International researchers welcomed

1 September 2010

  • Associate Professor Mark Baker, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine,
    Nursing and Health Sciences Steve Wesselingh, Vice-Chancellor Professor Ed Byrne, Professor Laurie Zoloth and Dr Inon Schenker and National President of Hadassah (USA) Mrs Nancy Falchuk.
  • Professor Zoloth and Dr Schenker were guests at a dinner hosted
    by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Ed Byrne.
  • Dr Inon Schenker's visit to Australia was hosted by Hadassah, as part
    of a series of public events and workshops, including the Hadassah Australia - Monash University Workshop at the 63rd UN Department of Public Information NGO Conference.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ed Byrne hosted internationally renowned researchers Professor Laurie Zoloth and Dr Inon Schenker as part of a visit supported by the University's Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation, the Centre for Medical Ethics and the Office of International Engagement.

Their visit to Australia was hosted by Hadassah, as part of a series of public events and workshops, including the Hadassah Australia - Monash University Workshop at the 63rd UN Department of Public Information NGO Conference that was held in Melbourne 30 August - 1 September. Hadassah also facilitates the Australia Israel Medical Research Initiative (AUSiMED), a partnership between the Hadassah Medical Organisation (Hadassah) and its Australian support arm, Hadassah Australia. Monash is an active partner and strong supporter of this scheme.

Professor Zoloth and Dr Schenker presented on the topic of 'Empty ritual or cutting edge practice? Faith, health and ethics in the male circumcision debate' and explored the ethical, medical and religious arguments around questions of HIV/AIDS prevention and male circumcision.

Professor Laurie Zoloth is a world-renowned ethicist, particularly in the area of stem cell and genetic medicine. She is Director of Northwestern's Center for Bioethics, Science and Society, Chicago where she is Professor of Medical Ethics and Humanities.

Uniquely, she is also Professor of religion and a member of the Jewish Studies faculty at Northwestern University. Professor Zoloth is visiting as part of the Hadassah Australia Conference and Public Forum on infant male circumcision.

Her current research projects include work on the emerging issues in medical and research genetics, nanotechnology, neuroscience, and the ethical issues in stem cell research, and her research interest in distributive justice in health care continues.

Dr Inon Schenker is a widely-regarded researcher and academic in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention in Israel. He is Director of Operation Abraham, a program examining male circumcision and HIV/AIDS prevention.

He is also the founding chair of the Jerusalem AIDS Project, an international not-for-profit organisation, specializing in HIV/AIDS prevention and education.

Professor Zoloth and Dr Schenker were guests at the dinner hosted by the Vice-Chancellor and attended by Mrs Nancy Falchuk, National President of Hadassah (USA), Dr John Zelcer, Vice-President, Hadassah Australia Inc., Dr Elane Zelcer CEO, Hadassah Australia Inc, Executive Director, Hadassah Australia Foundation, Professor Simon Adams, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International Engagement), Associate Professor Mark Baker, Director, Jewish Studies and a number of representatives from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences including the Dean, Professor Steve Wesselingh.