on a daily basis.
Fast and furious like a locomotive, the modern world of science and medicine seems at times to leave morality and culture in the dust.
On May 8 at 7 p.m. in Westminster Hall, Dr. John Patrick, M.B., B.S., MRCP, M.D., will give a free lecture to the public on "The Myth of Moral Neutrality."
"Dr. Patrick is a world-reknown speaker," said Joan Darr, Kosciusko Community Hospital. "I think that would be one thing he will bring to the lecture. ... The other thing is, he's an advocate for patients."
Patrick is a professor in biochemistry and pediatrics at the University of Ottawa. He did his medical training in London and served as a medical missionary to Africa. He is an expert in malnutrition in children and continues to spend summers in Central Africa assisting in the development of training programs that deal with childhood protein-energy malnutrition.
He travels the world speaking to audiences about moral issues in medicine and culture and the integration of faith and science.
"Grace College believes that bioethics is a topic that people from the 'orthopedic capital of the world' need to consider," said Dr. Steve Grill, Grace College dean of community education.
He also said Patrick's speech is not just for doctors or physicians, but for anyone and everyone.
"Dr. Patrick is really good," Grill said. "I've heard him speak before and he really challenged me to think. ... As a nonmedical lay person myself, I have found Patrick's speeches to be extremely interesting and thought-provoking."
Darr agrees that lay people will find him just as interesting as those in the medical field. She said he speaks regularly to secular groups on topics that are in the forefront of news headlines, such as the bioethical topic of euthanasia.
For more than 100 years, the community of Winona Lake has been known for outstanding platform presentations.
Many of the nation's most influential speakers have used Winona's Bible Conferences and Chautauqua Programs as forums to communicate both ideas and ideals to their respective generations.
The American Lyceum Lecture Series provides a setting for instruction on "America's true greatness" to occur. Nationally recognized speakers are once again being invited to Winona to share their views with the community and Grace College alike.
Grill said, "The goal of our American Lyceum Lecture Series is to bring nationally prominent speakers to Winona in order to discuss important, current topics that will be of particular interest to members of our community."
Patrick's lecture is co-sponsored by Grace College, The Village at Winona and Kosciusko Community Hospital.
"We're pleased," said Grill, "to partner with The Village at Winona and KCH in bringing such a prominent speaker as Dr. Patrick to Kosciusko County."
There will be a question-and-answer period after Patrick's speech. "We want this to be an event the community feels comfortable attending," said Grill.
"Hopefully," said Darr, "a lot of people will come."
