Lawrence University Biomedical Ethics Lecture Examines Role of Trust in Health Policy

APPLETON, WIS. -- Calling it "the most important question in American health policy today," former U.S. senator and nationally recognized health care reform advocate David Durenberger discusses the need for creating trust between health professionals and people in need of care in the final installment of Lawrence University's lecture series in biomedical ethics.

Durenberger presents, "Community Health: Community Responsibility," Monday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Lawrence's Wriston Art Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Following Durenberger's address, a panel of Fox Valley community leaders will provide local context reaction to his remarks. Appleton cardiologist Dr. John Mielke, Kurt Eggebrecht, director of the Appleton Health Department and Martin Myse, assistant vice president AAL corporate benefits are scheduled to participate in the panel discussion, which will be moderated by Merton Finkler, professor of economics at Lawrence and coordinator of the biomedical ethics lecture series.

Since leaving public service, Durenberger has served as president and chief executive officer of the National Institute of Health Policy, a Minneapolis-based partnership between the University of Minnesota and the University of St. Thomas. The NIHP promotes effective health policy through proactive, collaborative dialogue on important health issues.

Durenberger spent 18 years in Congress -- from 1978 to 1995 -- as the senior senator from Minnesota. While in the Senate, he served as the chair of the Health Subcommittee and assumed a leaderership role for national health reform. Durenberger authored or co-authored most Medicare/Medicaid, health insurance and other health reform legislation from 1980 until President Clinton's Health Security Act in 1993. He also wrote the book, "Prescription For Change," in which he promotes health care reform through consumer choice.

In addition to his work with NIHP, Durenberger is president of Public Policy Partners in Washington, D.C., and serves as president of the Washington-based Medical Technology Leadership Forum. He also is chairman of Citizens for Long Term Care, a national campaign working for long-term care financing reform.