Bioethics in Film: From Screen to Seminar
Bioethics in Film: From Screen to Seminar will return in Fall 2025. Please subscribe to our newsletter for series updates as they become available.
Current Series
March 2025: Hereditary (2021)
On March 6, 2025, Alexis Walker, PhD, was joined by Matthew S. Lebowitz, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medical Psychology and Maura Spiegel, PhD, Co-Director of the Division of Narrative Medicine, for a compelling discussion of Hereditary (2018), and the film’s exploration of bioethics and mental health.
November 2024: Happening (2021)
On November 7, 2024, Carol Sanger, JD, joined us for Bioethics in Film: From Screen to Seminar, in conversation with Alexis Walker, PhD, to discuss the french feature-length drama Happening(link is external and opens in a new window) (2021), focusing on the film’s exploration of reproductive rights and bioethical issues.
About Bioethics in Film
This series uses popular films, documentaries, and television as tools for exploring critical issues under the broad umbrella of bioethics. We welcome anyone to attend these events to engage in multidisciplinary conversation with bioethics experts and other specialists.
Past Events
"Women in Science" - March 2024
Over the long history of science, women have rarely been recognized for their extraordinary contributions. Director Sharon Shattuck’s Tribeca Film Festival documentary Picture a Scientist and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Kate Zernike’s recent book The Exceptions tell the stories of courageous women who fought for recognition and strove to change the power dynamics in academic science. Joining the filmmaker and author on the panel to share their real life experiences are Columbia University’s Gissette Reyes-Soffer, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Mimi Shirasu-Hiza, PhD, Professor of Genetics and Development. Join us for a rich discussion about the past and current discrimination of women scientists in the field, and what kind of promise awaits for the future of women in STEM.
Watch the discussion between: Kate Zernike, Author, The Exceptions; Sharon Shattuck, Director, Picture a Scientist; Mimi Shirasu-Hiza, PhD, Columbia Genetics and Development; Gissette Reyes-Soffer, MD, Columbia Division of Cardiology. Moderated by Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, PhD, Chief, Division of Ethics.
This Bioethics in Film: From Screen to Seminar event was held in collaboration with the The Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program’s Grand Rounds in Team Science (GRiTS) series.
"My Sister Liv" - January 2024
January 29, 2024, 11 a.m. ET
MY SISTER LIV features sisters Tess and Liv, who from a young age are inseparable. Liv is a young girl, growing up with relentless pressures of social media, teen depression and, often, suicidal thoughts. MY SISTER LIV takes us into a rare and riveting journey of raw emotions and fears of a young life on the edge — and ultimately a big sister’s desperate struggle to save her. Through fearless storytelling, MY SISTER LIV reveals the realities of stigma, the struggles of mental health, and the aftermath for the survivors left behind in a suicide. As a family learns to cope with their new normal, they find hope in filling a gap around fearlessly talking about mental health and ultimately to save young lives.
The discussion addresses the scarcity of mental health services and the challenges in accessing them, as highlighted by the stark statistic of fewer than 12,000 child psychiatrists practicing in the United States. This seminar not only aims to shed light on the pressing issues surrounding adolescent mental health but also seeks to foster open and fearless conversations about mental health, with the goal of contributing to the well-being and support of young lives.
Content Warning:
Viewer Discretion is Advised. This discussion focuses on the sensitive issue of teen suicide and includes real-life narratives and discussions that some may find emotionally challenging or triggering. While this session aims to educate and raise awareness about teen mental health and suicide, we understand that its content may not be suitable for all viewers. Please exercise discretion in deciding whether to attend or continue watching.
Suport and Resources:
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or mental health challenges, it is crucial to seek help. Below are resources and hotlines available to provide support:
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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (U.S.) :1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) –A 24/7, free, and confidential hotline for anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
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Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 – A free, 24/7 text service for those in crisis, connecting texters with trained Crisis Counselors.
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The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth): 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678 – Provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+young people under 25.
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SAMHSA’s National Helpline (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – Offers free, confidential treatment referral and information service for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorder.
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Your Local Mental Health Authority: Reach out to your local mental health authority for additional resources, support groups, and mental health professionals in your area.
