Episodes

Lydia focuses on the biology of friendship, its importance, and the effect of the pandemic on it. The interview also includes topics from her vast selection of publications including her two other books, I Can Hear Your Whisper and Toxic Truth and she discusses her recent Salon article on friendships. Her work can be found in Scientific American, The Atlantic, Newsweek, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, and Spectrum. Lydia also writes the Brain Waves blog for Psychology Today.

Lydia’s bio and work can be found at lydiadenworth.com.

This bioethics discussion cuts across law and policy, public health, social work, and gerontology with a focus on ethical issues that affect older adults including initiatives in palliative care and hospice. As Chair of the New York State Bar Association Health Law Section COVID-19 Task Force, Mary Beth Morrissey also comments on the COVID-19 resolutions adopted by the New York House of Delegates in November 2020. Dr. Morrissey, PhD, MPH, JD, holds a research fellow appointment at Fordham University’s Global Healthcare Innovation Management Center, Gabelli School of Business and adjunct faculty appointments at Fordham’s Graduate School of Social Service and Graduate School of Business, and Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Dr. Morrissey also serves as senior advisor to the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center (FLGEC), University of Rochester Medical Center and directs the Interdisciplinary Aging, Public Health, and Palliative Care Certificate Program.

Meryl Selig discusses her experiences with obtaining cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic, lymphoma treatment and CAR T, and the implications of the language surrounding cancer and survivorship.

The ethical considerations in tumor and germ line analysis range from clinical decisions to research funding. Dr. Solit of the David Solit Lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center weighs in on the importance of genetic testing to match tumors to existing or new treatments based on the biological composition of the tumor. This episode covers the role and value of genomics and molecularly defined subclasses of cancer. Dr. Solit addresses many of the ethical considerations surrounding access to care, privacy, industry relationships, and fundraising.

Jorge Rivera discusses his experiences growing up in Puerto Rico. He reflects on his career navigating the role of ethicist as a bioethics fellow at Northwell Health, and his dedication to advocacy including visiting those in immigration detention.