*NO CLASS MONDAY 9/21*

Taught by a retired OB-GYN with extensive clinical and leadership experience, this interactive, case-based course explores a new collection of contemporary medical ethics cases that reflect the evolving challenges of modern medicine. 

Presenter: Robert Michaelson, MD FACOG, is a retired ObGyn with 37 years of experience, a former trustee and past president of the medical staff of Abington Hospital, and a current member of the Upper Dublin Township Human Relations Commission.

Vaccination has transformed public health by protecting individuals and communities from preventable diseases, yet it has become an increasingly controversial topic. As more people choose to delay or skip recommended vaccines, larger segments of the population become vulnerable to disease outbreaks. This lecture explores the history of vaccination, how vaccines work, their safety, and the ongoing debate surrounding their use.

Presenter: Kenneth LaPensee, PhD, MPH is an epidemiologist and health economist with years of experience in infectious disease in the pharmaceutical industry. He has authored journal articles on treatments for infectious and chronic diseases and educational articles on vaccine development. He contributed to strategies to combat pneumonia and Covid-19.

Come and be enthralled by the world of birds in this talk. Learn how to start birding, identify our feathered friends, and where to find them. The class will also explore migratory behavior, along with local organizations involved in birding and conservation, and how you can get involved.

Presenter: Born in India and raised in Calcutta, Nilesh Shah earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering in the U.S. and spent 34 years with Rohm and Haas and Dow Chemical, retiring as a Global R&D Director. An avid birder since 1987 with over 1,200 bird species identified over his lifetime, Nilesh is fascinated by birds, their behavior, and their role in the ecosystem. 

Local faith leaders lead a discussion on how communities can stay connected across differences, and how dialogue and shared values strengthen community life.

Panelists: Rev. Dr. Charles Quann (Bethlehem Baptist Church) & other faith leaders from the Wissahickon Faith Community Association