Epigenetics: The Intrinsic Mother-Child Bond - Dec 16, 2018 - The scientific innovation that will be discussed at this year’s conference is centered around solving infertility issues, yet the nature of pregnancy stems beyond the reproductive process. The field of epigenetics seeks to address crucial environmental factors that alter gene expression and contribute to a child’s development and health. In this session, YU Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe Tendler, PhD, and John Loike, PhD, will discuss...

Oncofertility: Parenthood Options For Survivors - Dec 16, 2018 - Breakthroughs in medical care have tremendously increased the rate of pediatric cancer survival. Today’s rapidly growing population of adults who have survived childhood cancer demands an immediate response to the inherent ethical and halakhic issues surrounding fertility preservation and treatment in children. Which treatments enable not only survival but also quality of life following recovery? How can medicine preserve the...

Playing the Creator with CRISPR - Dec 10, 2017 -

Ethics of Neurotechnologies - Dec 10, 2017 - Artificial intelligence is one of the most popular technological topics today. Some theorize that in the near future, artificial intelligence will be integrated with the human mind in unimaginable ways; biological intelligence merged with digital intelligence. Along with AI, many other emerging neuro-technologies are on the rise, bringing along a plethora of ethical and philosophical questions. To further understand these issues, join us for a...

The Anti-Aging Revolution - Dec 10, 2017 - Following the antibiotic revolution of the 20th Century, life expectancy in the US has only increased minimally. Today, the number of Americans spending a large part of their retirement years in hospitals is only increasing, comprising the vast majority of US healthcare costs. Recently, advances in the scientific field of aging have brought us to the point where the concept of “growing old” may be a manipulable process. The generation-old question...

MES in 5: Breaching Medical Confidentiality - Jan 20, 2017 - A doctor's obligation to maintain confidentiality with a patient is a fundamental halachic and ethical imperative. However, are there ever situations where one may reveal patient information to others? In this podcast, Aryeh Helfgott discusses contemporary cases when medical confidentiality may be breached for the greater good of others.

MES in 5: Listening to Your Doctor - Nov 16, 2016 - What do we do when a doctor instructs us to break a Torah prohibition? In this podcast, Ariel Rafie discusses a doctor's place in Halacha and how Poskim regard medical advice.

MES in 5: Pidyon HaBen for a Baby in an Incubator - Oct 5, 2016 - Can one perform a pidyon haben for a baby in an incubator on the 31st day post-birth? According to halacha, is an incubator considered a medical treatment or an extension of the mother’s uterus? Does this definition of an incubator impact the timing of the pidyon haben? In this podcast, Adira Koppel discusses the mitzvah of pidyon haben and introduces the halachic issue of performing a pidyon haben for baby in an incubator. ...

MES in 5: Using Immoral Experimentation - Aug 31, 2016 - Imagine reading a scientific journal and finding references that quote research from experiments the Nazis brutally conducted on their prisoners. What would your opinion of the author be? But let's say that the article described a method that would help save lives. Would your opinion of the author change? In this podcast, Menachem Seleski touches the surface of a very ethically challenging issue - using data obtained from immoral...

MES in 5: Inflation of Drug Prices - May 18, 2016 - Tune in for our latest installment of MES in 5, and hear Michael Shavolian, with some help from Rav Netanel Weiderblank, discuss the halachic implications of Martin Shkreli's recent decision to grossly inflate drug prices. MES in 5 is a student-run project that seeks to bring the intersection of medicine and halacha to the general public in a short, easily listenable format.

MES in 5: Bikur Cholim for a Contagious Illness - May 5, 2016 - In this latest installment of MES in 5, take a few minutes to hear Netanel Paley discuss the obligation to visit someone suffering from a contagious illness, and how the poskim recommend to fulfill one's obligation while staying safe and healthy. MES in 5 is a student-led initiative that aims to bring the intersection of medicine and halacha to life in short, 5 minute podcasts on a variety of interesting topics.

Brit Milah and Anesthesia - Apr 10, 2016 - Can anesthesia be used when performing brit milah on grown adults? Is it possible that pain is integral to the mitzvah, having been a part of the milah process for thousands of years? Find out more about this halakhic debate from Menachem Seleski in this week's MES in 5!

A Parent’s Right To Choose: Prenatal Genetic Modification and its Halachic Ramifications - Apr 3, 2016 -

MES in 5: Adopted Children and Yichud - Mar 2, 2016 - In this podcast, Allison Tawil examines the halachot of yichud in the presence of adopted children of the opposite sex. The MES in 5 podcast series is a project of the student-run YU Medical Ethics Society.

MES in 5: Forcing Treatment On An Unwilling Patient - Feb 14, 2016 - In this podcast, Elana Perlow explores some of the halachic ramifications of the Torah's view of the physician's obligation to heal, vs. secular philosophy's conception of the individual's right to treatment. In halacha's eyes, can a doctor treat an unwilling patient, if that treatment will save their patient's life? Tune in to find out more! MES in 5 is a project run by the students of the Medical Ethics Society, and aims...

MES in 5: Studying (Medicine) On Shabbos - Feb 3, 2016 - In this podcast, Menachem Seleski examines the halachot of studying for exams on Shabbat, and if studying medicine and medical texts is treated differently than studying other materials. The MES in 5 podcast series is a project of the student-run YU Medical Ethics Society.

MES in 5: Studying a Cadaver - Dec 26, 2015 - In this MES in 5 podcast, David Silber examines some of the issues involved with studying cadavers, and some of the halachic stances that have been taken in recent years.

MES in 5: Stem Cells and Chimeras - Dec 16, 2015 - MES in 5 Medical Ethics Podcast: This podcast explores some of the possible ethical and halachic issues surrounding the emerging field of stem cell research, as well as the ramifications of genetic chimeras--single organisms composed of cells from different zygotes.

MES in 5: Cosmetic Surgery - Nov 25, 2015 - MES in 5 Podcast: This podcast explores some of the halachic and ethical issues surrounding cosmetic surgery.

Abortion of a Tay-Sachs Fetus: Part II - Nov 18, 2015 - MES in 5: Podcast of topics in medical ethics and halacha. This week's recording continues with halachic responses to abortion in cases of a congenital disease such as Tay-Sachs.

MES in 5: Abortion of a Tay-Sachs Fetus - Nov 8, 2015 - MES in 5: 5-minute medical halacha podcast given by Aryeh Gurvich

Protection By Prevention: A Discussion Regarding Vaccinations and Alcohol - Oct 25, 2015 -

The Ethics of ADHD: What it is, How it is Treated, and the Dilemmas it Raises - Oct 25, 2015 -

The Role of Family and Friends in Confronting Adolescent Suicide and Depression - Oct 25, 2015 -

MES in 5 - Attending Medical School in Israel - Nov 12, 2014 - MES in 5 - Attending Medical School in Israel, use of cadavers and requirement of burial. Given by Uri Schneider