Lecture Series

The Center for Practical Bioethics sponsors four public lectures each year.

Layton Lecture: held each spring, this event honors the work of Elizabeth Layton, a nationally acclaimed artist from Wellesville, Kansas, a longtime member of the Center. Her support for the Center developed out of deep concern for human issues, her belief in the inherent goodness of people and the power within each of us to make a difference.

Robert L. Biblo Lecture: delivered during the Center's annual dinner, the Biblo Lecture honors the memory of Robert Biblo, a pioneer in managed care who was committed to affordable, quality healthcare. Mr. Biblo was president of the Harvard Community Health Plan and founded the Group Health Association of America. He came to Kansas City in 1992 to lead Kaiser Permanente and joined the Center's board of directors shortly thereafter. He died in 1994.

Rosemary Flanigan Lecture: the Rosemary Flanigan Lecture began in 1994 as a tribute to Sister Rosemary Flanigan, an active member of the Center for Practical Bioethics since 1987.  Sister Rosemary has served on the Center's Board of Directors and as staff for the Center's domain for Clinical and Organizational Ethics.  Previously, Sister Rosemary was a professor of philosophy at Rockhurst University from 1975 to 1992. The lecture is held every summer.