Meaning and Purpose in Medicine

The Meaning and Purpose in Medicine (MPM) series provides a platform for physicians to share experiences, reflect ways to cultivate a sense of purpose in medicine, and identify strategies to find joy in their work. Invited speakers give short presentations that highlight the conditions and situations that exacerbate moral distress or ethical uncertainty, discuss these and related cases with participants, and share strategies for resolving, mitigating, or circumventing the challenges posed. Through group discussion and engagement with speakers, participants will be encouraged to share perspectives on navigating morally complex situations, reflect on past successes and failures, and work through strategies to better navigate or cope with the challenges ahead.

All MPM events will be held from 12pm-1pm CT, with 30 minutes devoted to guest presentation and 30 minutes devoted to group discussion. Events can be attended remotely or in person.* Lunch will be provided to in-person attendees. Physicians who attend can receive CME credit.

Meaning and Purpose in Medicine is co-sponsored by the Hyde Park Institute and the Office of Faculty Affairs, Biological Sciences Division.

A

Session 1

  • Speaker: Dawn Coleman, MD, Chief, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Duke University
  • Time: Wednesday, December 6th, 2023, 12pm-1pm CST
  • To attend virtually, register HERE.
  • Location: CCD Room 5341
  • To attend in-person (limited to 25), register HERE.*
A

Session 2

  • Speaker: Dominic Vachon, PhD, Director, Ruth M. Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care in Medicine, University of Notre Dame
  • Time: Thursday, January 11, 2024, 12pm-1pm CST
  • To attend virtually, register HERE.
  • Location: CCD Room 7750
  • To attend in-person (limited to 25), register HERE.*
A

Session 3

  • Speaker: Tyler VanderWeele, PhD, John L. Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb Professor of Epidemiology, Harvard University
  • Time: Monday, January 22nd, 2024, 12pm-1pm CST
  • To attend virtually, register HERE.
  • Location: CCD Room 7710
  • To attend in-person (limited to 25), register HERE.*
A

Session 4

  • Speaker: Nadia Charguia, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina
  • Time: Thursday, February 22nd, 2024, 5pm-6pm CST
  • To attend virtually, register HERE.
  • Location: CCD Room 7710
  • To attend in-person (limited to 25), register HERE.*
A

Session 5

  • Speaker: Chrissie Ott, MD, Physician Coach, Joypoint Solutions
  • Time: Thursday, April 04, 2024,     12pm-1pm CST
  • To attend virtually, register HERE.
  • Location: CCD Room 7750
  • To attend in-person (limited to 25), register HERE.*
A

Session 6

  • Speaker: Bree Andrews, MD, MPH, Chief Wellness and Vitality Officer for Physicians, University of Chicago
  • Time: Thursday, May 9th, 2024,     12pm-1pm CST
  • To attend virtually, register HERE.
  • Location: CCD Room 7750
  • To attend in-person (limited to 25), register HERE.*

*All in-person sessions are open to all invitees who are compliant with UChicago vaccination requirements and, because of ongoing health risks, particularly to the unvaccinated, participants are expected to adopt the risk mitigation measures (masking and social distancing, etc.) appropriate to their vaccination status as advised by public health officials or to their individual vulnerabilities as advised by a medical professional. Public convening may not be safe for all and carries a risk for contracting COVID-19, particularly for those unvaccinated. Participants will not know the vaccination status of others and should follow appropriate risk mitigation measures.