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2024 Call for Proposals

CBHD invites healthcare and other professionals, scholars, researchers, educators, and students to submit abstracts of papers that address questions associated with our conference theme—The Future of Health: Faith, Ethics, and our MedTech World—or that engage more broadly with other foundational and emerging bioethical issues raised at the intersections of medicine, science, technology, and our common humanity. For more information, see the Submission Guidelines below.

The Future of Health: Faith, Ethics, and our MedTech World

The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity
31st Annual Summer Conference
June 27–29, 2024
Trinity International University, Deerfield, IL, USA

Proposal Deadline December 18

SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL

Looking to enter the student paper competition? Visit the Student Paper Competition Page.
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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Requirements

‍All serious proposals relevant to the study of Christian bioethics are welcome, particularly those in the following subject areas:

- General Bioethics
- Biotechnology
- Clinical Ethics
- Disability
- Emerging Issues in Bioethics
- Empirical Research
- Global Bioethics and/or Public Health
- Medical Humanities
- Nursing Ethics
- Philosophical and/or Theological Engagement
- Public Policy and/or Biolaw
- Research Ethics
- Technology Assessment
- Women's Health

All proposals are evaluated through a blind review process. Identifying information must not be included in the abstract.

Deadline
‍All abstracts must be submitted online prior to December 18, 2023. Acceptances will be announced by the end of January, 2024.

‍Instructions for Submissions

  • All serious proposals relevant to the study of bioethics are welcome and need not be related to the conference theme.
  • All proposed papers must be submitted as abstracts of no more than 500 words in length and include a formal title.
  • Proposals must include a preliminary bibliography.
  • Include at least three (3) learning objectives. Construct each objective from the point of view of the attendee by completing the following sentence: "At the end of this session, attendees will be able to…"
  • Include a short bio not to exceed 100 words in length.
  • CBHD has a "two submission" rule. You can submit no more than two abstracts. This rule does not apply to co-authors of papers.
  • In order to present a paper, participants must register for the conference by March 1, 2024, and cover all travel and personal expenses.
  • Four online presentation slots will be available, with preference given to international scholars and those unable to travel to Deerfield. Those who desire to present online should submit their proposal normally and email info@cbhd.org with their request.

‍Instructions for Paper Presentations
‍Oral Presentations of contributed papers will be 20–25 minutes plus 5 minutes for discussion.

Still have questions? Contact our Events Team

About the Conference

The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity has long worked to address the intersection of medicine, science, and technology from a Judeo-Christian, Hippocratic point of view. An important aspect of that work is speaking to current and coming trends and trajectories in these fields while also holding forth our core commitments regarding human life, human dignity, and human flourishing.

Given the increasingly rapid pace of technological change in our world today, particularly with the rise of various artificial intelligence systems, the time is right to examine such developments while we also reground ourselves in important convictions.

To that end, our 31st conference, The Future of Health: Faith, Ethics, and our MedTech World, will host the following plenary addresses:

  • "The Will to Live and the Life of God" - Matthew Lee Anderson, DPhil
  • "Defining Humanity Down: The Irony of Generative AI and Human Anthropology in Christian Bioethics" - Jason Thacker, PhD (cand.)
  • "AI and Medicine: Living in the New Atlantis" - Kristin Collier, MD
  • "The Way of Medicine for Christians" - Farr Curlin, MD
  • "Can Technology Be an Idol?" - Anna Vollema, MA & Mihretu Guta, PhD
  • "Reframing & Sending" - Michael Sleasman, PhD

In addition, Keith Plummer, PhD, will open the conference on Thursday, June 27, delivering the second annual Virtue Ethics Lecture, titled "Discipled by Our Devices: Spiritual Formation in Our Technological Age."
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Workshops and paper sessions will explore additional issues from among the wide spectrum of traditional and emerging bioethical topics.

The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity’s annual conference is the leading venue for Christian bioethical engagement, providing opportunities for equipping and education, professional development and academic engagement, as well as networking for professionals, researchers, policymakers, educators, and students across a variety of disciplines and professional contexts.

This conference will be available in person, online, or on-demand. There is no wrong way to attend!