Chairman: Andrew Varney, M.D.
Medical Director, Clinical Ethics Center, Memorial Medical Center
Associate Professor, Department of Medical Humanities/Medicine, SIU School of Medicine
Biographical Sketch: Dr. Varney has been Chairman of the Human Values and Ethics Committee at Memorial Medical Center since 1994 and has been a member since 1991. He is a General Internist and Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency at SIU, School of Medicine. He is cross-appointed, an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Humanities and in the Department of Internal Medicine at SIU, School of Medicine. Dr. Varney assisted with the Center's opening in 1995 and has continued as medical director since that time. Dr. Varney received his medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He has served on the DNR Taskforce for the State of Illinois. Dr. Varney has spoken widely on topics of Advance Directives, Hospital Policy Development, End-of-Life Decision-Making, Withholding and Withdrawing of Treatment and Palliation. He is originally from Ottawa, Illinois.

Vice-Chairman: Don Helfer, M.D.
Chairman, Department of Anesthesia, Memorial Medical Center
Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesia, SIU School of Medicine
Biographical Sketch: Dr. Helfer has been Vice-Chairman of the Human Values and Ethics Committee at Memorial Medical Center since 2003 and has been on the Committee since 1996. He has been an Anesthesiologist at Memorial Medical Center since 1990, as well as a Clinical Associate Professor of Anesthesiology in the SIU, School of Medicine. Dr. Helfer attended Washington University in St. Louis School of Mediicne followed by an Anesthesiology Residency at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. After completing his Residency, Dr. Helfer worked one year as an Anesthesiologist for the Indian Health Service in Shiprock, New Mexico prior to coming to Memorial Medical Center.