2026 Evening Pediatric Ethics Seminar Series
Held monthly, September through May, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
These in-person sessions are held in the Folkman Auditorium in the Enders Building, 320 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA. A Zoom option is available for those that cannot attend in person. Food and networking will start at 4:30 p.m.; the session will begin shortly after that.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
"A Framework for Ethical Decision-Making in Pediatrics"
Mark R. Mercurio, MD, MA
Executive Director, Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Boston Children’s Hospital
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 - Postponed due to weather
"What Makes Innovative Treatment Ethical?"
Christine Grady, MSN, PhD
Former head of bioethics, National Institutes of Health
Dr. Grady is known in the world of bioethics as a longstanding leader on a national and international level.
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
"(Better than) Best Interest in Pediatric Decision-Making"
Lainie Ross, MD, PhD
Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Bioethics
Mark and Lois Taubman Distinguished Professor of Health Humanities and Bioethics
Chair of the Department of Health Humanities and Bioethics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Dr. Ross has been a major figure in pediatric bioethics on an international level for many years, and we are honored to host her at Boston Children's. Recently, pediatric bioethicists from around the country gathered to discuss and update the role of the best interest standard in pediatric decision-making. Dr. Ross was among the leaders who convened this meeting and was senior author of the publication that resulted. This should be an important discussion, and highly relevant to our work at Boston Children's.
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
"Moral Distress in the Children's Hospital Setting"
Randi Zlotnick Shaul, JD, LLM, PhD
Director, Bioethics Department, Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto
Associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto
As most or all of you are likely aware, this is a major challenge in our work when dealing with critically ill children, and difficult and sometimes controversial decisions are often involved. This should be an important discussion, and highly relevant to our work at Boston Children's. I hope you can make time to join us.
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Dominic Wilkinson
