George Fox University Hosts Dr. Julia Wattacheril for 13th Annual Dalton Lecture on Trust in Science and Healthcare

NEWBERG, Ore. – The George Fox University Department of Biological and Molecular Sciences is pleased to welcome Dr. Julia Wattacheril to campus on Monday, March 10, as the featured speaker for the 13th annual Dalton Lecture. The event, held at 7:30 p.m. in Bauman Auditorium, is free and open to the public.

Dr. Wattacheril – a physician, scientist and inventor – will present a talk titled "Engineering Trustworthiness: How Understanding Brokenness Helps Us Move Towards Wholeness."

While physicians and scientists have traditionally been among the most trusted professionals worldwide, recent years have seen a significant erosion of that trust. Systemic failures, conflicting incentives, and institutional betrayals have contributed to this decline, leaving many searching for a better way forward.

In her lecture, Dr. Wattacheril will explore a physician-scientist’s perspective on making meaning out of suffering, broadening our understanding of what it truly means to care for others, and teaching, inspiring, and implementing the most valuable dimensions of science and healthcare.

Dr. Wattacheril is an associate professor of medicine and director of the Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She earned her MD from Baylor University, completed her residency at Baylor, and pursued a fellowship at Vanderbilt University. Her work has been widely recognized through numerous publications and honors.

Beyond her medical expertise, Dr. Wattacheril completed the Gotham Fellowship at the Center for Faith and Work and continues to develop innovative ways to integrate spiritual tools into healthcare, benefiting both providers and patients. She has a particular passion for engaging with those on the fringes of academic medicine.

The Dalton Lecture is an annual series showcasing distinguished Christian scientists. It is named after John Dalton (1766–1844), a Quaker scientist best known for his groundbreaking work in modern atomic theory.

George Fox University is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a “Best National University” and by The Wall Street Journal as one of the top private colleges in Oregon. More than 4,000 students attend classes on the university’s campus in Newberg, Oregon, and at teaching centers in Portland and Redmond, Oregon. George Fox offers more than 60 academic programs at the undergraduate level, accelerated online degrees for working adults, and 21 masters and doctoral degrees.

Contact: 

Carly Reumann

George Fox University

505-554-2101