Dr. Abraham Rudnick will present the 2019 Dr. Saul Green Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, Oct 23 at 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall.

Imagining better health care: can counterfactual (“what if…”) learning by analogy from the bible help?

Contemporary health care requires further transformation for improved effectiveness and efficiency. Creative and critical thinking is crucial for such transformation. A couple of promising aspects of creative and critical thinking that have not been sufficiently used for health care transformation are learning from counterfactuals (using what if… examples) and learning by analogy (referring to similar issues in other areas of life). This presentation will integrate these aspects to learn from the bible how to consider health care transformation in Canada. For example, Abraham’s decision making to sacrifice his son Isaac will be addressed to argue for transformation in forensic psychiatry, and Noah’s selection process of animals for the Ark will be addressed to argue for transformation in health care funding. In conclusion, conceptual tools such as learning from counterfactuals and by analogy should be explored further in support of health care transformation.

About Dr. Abraham (Rami) Rudnick
MD, PhD, CPRP, FRCPC, CCPE, DFESPCH, FCPA, CSLI, CPRRP

Dr. Rami Rudnick

Dr. Rami Rudnick

Dr. Abraham (Rami) Rudnick is a psychiatrist and a philosopher. He is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and School of Occupational Therapy at Dalhousie University and the Clinical Director of the Nova Scotia Operational Stress Injury Clinic, Canada.

Rami is a Canadian Certified Physician Executive and the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Mental Health. He is a recipient of national and international awards and other recognitions, such as the pioneer award in recovery research granted by Psychosocial Rehabilitation / Readaptation Psychosociale Canada and a Distinguished Fellowship and Gold Medal of the European Society for Person Centered Healthcare.

About Dr. Saul Green

Dr. Saul Green, was a graduate of Dalhousie University’s Medical School. He was a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada as well as the American College of Surgeons. A founding member of the Shaar Shalom Synagogue, Dr. Green cared deeply about the relationship between Judaism, medicine, and humanitarianism.

Shaar Shalom Synagogue is a conservative congregation providing egalitarian religious services, and educational and cultural programs that enhance Judaism for its individuals, its families and its community. Shaar Shalom is committed to learning, fellowship and community.