Long recognized for his inspiration in the creation of the Providence Center for Health Care Ethics, Dr. Holzgang has been a key advisor since the inception of the center.
As director of critical care medicine and associate director of the Department of Medicine at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Dr. Holzgang believed in the value of the Intensive Care Unit as a place for medical residents to hone their skills in ethical decision making. He worked to provide meaningful rotations for his residents within the hospital’s intensive and coronary care units, enhancing their understanding and ability to use ethical principles in the practice of medicine.
Established in 2002, the Holzgang Visiting Scholar is a nationally known figure invited by the center to speak on various issues of ethics in healthcare. The program is named for Dr. Curtis R. Holzgang, retired director of Critical Care Medicine at Providence St Vincent Medical Center, in recognition by his friends and colleagues of his inspiration in ethics education, especially to the internal medicine residents working in critical care, as well as his leadership role in establishing the Providence Center for Health Care Ethics.
The presenting scholar spends three days as a guest of the center, speaking at Medical Grand Rounds and offering seminars for internal and family practice residents. In addition, scholars present at an open education forum and a national video-conference, give a public lecture and lead a specialized conversation at an ‘ethics fire-side chat.’
Past scholars and topics for the public lecture include:
Abdulaziz Sachedina, Ph.D., University of Virginia, “Religion and Medicine: Muslim Insight on Wellness and Healthcare”
Richard Payne, M.D., Duke University, “Dying Black, Brown and White: Responding to Disparities in End-of-Life Care”
Nuala Kenny, M.D., Dalhousie University, “Health Care in the US and Canada: Divergent Values and Common Challenges”
Sandra Johnson, J.D., L.L.M., from St Louis University, “Should the Law Define Medical Futility”