"The Silent Child" - September 2023
The session took place during International Week of the Deaf, held annually in the last week of September. The Bioethics in Film 2023-2024 series kicked off with the award-winning fiction short film, "The Silent Child," which demonstrates sign language and community as essential for the early cognitive, emotional, and social development of a Deaf child born to a hearing family. The film is available on-demand on YouTube.
The film prompts the question: How is signed language acquisition a human right for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) children? Furthermore, how does language deprivation impact health outcomes for DHH communities? The Division of Ethics will host a panel of esteemed speakers whose combined efforts strive to promote a human right to language for all people. Panelists will discuss how they have combated audism and linguicism in medical and education systems relating to DHH children. Panelists will address stereotypes and other common representations of deaf people in films and social media.
Speakers: Joseph Murray, PhD; Susan Burch, PhD; and Wyatte Hall, PhD; moderated by Jaipreet Virdi, PhD.
The event was not recorded owing to speaker preferences.
"Aftershock" – April 2023
Wednesday, April 12, 2023: 11:30AM to 1PM.
This event was held online via Zoom.
Discussion of the documentary, "Aftershock(link is external and opens in a new window)," and the ethical issues it raises with panelists, Drs. Danielle Laraque-Arena, MD, FAAP(link is external and opens in a new window); Dána-Ain Davis, MPH, PhD(link is external and opens in a new window); and Colleen P. Campbell, JD, PhD(link is external and opens in a new window); moderated by Dr. Lisa Nathan, MD, MPH.
- Click here for a list of resources mentioned during this session.
- Click here(link is external and opens in a new window) to access our working bibliography with additional resources related to the session's topic.
- Click here(link is external and opens in a new window) to view a portion of the session's presentations.
"Seizing Hope" – January 2023
Thursday, January 26, 2023: 6PM to 7:30PM.
Co-hosted by the Columbia Master of Science in Bioethics Program and the Columbia Division of Child Neurology.
This event was held online via Zoom.
Discussion of the documentary, "Seizing Hope(link is external and opens in a new window)," and the ethical issues it raises with panelists, Dr. Judy Illes(link is external and opens in a new window), Dr. Ruth Ottman, Heather Bagg, and Katherine and Sophie Cowin, moderated by Dr. Robert Klitzman.
"Intersexion" – November 2022
Tuesday, November 15th, 2022: 4:30PM to 6PM.
This event was held online via Zoom.
Discussion of the documentary, "Intersexion(link is external and opens in a new window)," and the ethical issues it raises with expert panelists, Mani Bruce Mitchell(link is external and opens in a new window), Elizabeth Reis(link is external and opens in a new window), Barbara Chubak(link is external and opens in a new window), and Sean Saifa Wall(link is external and opens in a new window) with Sandra Soo-Jin Lee moderating.
"The Eugenics Crusade" – May 2022
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022: 2PM to 3:30PM.
This event was held online via Zoom. Please note that this event was not recorded.
Discussion of the documentary, "The Eugenics Crusade(link is external and opens in a new window)," and the ethical issues it raises with expert panelists, Robert Klitzman and Erica Spiegel.
Where to watch the film: Columbia affiliates can view the full film for free here(link is external and opens in a new window).
This event was hosted by Columbia's Office of Research Compliance & Training.
"Remembering Anarcha" – December 2021
Thursday, December 16th, 2021: 1PM to 3PM.
This event was held online via Zoom. Please note that this event was not recorded.
Discussion of the documentary "Remembering Anarcha(link is external and opens in a new window)," about Dr. James Marion Sims' controversial legacy as the "father of modern gynecology" who conducted experiments on enslaved women.
This event welcomed:
- Harriet Washington(link is external and opens in a new window)
- Hilda Hutcherson(link is external and opens in a new window)
- J.C. Hallman(link is external and opens in a new window)
- Michelle Browder(link is external and opens in a new window)
Speaker Bios(link is external and opens in a new window)
Where to view the film: See options here(link is external and opens in a new window). To watch for free, click here(link is external and opens in a new window) or here(link is external and opens in a new window).
