In recent years, the Proseminar has been divided into two sections. The first section (Section 1 syllabus), required for students in the first two years of the Joint Degree Program, invites guest speakers to present to the group on the legal, ethical, and policy implications of their work, followed by discussion led by students. The roster of speakers for this section changes every year and includes University of Minnesota faculty and researchers, as well as lawyers and other law or science professionals in the community. This section is open to non-Joint Degree Program students with advanced degrees in health or the life sciences by consent of the instructors if space permits.
In Section 2 (syllabus), Joint Degree Program students with more than 2 years of experience make presentations to their peers. Each student is responsible for making one presentation per term. Students are given broad latitude in choosing topics to present. Presentation options include results from their own research (either lab- or literature-based), a published article, or an overview of a developing topic within their general field of study. This 2-section format was designed to meet the needs of all Joint Degree Program students and to prepare advanced students to meet the challenges ahead.
Section 1 speakers for Fall 2009 include:
Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, Director, Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy; Director, Minnesota Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance; Professor, Division of Environmental Health Sciences; Adjunct Professor, Medical School, University of Minnesota on "Flu Pandemics"
Steve Miles, MD, Professor, Center for Bioethics, Medical School; Affiliate Faculty, Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and Concentration in Health Law & Bioethics, Law School; Practicing Physician in Internal Medicine, University of Minnesota on "Physician Accountability for Torture: International Practices 1975-2009"
Art Erdman, PhD Richard C. Jordan Professor and Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering; Director, Medical Devices Center, University of Minnesota on "Medical Device Patents"
Kim Otte, JD, MA Legal Counsel, Mayo Clinic on "Conflict of Interest Rules: Protecting Patients or Stifling Invention?"
Keith Halleland, JD, Founder, Halleland Lewis Nilan & Johnson; Founder, Halleland Health Consulting; General Counsel, Health Care Compliance Associate (HCCA) and Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) on "Health Care"