Amy Haddad, Ph.D., director of Creighton’s Center for Health Policy and Ethics, is the principal organizer of the conference. She is joined by Dr. Dilara Valikhanova, a former Creighton visiting scholar from Azerbaijan and Dr. Givi Javashvili from Tbilisi, Georgia, who will collaborate on conference organization.

The purpose of the conference is to convene a multi-disciplinary group of experts in health policy, ethics, health education and public health delivery from two post-Soviet countries, Azerbaijan and Georgia, joined by colleagues in the United States. Participants will examine the political, socio-cultural, religious, ethical, legal and human rights elements that influence understandings of patient autonomy and informed consent practices.

Rockefeller grant recipients are selected for the potential of their proposed projects, geological diversity and their capacity to contribute to the intellectual mix at the Rockefeller Center. Priority is given to proposals that address significant issues and problems within or across given fields, are innovative in their design and promise concrete outcomes beyond the drafting of a statement or recommendations.