Sample Bibliography for this Topic:
- Say Anarcha: A Young Woman, a Devious Surgeon, and the Harrowing Birth of Modern Women's Health(link is external and opens in a new window), by J.C. Hallman
- Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present, by Harriet Washington
- She Gave the ‘Father of Gynecology’ His Prowess, Against Her Will(link is external and opens in a new window), by Jen Gunter (NYTimes)
- A medical hell recounted by its victims(link is external and opens in a new window), by Harriet Washington
- Statues that perpetuate lies should not stand: Monuments to the 'father of gynaecology' cannot be defended as historical documents because they hide grave injustices(link is external and opens in a new window), by Harriet Washington
- Apology Shines Light on Racial Schism in Medicine(link is external and opens in a new window), by Harriet Washington
- Monumental Error: Will New York City finally tear down a statue?(link is external and opens in a new window) by J.C. Hallman
- The Cry of Alice(link is external and opens in a new window), by J.C. Hallman
- J. Marion Sims statue: a questionable monument in a questionable place(link is external and opens in a new window), by J.C. Hallman
- The statue of a doctor who experimented on enslaved women still stands in Alabama. But now there’s also a monument to his victims.(link is external and opens in a new window) [about Michelle Browder’s monument of Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey, called “The Mothers of Gynecology”]
- Memory and Medicine: A Historian’s Perspective on Commemorating J. Marion Sims(link is external and opens in a new window), by Susan M. Reverby [includes the image of Robert Thom’s painting of Sims]
- An Antebellum Hero, but to Whom?(link is external and opens in a new window) by David Gonzalez
- Sculpture of Paradox: Doctor as Hero and Villain(link is external and opens in a new window), by David Gonzalez
This event was hosted by Columbia's Office of Research Compliance & Training.
"Miss Evers' Boys" – June 2021
Wednesday, June 9th, 2021: 2PM to 3:30PM.
This event was held online via Zoom. Please note that this event was not recorded.
Discussion of "Miss Evers' Boys(link is external and opens in a new window)." View the full film here (available to only Columbia affiliates).
This event featured Harriet Washington(link is external and opens in a new window) and Robert Fullilove(link is external and opens in a new window) in a discussion moderated by Hilda Hutcherson(link is external and opens in a new window) and involving audience participation.
This event was hosted by Columbia's Office of Research Compliance & Training.
"Gattaca" – March 2021
Monday, March 8th, 2021: 2PM to 3:30PM.
This event was held online via Zoom. Please note that this event was not recorded.
Discussion of "Gattaca(link is external and opens in a new window)."
This event featured NYU's Arthur Caplan(link is external and opens in a new window) and Columbia's Maya Sabatello in a discussion involving audience participation and moderated by Shawna Benston.
This event was hosted by Columbia's Office of Research Compliance & Training.
"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" – December 2020
Thursday, December 10th, 2020: 3PM to 4:30PM.
This event was held online via Zoom. Please note that this event was not recorded.
Discussion of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks(link is external and opens in a new window)." View the full film here (available to only Columbia affiliates).
This event featured a full Columbia panel including Robert Fullilove and Jacquelyn Taylor in a discussion involving audience participation and moderated by Sandra Soo-Jin Lee.
This event was hosted by Columbia's Office of Research Compliance & Training.
"Charly" – June 2020
Wednesday, June 24th, 2020: 3:30PM to 5PM.
This event was held online via Zoom. Please note that this event was not recorded.
This event focused on the 1968 film "Charly(link is external and opens in a new window)." Featuring Columbia’s Paul Appelbaum and the University of British Columbia's Judy Illes(link is external and opens in a new window) in a discussion involving audience participation and moderated by Shawna Benston.
This event was hosted by Columbia's Office of Research Compliance & Training.
"Voices from the Grave" – February 2020
Monday, February 24th, 2020: 2PM to 4PM with light reception to follow, Joseph D. Jamail Lecture Hall in Columbia Journalism School (2950 Broadway)
This event focused on the 2010 documentary "Voices from the Grave(link is external and opens in a new window)" and the research leading to the film and book that inspired it. Co-hosted by the Office of Research Compliance and Training and the Human Research Protection Office/IRBs. Featuring Columbia’s Mary Marshall Clark and the documentary’s producer Ed Moloney(link is external and opens in a new window) in a discussion involving audience participation and moderated by Columbia’s Geraldine Downey.
This event was hosted by Columbia's Office of Research Compliance & Training.
