Professor Sachs makes the case for distance-learning and web-based education as a force for social and economic justice. This is an important article for anyone who takes teaching a seminar to be an intrinsically valuable form of face-to-face communication.

Without arguing the likelihood of market forces replacing what I now do with what his argument would have me do in a web-class, the question I have is, what happens to the development of the sense of self in a student who knows him or me only as a web presence?  A similar question in medical care would be, how does a person engaged in web-based medical diagnosis experience the trust and personal concern I now experience with my doctor, who will call me back when I send her an email or call her office?

In both cases a human relationship is replaced by a screen behind which is an economic value. The problem that I see is that we are as individuals reducible neither to goods nor to services.  We must get and give each other our personal attention even if that remains expensive, or else we suffer.

Dr. John Loike: A Jewish Perspective on the New Science of Gestational Surrogacy

Thursday, December 1st, 6:00-7:30PM
Davis Auditorium, Schapiro CEPSR Building
Morningside Campus, Columbia University
530 W. 120th St., New York, NY 10027

Dr. John Loike is the Co-Director for Graduate Studies in the Department of Physiology Cellular Biophysics and the Director of Special Programs in the Center for Bioethics at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He also serves as faculty editor of the Columbia University Journal of Bioethics, and the course instructor for Frontiers in Bioethics, Ethics for Biomedical Engineers, Stem Cells: Biology, Ethics, and Applications, at Columbia College and Graduate Physiology at the Medical Center. His research focuses on how human white blood cells combat infections and cancer.

Market Makers: Developing & Deploying Energy Efficiency Technology in NYC

www.nyas.org/MarketMakers

New York City is emerging as a global leader in clean technology.  The growing community is leveraging the State’s assets in the built environment, information technology, industrial density, finance and academic communities to create innovative solutions in energy efficiency.  Join the New York Academy of Sciences, NYU POLY ACRE, and the Sallan Foundation for a Climate Week 2011 panel that explores the current and future trends in energy efficiency and presents the path to success experienced by start-ups founded in New York City.  

Speaker(s) to include –

Mei Shibata, co-Founder – Think Eco

Colin Smart, Section Manager – Demand Response, Con Edison

Audrey Zibelman, CEO – Viridity

(Click here to download the PDF event flyer)

Save the Date

December 7, 2011

Energy Storage for Cities: Making Renewable Electric Power Efficient, Reliable, and Smart

General Raymond E. Johns, U.S. Air Force Commander, Air Mobility Command

Ethical Leadership in the 21^st Century

 Gen Johns will discuss values based leadership and the difficulties of ethical decision making in crucial situations, given the current foreign policy environment.  The General will also share his thoughts on the role of ethics in making difficult decisions with limited information.

Monday, Sept 26, 2011
7:00PM – 8:00PM
Davis Auditorium, Schapiro Building

Columbia University Morningside Campus

RSVP online: https://columbia.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cISR7GOMMNffwRS

 Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr. is Commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Air Mobility Command’s mission is to provide rapid, global mobility and sustainment for America’s armed forces. The command also plays a crucial role in providing humanitarian support at home and around the world. The men and women of AMC – active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilians – provide airlift, aerial refueling, and special air mission and aeromedical evacuation. Johns is a command pilot and experimental test pilot with 4,500 flying hours in a variety of aircraft.

The mission of the Student Leadership and Ethics Board is to foster a culture and safeguard a tradition of principled leadership throughout the Columbia Business School community. The Board fulfills its purpose by developing, implementing and monitoring programs that cultivate leadership, build character and promote ethical decision-making, which, in turn, enable Columbia Business School students to become productive, moral and caring participants in their companies and communities.

a lecture by Dr. Oliver Sacks

Tuesday, September 27th, 6:00-7:30 PM

11:30AM

Calvary Hospital (Eastchester, Bronx)

Calvary Hospital is the affiliated hospice care center that TCC is closely in contact with. We were well fed and greeted by the attending physician at Calvary Hospital, Dr. GC. Along with ten SUNY Downstate fourth year medical school students, we were given a lecture on the common conflicts that spring up in nursing homes such as Calvary. In addition, Dr. GC herself graciously took us on a tour of the third floor. There, we were able to visit four different residents, with four different background stories.

Most memorable of all was a 95-year-old lady, weighing no more than 70 pounds, who is afflicted with end stage dementia. She has four children who each telephone the hospice care center daily. Dr. GC jokes that these four phone calls have become the highlight of her day. We hovered outside the room of this lady and saw a frail, comatose individual. Just two weeks ago, this 95-year-old lady was mowing her lawn. Unfortunately, she took a heavy fall and the shock altered her mental status. Her children expected her to become ambulatory again in a week. However, when an elderly takes a fall, it is very unlike when young ones fall. Hip fractures have proven to be a significant cause of death in the elderly post-fall. Here, we witnessed some discrepancy between the family’s expectations and perceptions and reality.

