Faith and Bioethics Conference

Faith and Bioethics
Conference 2024

Saturday Morning, October 26
9:00AM - 12:00PM

With Guest Speaker
Dr. Mark Bolyard
Union University
Jackson, Tennessee

❖ 8:30AM - Coffee Gathering

❖ Session 1 - 9:00-9:45 (15 Minute Break)

In Vitro Fertilization: Past - Present - Future
In this session we will talk briefly about the history of IVF, current elements of IVF and related technologies, and potential expansions of IVF that Church leaders and parents will need to be prepared for in the future.

❖ Session 2 - 10:00-10:40 (Ten Minute Break)

Genetic Testing and Sequencing
The ability to sequence and analyze DNA has been around for nearly 50 years, and these capabilities continue to grow in precision and application. While genetic testing can be very valuable in some contexts, it can cause challenges in others.

❖ Session 3 - 10:50-11:30 (Five Minute Break)

Genetic Treatments and Other Therapies
Not only can scientists determine the specifics of our genetic make-up, they are also having greater capacity to alter it. We will talk about gene therapy, genome editing, and stem cell treatments, then discuss genetic counseling.

❖ Q&A - 11:25-12:15

Speaker's Bio

Dr. Mark Bolyard, university professor of biology, was teaching at a university in Illinois when he decided to follow Christ for the first time, and the Lord suddenly began creating an interest in his heart about the value of Christian education. When he saw a Union University ad for a molecular biologist and department chair position, he knew it was direction from the Lord. Union University’s consistent commitment to faith in all areas of the university is what led Bolyard to accept the faculty position, serving as the biology department chair for over 15 years.

Bolyard is currently the Interim Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences at Union, having expanded the biology department to become the largest program in the College of Arts and Sciences. Bolyard also helped establish master’s programs within biology, and is developing a new graduate program to train pro-life genetic counselors. Union’s Master of Science and Faith in Genetic Counseling program will be the nation’s first pro-life genetic counseling program. It will help equip pro-life genetic counselors who are highly trained both in genetics and as Christian counselors. Genetic counselors recommend genetic tests and provide information regarding the results of those tests to patients, loved ones or caregivers, so to train genetic counselors with Union’s Christ-centered values would help prepare more Christians for the field of genetic counseling. Dr. Bolyard has been married to his lovely wife, Susan, for 38 years.

Together they have three married children with two born grandchildren and one preborn grandchild.

To see Dr. Bolyard's bio on Union University's website, please click here