"Three Identical Strangers" – October 2019
Monday, October 21st, 2019: 3PM to 5PM, Vagelos Education Center Room 201
This event focused on the 2018 documentary "Three Identical Strangers(link is external and opens in a new window)." Triplets who had been adopted in infancy by three different families in infancy accidentally reconnect as young adults and ultimately discover nefarious reasons for their initial separation. Audience members came prepared to experience and investigate a riveting narrative of a NYC-based family who were unknowing subjects of an intense research study with wide-ranging implications. Co-hosted by the Office of Research Compliance and Training and the Human Research Protection Office/IRBs. Featuring Columbia's Robert Klitzman and Neil Schluger in a discussion moderated by Shawna Benston and Challace Pahlevan-Ibrekic.
This event was hosted by Columbia's Office of Research Compliance & Training.
Code of Conduct and Related Policies
By registering for Bioethics in Film events I agree to abide by the following statements:
CODE OF CONDUCT
Our community of scholars has attempted to nurture an academic culture that embraces the importance of diversity, supports the mentorship of young scholars, cultivates the value of interdisciplinarity, exemplifies intellectual and ethical integrity, and respects differences of opinion and perspective. With that academic culture in mind, the organizers and hosts of Bioethics in Film are committed to providing a safe and productive meeting environment that fosters open dialogue and the exchange of scientific ideas, promotes equal opportunities and treatment for all participants, and is free of harassment and discrimination. All participants are expected to treat others with respect and consideration, follow venue rules, and alert organizers, staff or security of any dangerous situations or anyone in distress. Speakers are expected to uphold standards of scientific integrity and professional ethics. The Columbia Ethics organizers recognize that there are areas of science that are controversial. Bioethics in Film can serve as an effective forum to consider and debate science-relevant viewpoints in an orderly, respectful, and fair manner. These considerations apply to all attendees, speakers, staff, and guests at Bioethics in Film events and apply in both in-person and virtual contexts.
Columbia University prohibits any form of harassment, be it sexual, physical, or verbal ad in-person or online. Harassing behavior includes, but is not limited to, inappropriate or intimidating behavior and language, unwelcome jokes or comments, sustained disruption, unwanted touching or attention, offensive images, photography without permission, and stalking.
Harassment should be reported immediately to Columbia Ethics staff in person (if in the immediate vicinity), by email to mhe_ethics@cumc.columbia.edu(link sends e-mail), or by calling or texting 917-532-3090. For immediate response to a dangerous situation call Public Safety at 212-305-7979 (Medical Center) or 212-854-5555 (Morningside Campus). Sanctions may range from verbal warning, to removal from the meeting without refund, to notifying the appropriate authorities at Columbia University (including the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action for Discrimination, Harassment & Gender-Based Misconduct complaints (212-854-5511) and/or with Public Safety at 212-854-5555)
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The Division of Ethics requires clear disclosures (including a statement on slide or poster presentations) from all presenters regarding any financial holdings, funding sources, or affiliations that might raise questions of bias or be perceived to have potentially influenced presentation content. Division of Ethics organizers expect that all speakers, organizers, and moderators are committed to full, forthright, and transparent disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest. The organizers have not prescribed an exhaustive list of potential conflicts; rather, we ask presenters to make a good faith effort to identify any issues that might reasonably be expected to raise conflict-of-interest questions.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL MEDIA
The Division of Ethics aims to encourage presentation of the latest findings by protecting researchers sharing unpublished information and protecting patient privacy. By default, attendees are prohibited from taking photos, videos, or audio recordings of speakers presenting their slides or posters as per the guidelines below. Presenters are requested to announce at the beginning of their presentation whether or not photos, recording and/or sharing of their presentation on social media are permitted during or following their presentation.
Bioethics in Film attendees and participants are encouraged to participate in social media activities about the conference by using the hashtag #ColumbiaEthics. Discussion of general topics, speakers, and presentations is permitted as a way to briefly summarize or highlight material and the conference in general within the following guidelines:
- Taking photos, videos or audiotapes of slides, posters, presenters, or questions and answers are not permitted without explicit permission by the presenter
- Copyright and other intellectual property laws must be followed
- Brief quotes from sessions may be shared unless the speaker explicitly asks that it not be shared (presenters are strongly encouraged to give or withhold permission at the beginning of their session)
- Social media posts cannot imply any kind of endorsement by Columbia Ethics