Our Calvary Hospital visit tied together in the end with a few more meaningful comments from Dr. GC. She voiced many of the same concerns that TCC face on a daily basis.

1:00PM

Mr. S was discharged today. At the sub-acute morning report meeting, this news brought a round of applause and cheering. This 70-year-old Korean man was born and raised in Japan. He attended a University in Korea and obtained his Chemical Engineering degree there. He later immigrated to the United States to pursue his dreams. Aside from fluency in Japanese, Korean, and English, Mr. S is also a master of the German language. From his Tae Kwon Do black belt to his time in the U.S. army, this man seems to have an endless abundance of stories to tell. Currently, Mr. S resides in a 10-floored senior citizen apartment. His family members are all scattered across the globe and have difficulty in coming to his aid. Instead, he relies much the help of his two best friends, whom we have fortunately met once. They live in the adjacent floors of their senior housing.

Subsequent to a cranial surgery, Mr. S recovered gradually and successfully. He is fully ambulatory, and his mental status is significantly better compared to the days immediately post his surgery. It became a daily sight to see Mr. S hovering about the fourth floor nurse’s station. He loves caffeine. When we visit, if he were not already drinking a cup of coffee, he would kindly ask us to get him some. We are glad that he is finally going back to his home.

9:45 AM

Knock. Knock. Knock.

We find, sitting inside a small single room, Mr. F resting on his chair, with neck bent and head completely down. His left hand clutched tightly to the walker. This 68-year-old man used to work as a housekeeper in this institution, before it became a nursing home, for some thirty years. He has recently been placed on hospice care and is eating very poorly. Upon our entrance, Mr. F attempts to tilt his head upward to glance at us. He nodded appreciatively when we introduced ourselves as summer interns for TCC. After a bit of small talk, we can sense his great independence and dexterous thinking through his clear, loud voice and careful word choice. At the same time, he emanated lament and disappointment through his unsatisfied looks at the breakfast plate.

“I’m a baby.” Mr. F joked when we asked about his age.

Mr. F had made several complaints of excruciating pain in his chest area. Dr. L entered. They conversed about a possible tour of the building, providing Mr. F a chance to see what changes have been done to the facility. His spirits lightened, and we were glad to leave on a cheerful note.

Follow-up note: On August 4, Mr. F’s situation worsened and he was transferred to Calvary Hospital. Over the past month, his mental state deteriorated. He had hallucinated that his wife was being beaten up. After all, he no longer sees her on a daily basis. His appetite grew poorer still. He became violent with the nurse’s aides because he is doubtful of their intentions. On August 1, Dr. L gathered together all the physicians, social workers, and directors and conducted a case study conference on Mr. F. Dr. L pinpointed where TCC staff could have performed better and which areas we did not touch upon. For now, we hope the transfer and relocation to Calvary was smooth and comfortable and that he is becoming adjusted to life there.

2:30PM

Ms. MJ originally arrived at TCC as a sub-acute patient. Unfortunately, her medical conditions worsened over time, and now she transferred from rehabilitation to a long-term care floor. At age 48, Ms. J has already experienced two stroke episodes.

Before arriving in front of her room, we can already hear the labored breathing and gurgling of the throat. There was a large amount of fluid accumulated in her body, and she was not eating very much. We had the pleasure of meeting her daughter, R, and her eldest sister, B. B recounted when Ms. J was diagnosed with cancer ten years ago. Ten years later, the cancer sprouted back with full force. Within the short span of a week, Ms. J’s health deteriorated dramatically. She is now bedridden, unable to take in food. For most of the times we visited, her eyes are close, and we find her in a comatose state.

It was not always this way. Her sister reminisced. Coming from a family of nine children, Ms. J has always been feisty and headstrong, with a good heart. She loved the New York Post newspaper and enjoyed being able to move around in her wheelchair. Slowly, her poor health deterred her from doing the things and being with the people she love. B was having an especially difficult time adjusting her own feelings about the situation.

“I don’t want to be here when she stops breathing. I just can’t be here when that happens.” B said, full of indescribable sorrow. Their mother was not handling the situation very well either, and the brothers in the family have all broken down. It was left to the sisters to pick up the job of visiting Ms. J, caring for and supporting her. B spoke to us in a slow and calm tone; we can see that she was sad about but accepting of the situation. The housekeeper came in to clean up a spill on the floor. She cracked a few jokes, and the atmosphere softened.

Dr. L’s prognosis of Ms. J is not promising. She is expected to not last the weekend. Vaginal carcinoma, lack of food intake, and comatose state together accumulate in an unfavorable outlook for her. We cross our fingers as we await the long weekend ahead.

Follow-up note: Ms. MJ passed away five days later.